Aston Villa v. Fulham | PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | 4/25/2023 | NBC Sports

the big concern for Unai Emery and the feather concern their goalkeeper. But the good news is that Emi Martinez is fit to start despite going off at halftime at the weekend. So the team unchanged still no Mati Kac at right back, but at left back, Alex Moreno has really caught the eye. In midfield, Douglas Luiz scored their goal at Brentford a few days ago, whilst Sean McGinn and Jacob Ramsey in the goals too in recent weeks. Up front, Avi Watkins right up there with the most in-form strikers in the country, with Emi Buendia playing just off him. Leon Bailey and Fede Coutinho both still missing due to injuries. But for them, still plenty of targets to achieve for Marco Silva's team this season. Goldberg Leno's gone seven matches since his last clean sheet. In defence, Tim Rehm's been a revelation. This is his 80th league start in a row tonight, with Totten there alongside him at centre back. Gian Pallini, very influential in the heart of Fulham's midfield, but a late change to the team with Willian injured in the warm up. He's been replaced at late notice by Manuel Solomon. Also a change up front, Daniel James comes in, in place of Bobby de Cordova-Reed, with Mitrovic still serving his lengthy ban. Two sides, they both have a spring in their step. Aston Villa, seven wins of nine, prospects of European football within their reach. But Fulham aiming for a third straight win in the campaign for them, which has gone way beyond all expectations. Fulham with the first attack, Arison Reid with the ball across. And it's a good effort too, and it was a whisker wide. Goodness me. Andreas Pereira, great attempt and almost a wonderful start for Fulham. It's an electric start, they get down that Brian side. It's a good ball in slightly behind Pereira, but he does well to try and get the sort of bicycle over and kick in, and he's not far away. I think the Fulham fans actually thought that was in on the side, netting some jeers from the Aston Villa fans, but it's a good start from Fulham. Here goes Moreno once again, always for the running. Got the ball across towards Watkins and down he goes. Nothing given. Big appeal there for a penalty, but the referee, Tom Brammel, said no. VAR will check it. Well, I'm hearing the check is complete. Been looked at for nothing, innit? Just think that angle you see there. Watkins, he does get to the ball first, but there is a little slight touch on the ball. But for me, you've taken the player as well who gets to the ball first. Tessi again, the moment for them. Can't get out. Foul. Tessi went over. Just a sense at the moment that Ville feel a bit hard done by here. Just watching Mbwendie as well. He needs to be careful. He's absolutely livid with the referee's decision. Furious, in fact. Harry Wilson is down here. We understand that he's going to be going off shortly. He's not feeling too well. Bobby de Cordova-Reed, who did lead the attack against Leeds at the weekend. With a player who will be coming on for him. Every Fulham player back in their own box defending this. Swung in again by McGehan and flicked on! There is the opening from Tyro Mings for Aston Villa. Well, the goal had been coming. Tyrone Ming's first goal of the campaign. But as push for Europe continues. Certainly no less than Aston Villa deserve. Aside from the first 30 seconds, they've been the superior team putting all the pressure on and another good ball in by John McGinn. In swinging, bags of pace. And then Tyrone Ming gets himself free. That front post area, lovely flick on. Back across Leino, who's got absolutely no chance. It's a really good header and Aston Villa deservedly have their one nil lead. Look at the joy, the emotion for Unai Emery. Beaming smile from Withers' coach. Very good throw too, up to Ramsey. Good touch by Ramsey. Watkins. Watkins has gone for goal. From defence to attack there, no matter of seconds, Withers, and applauded by the manager. Yeah, rightly so. It's a fantastic counter-attack. Martinez there, finds Ramsey so well. I think the referee, Thomas Bramall, does really well to play the advantage just there. That's a foul, manages to get it away to Watkins, although it does slow the attack down. Manages to get a shot off in the end, but it's swift, isn't it, from Aston Villa? Moreno, closed down by Di Cordova-Reed. It's a free kick for the bench, not happy about that at all. Yellow card too for Bobby Di Cordova-Reed. Luiz with the free kick, picked out Buendia. Nice touch for Ramsey. McGinn with the header, and Bertolino fumbles that behind for a corner. Just well arriving, John McGinn at the back stick, fantastic timing. Quick corner, Ashley Young. Watkins was there towards the back post, it's flicked away, but here's Ramsey. Into Watkins, good first touch. Robertson defending well there, he's his body well, got in between, man and ball, possession, and here's McGinn. Watkins, alive, Ollie Watkins going on, oh and he got a shot away too. Did well there Watkins, the angle was tight. He's convinced it's a corner. Goal kick given. John McGinn does really well, wins the ball back. You think he's going to try and cut inside Ollie Watkins, but goes on the outside, hits it with his left foot, we'll see here, probably right, I do think that's a corner and no wonder he's disappointed. Rare sight there, Watkins bearing down upon goal tonight. Never goals in his previous 12 games. A wonderful run. Giving away a big in. And he passed Pellinia. Gwendigier. Made away by Tosin. A lot of them were exposed there, but not made to paint. They were, it's the right ball. Then Donkers doing the third man run, but gets a bit too ahead of the ball. Watkins is making the run. He needs to just hold his run ever so slightly at the penalty spot, and that's a tapping for him. Get that card now for Ash the Young for this challenge here on Dan James. first time in 10 years they've survived a campaign the top flight. card. No card number 12 this season for Jan Pellinian. Traore's made the move here. There's a slip by Robinson. Traore. Robinson came back. East Douglas Louise. A chance that from Rage but he had time on the ball. Tosin. I can stay down here. Harrison reads in the clear. There's the ball. The cross. It's turned in. The flags up now. Well this will be chess. And will there be a let off here for Aston Villa? Will the goal stand? You see there is just ahead of Tyrone Minks who's the deepest Aston Villa defender. But it's the right idea making that late deep run from midfield. Ball comes to him a little bit earlier. He's certainly in the clear. I think he sort of knows as well he was when he was running. I think there's a bit of trepidation almost waiting for the flag to go up as we know now it doesn't. And VAR checks it. Again it's positive signs from Fulham but maybe for me just a little bit too late. Check completes and no goal. Now the marauding Robinson. Lots of white shirts forward here. Dan James coming in. James with the cross is deflected. Acas Martinez and just about Gatler's second time around. 40 years. Freore's tackle there was a bit of a lunge. It's a pull and free kick. Looking for Bertrand Freore. Douglas Luiz, done well. It's McGinn! Chance to kill the game off there. Really nice piece of play, look how animated the manager is there on the side. And Douglas Luiz is really well with this ball. Side of the foot, just a pass across the edge of the box to McGinn, who hits it first time. I think it's the right idea, but just can't find that bottom right-hand corner. Potosin, decored over Reid now. Tinez, Reid again. Been a remarkable charge since then. Vivas, push for European football goes on. Eight wins from ten games now. And they climb to fifth place tonight with five games to go. Tyrone Mings with the winning goal here. Midway through the first half, John McGinn with the corner. Blitz in by Mings, his first goal of the campaign. Five straight home wins, five straight home clean sheets. Unai Emery doing a wonderful job for the park. And Aston Villa are a team who really are on the up. Full-time score, Villa 1, Fulham 0. Hi there, I'm Rebecca Lowe, studio host for NBC's coverage of the Premier League. Don't forget to hit subscribe to watch more videos all season long. For even more Premier League content, from original series to live matches, head over to Peacock and be sure to tune in for Premier League mornings every weekend on USA Network and on Peacock. We will see you over there.