by Steve Clare, Wembley Stadium
Aston Villa 0 : 1 Fulham
Captain Tom Cairney scored the only goal in 23 minutes to send Fulham back into the EPL. It was even scant reward for a first half in which the Cottagers were totally dominant. After the interval though, Villa roared back and were the better side by far. Chances fell at both ends and the hopes of their fans among the 85243 crowd were increased when Daniel Odoi was dismissed for his second bad foul on Jack Grealish.
But the white shirts held out and now join neighbours Chelsea, and five other London sides in the EPL.
Fulham began the match more aggressively and Villa full back James Chester had to tread carefully when he was booked after just eight minutes. Thereafter it was mostly Fulham possession but when Villa did get the ball, they gave it to Jack Grealish who was fouled over and over again by Fulham. Referee Taylor showed leniency but the fourth culprit Denis Odoi went into the book.
Fulham created few good chances until Aboubakar Kamara volleyed over on 20. That was a warning Villa failed to heed. Three minutes later, Ryan Sessegnon sent a wonderfully weighted through ball to captain Cairney whose run was just as impressive. He scored confidently past Sam Johnstone to give Fulham a deserved lead. Sessegnon should have made it two before half time but headed tamely and directly at keeper Johnstone with all the time he would really ask for.
Villa full back Alan Hutton luckily escaped a yellow for a scythe on Kamara and his side’s best chance of the half came from the free kick that finally brought a Fulham booking, Odoi’s first. It was well worked but Grealish fired over.
It’s been 43 years since Fulham played at Wembley. Time to brig out your Sunday best!
Villa came back after the interval Grealish beat Bettinelli to a header but it went over, then he danced past three defenders but could not beat the onrushing Bettinelli who spread himself well. Villa’s best chance went a-begging.
Their fans screamed for everything. Could it have been a penalty to Villa? when a shot hit a defender’s arm which was probably too close to his body.
In the 63rd minute, Conor Hourihane was awarded a yellow for taking out Cairney with a one footed lunge. Ii’s worth noting that, a Tranmere Rovers player got a straight red here for an identical foul in the last playoff game two weeks ago.
Fulham continued to miss chances. Kevin McDonald’s weak header went wide. Then Johansen blasted over. Kamara slipped then did seem to be taken out by a defender. His appealing for a penalty for the first offence was probably his downfall.
The pressure on Fulham intensified after Odoi went off after a second yellow – again for a foul on Grealish. When Villa substitute Scott Hogan headed the last chance wide, the last bus to the EPL had departed for Aston Villa.
Fulham’s stunning 23-game unbeaten run had come to a halt at Villa’s local rivals Birmingham City when Slavisa Jokanovic’s men also missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the season.
Their promotion dreams looked to be on life support again in the English midlands as Derby won the first leg at home but Fulham overturned that 1-0 deficit to win the second leg 2-0 at Craven Cottage to stay on track for a place in the top flight and book a trip to Wembley.
In doing so, they broke a run of 15279 days since their last Wembley visit, the 1975 FA Cup Final where they lost 2-0 to another claret and blue side West Ham. Fulham had no injury concerns on game day.
Aston Villa finished five points behind Fulham in the table, but many fans were confident that Steve Bruce had the experience to guide the their side to the Premier League, given his history. He had after all coached his previous charges to the top level four times already. Neil Taylor and Ahmed Elmohamady returned for Villa.
However, the day was to be Fulham’s and for sheer perseverance, they probably deserved it.
Starting Line-ups
Aston Villa XI: Johnstone, Elmohamady, Chester, Terry, Hutton, Jedinak, Snodgrass, Hourihane, Grealish, Adomah, Grabban
Fulham XI: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Targett, Ream, Odoi, Johansen, Cairney, McDonald, Sessegnon, Kamara, Mitrovic
