Fulham 0-2 Aston Villa

Fulham were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa in our second Summer Series outing, at Orlando City’s Exploria Stadium.

The match kicked off 80 minutes late following lightning strikes in the local area, and then not much happened in the early stages until Cameron Archer won and missed a penalty – Bernd Leno making a fine save.

The Villans did go in front shortly after when Jaden Philogene struck from close range, before Carlos Vinicius had a goal disallowed.

Managing to create plenty more in the second period, the Whites looked good for an equaliser, but it was our opponents who grabbed the game’s crucial second goal courtesy of new signing Moussa Diaby’s clinical finish.

Following a low key opening half hour, Villa were handed a golden opportunity when Luc De Fougerolles caught Archer in the penalty area. Having won the spot-kick, the striker took responsibility himself, but was denied by a wonderful save from Leno, who got down brilliantly to his right to push the ball onto the post.

The danger remained, though, and Archer was immediately given another chance when John McGinn slipped him through, but he dragged his shot wide of the post that he’d just hit.

The Midlands outfit were still able to make the breakthrough prior to half-time, as Philogene stole in from right wing-back to bury Lucas Digne’s cross which had narrowly evaded the head of Issa Diop.

Vinicius thought he’d nodded in a quick equaliser, but Bobby De Cordova-Reid had strayed offside before popping a cross onto the Brazilian’s head.

Vinicius had another headed chance shortly after the break when Kevin Mbabu’s perfect left footed centre found him unmarked, but he got under the ball and it ballooned over.

Saša Lukić then let fly from a good 30 yards, but it was bending away from goal and never likely to trouble Emiliano Martinez.

Vinicius got a much better connection on his next header when he was smartly picked out by De Cordova-Reid’s clipped delivery. Our number 30 looked to loop his effort over Martinez, which he managed, but unfortunately it dropped agonisingly wide of the far post.

Harry Wilson was left with his head in his hands with 20 minutes to play. He probably wasn’t expecting Willian’s through ball – which was intended for Jay Stansfield – to reach him, but nonetheless he will have been disappointed to plant his first time effort as wide as he did.

It was a moment which proved pivotal, as Villa went straight up the other end to double their lead, £35m signing Diaby lashing beyond substitute ‘keeper Marek Rodák after he’d run onto a deep ball over the Fulham backline.

Luke Harris was presented with a half chance following more good work down the left from Mbabu, controlling well but then drilling straight at Martinez.

The youngster went much closer a minute later as he looked to squeeze his shot inside the near post, with Martinez getting down brilliantly to push it behind for a corner.

The Whites deserved a goal for their second half performance, and Stansfield came close to a stunner in the 87th minute, but his long ranger whistled just wide of the target’s postage stamp.

Watkins should have added a third after that when he capitalised on a loose pass to go in one-on-one, but Rodák came out on top when he attempted to round the Fulham stopper.

One final opportunity came our way in stoppage time when a ball across the face found Stansfield, but he fired over under pressure from Seb Revan.

The Whites will conclude our Summer Series against Chelsea on Sunday.