Suzuki makes string of saves before conceding own goal in draw with Fulham

Report and free match highlights as Aston Villa are held to a 1-1 draw at home to Fulham

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Nicolas Jackson scored his eighth goal in 10 games but an error from goalkeeper Zion Suzuki meant Aston Villa had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Fulham.

Villa should have gone ahead after 15 minutes when they were awarded a penalty following a review when Sander Berge was penalised for a handball in the box as he jumped with Leon Goretzka at a corner.

With neither Emi Buendia nor Ross Barkley in the line-up, John McGinn stepped up to take the penalty but the Scotland international - who had only ever taken a penalty for Villa in a shoot-out - smashed the ball against the crossbar and over.

The home side nearly paid a heavy price for McGinn's miss straightaway after a Fulham counter-attack, but Oscar Bobb was brilliantly denied the opener by a one-handed save from Suzuki who tipped the ball over.

Villa went in front after Timothy Castagne's error allowed Johan Manzambi to play a ball through to Jackson, who cut inside and beat David Affengruber, before wriggling clear of the recovering Castagne to slide the ball past Bernd Leno.

There were chances at both ends in the second half, with Victor Lindelof almost extending Villa's when he directed Ian Maatsen's effort towards goal only to be denied by a reflex save from Leno.

Suzuki was forced to divert a Matty Cash away from the on-rushing Gonzalo Garcia before saving an Alex Iwobi header from eight yards out.

But Villa's goalkeeper made an unforced error when he allowed an Iwobi corner to slip through his fingers and bounce over the goal-line before he could retrieve it as Fulham drew level.

Suzuki got down at his near post to make a late save to deny Antonee Robinson, before Pau Torres headed wide from 12 yards out at the other end as both sides had to settle for a point apiece.

There was something rather telling about the reaction of the Fulham players to their travelling supporters at full-time. This was not a team celebrating a point like they had got away with something. It was a team that knew they had given their fans plenty to shout about.

Fulham were excellent for large parts of their 1-1 draw at Aston Villa. They took the game to Unai Emery's side, dictated the tempo for long spells and created enough opportunities to leave Villa Park feeling they should have taken more.

The underlying numbers reinforce the eye test. Fulham generated 2.2 expected goals, the fifth-highest total recorded by any visiting team at Villa Park since the start of the 2023/24 season. They also registered 40 touches inside the Villa penalty area. That is serious territorial dominance against a side who rarely allow opponents to dictate terms on home soil.

This feels like a Fulham team beginning to find its feet. There is more purpose to their attacking play, more conviction in possession and a growing belief that they can compete with the division's better sides.

5: CHANCE! Iwobi strikes from 15 yards but blazes it over the crossbar. Terrible execution.

7: CHANCE! Goretzka rises highest at a corner but plants his header over the crossbar

14: PENALTY! The referee takes to the mic and awards Aston Villa a penalty after Berge is penalised for handball

16: MCGINN HITS BAR! The crossbar is absolutely rattled by the Villa man. It was a fierce strike, but the ball comes back off the woodwork.

32: SAVE! Fulham counter and Bobb only has the goalkeeper to beat from 10 yards but Suzuki reacts with one-hand to tip it over.

39: GOAL! Jackson backs Castagne and Affengruber towards their own goal and turns them one way and the other. It's awful defending but Jackson takes full advantage, finding the bottom corner.

48: CHANCE! Cash's ball is flung into the middle which Suzuki gets a hand to, stopping Garcia from getting a tap-in as the ball hits the striker and deflects wide.

61: SHOT! Great trickery from Bobb, his effort is blocked and Charles comes in on the rebound. It's a precise effort but it's the wrong side of the post.

65: GOAL! Iwobi swings a juicy corner right into the six-yard box and Suzuki allows it to slip through his fingers and over the goal-line.

80: SAVE! Garcia flicks one to Robinson in acres of space. Cash can't touch the Fulham man who hits one from the angle. Suzuki gets down to stop it.

90+1: CHANCE! Torres heads wide from from eight yards out and sinks to his knees.