The game sprung into life in the 7th minute, when a fine one-touch break from Fulham set Andrew Johnson beyond Villa’s defensive line – only to be brought down by a James Collins challenge. It was a first glimpse of the sort or problems Johnson would be looking to give his opponents all afternoon.

Soon after John Arne Riise almost got his Barclays Premier League season off to a goal scoring start on 10 minutes when he was played though by a perceptive pass from Danny Murphy, but with just Shay Given to beat; Riise opted for power only to see his shot rise over the bar.

Following a promising opening, which saw both sides looking to test out their opposite defences, the pace of the game dropped somewhat in terms of attacking intent. But Villa broke the trend on the 25th minute when Charles N’Zogbia latched on to a long cross and played the ball back into the danger area for Emile Heskey to rise high and head over from eight yards.

At the other end, only a desperate block from James Collins denied Clint Dempsey registering his first effort on target as Fulham took advantage of some uncertain Villa defensive play.

Stiliyan Petrov’s long-range effort on 38 minutes whistled over Mark Schwarzer’s crossbar, but it was Fulham who had the best opportunity to net the opener shortly after. Andrew Johnson showed a burst of pace in the Villa penalty area to cut inside and strike a fierce shot that Shay Given could only parry away – forcing Villa to hurriedly clear the ball for a corner.

Fulham started the second-half on the front foot and only an instinctive save from Given prevented the Whites from taking the lead. Damien Duff’s whipped in cross was helped on its way by Johnson into the path of Zamora. The England striker applied another touch, but Given to trust out a palm and deflected the ball over.

Fulham continued to press Villa high up the pitch and Given, once more, came to the rescue when he got down well to smother a shot from Zamora on 63 minutes. The Whites’ attacking posture had certainly unnerved the visitors as they struggled to break into the rhythm they occasionally found in the first-half.

Bobby Zamora was replaced by Mousa Dembele on 73 minutes as Martin Jol looked to freshen up Fulham’s front line. Dembele initially joined Andrew Johnson up front but both he and Damien Duff switched positions on a regular basis.

Fulham had to endure a sustained period of pressure from the visitors, having to defend three consecutive corners from Villa. The Whites continued to look for the goal late into stoppage time, but Villa determinedly hung on for a share of the points.

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