Ollie Watkins ended his 11-game goal drought as Aston Villa fought back to claim their first Premier League victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Fulham on Sunday.
Villa, who reached the Champions League quarter-finals last season, had started the day in the relegation zone after picking up just three points from their opening five league matches.
The afternoon began in familiar fashion for Unai Emery’s men when Raul Jimenez headed in Sasa Lukic’s corner inside three minutes to give Fulham the lead.
The visitors then dominated the opening stages and felt hard done by when referee calls went against them — Josh King was controversially booked for diving after contact from Emi Martinez, while Matty Cash escaped a handball penalty shout after blocking King’s shot.
Watkins, whose barren spell in front of goal has contributed to Villa’s slow start, finally found relief just before half-time with a clever lob over Bernd Leno to draw his side level.
Villa seized control early in the second half with two goals in quick succession. John McGinn rifled home from distance, before Watkins burst down the flank to set up Emi Buendia, who fired in the third.
The result lifted Villa up to 16th place, two points clear of the drop zone, while Fulham slipped to 10th.
