Watkins Ends Drought as McGinn and Buendía Sink Fulham
Relief and celebration swept through Villa Park as Aston Villa finally grabbed their first Premier League win of the season, coming from behind to beat Fulham 3-1. Unai Emery had made it clear this week: the league is the priority, and his players delivered when it mattered most.
Fulham Strike First
The evening started with tension. Only three minutes in, Fulham’s Raúl Jiménez punished Villa’s slow start, heading home from a corner. The Mexican striker, however, left the field injured soon after, his early impact fading into frustration.
Villa looked flat and out of ideas until a moment of quality from Lucas Digne turned the tide. His long ball split the Fulham defence, and Ollie Watkins, desperate to end his goal drought, seized the chance. He cleverly lifted the ball over Bernd Leno, and although Calvin Bassey tried to clear, the ball nestled in the net. Watkins’ relief was clear, celebrating his first strike since May.
McGinn and Buendía Flip the Game
With the game level at the break, Emery introduced Emiliano Buendía, and the Argentine instantly changed the rhythm. His energy sparked the home crowd, and it wasn’t long before Villa struck again.
Lamare Bogarde pressed high, forcing a turnover, and Buendía slid the ball to John McGinn. The captain fired a low drive into the bottom corner to put Villa ahead. Two minutes later, Watkins turned provider, pulling the ball back for Buendía to prod home for 3-1. Emery punched the air with joy on the sidelines as weeks of pressure began to lift.
Late Scares and VAR Drama
Fulham weren’t finished. Youngster Josh King pounced on a loose pass from Emi Martínez, setting up Sasa Lukic for a shot that Ezri Konsa heroically blocked.
King had been lively all night, but controversy followed him. He was booked for diving when chasing a penalty after rounding Martínez, just a week after a similar incident against Brentford. Fulham also appealed for handball against Matty Cash, but VAR waved both claims away.
Fulham boss Marco Silva was furious, picking up a booking for his protests. Post-match, he fumed about the decisions but refused to blame King’s reputation.
A Fresh Start?
For Villa, this was about more than just three points. After a shaky start to the campaign, Emery’s men showed fight, composure, and attacking spark when they needed it most. Watkins broke his drought, McGinn led from the front, and Buendía proved his worth off the bench.
The league table may not look perfect yet, but this victory gives Villa a platform to build on — and finally, their season feels alive.
