Fulham end seven-game Villa Park losing run with 1-1 draw
Manager Alvaro Arbeloa praised his team's second-half response as Fulham moved to 15th, two points above the Premier League relegation zone.
Fulham recovered from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Aston Villa, ending a sequence of seven defeats at Villa Park. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa said the performance showed his players could compete with any opponent.
John McGinn struck the goal frame with a penalty in the 16th minute before Nicolas Jackson put Villa ahead late in the first half. Fulham equalized shortly after the hour when goalkeeper Zion Suzuki mishandled Alex Iwobi's corner, dropping the ball across the line.
Fulham recorded 55% possession and five shots on target, while Villa managed three. Arbeloa praised his side's ambition and character after halftime, saying they had needed aggression and a strong physical performance against Villa. He felt Fulham might have deserved more than a draw.
The result left Fulham 15th in the Premier League, two points clear of the relegation places. They host Newcastle United on November 7 before the international break, then face Manchester City on November 21, followed by Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur.
