‘World’s best’ Emi Martinez sparks victory for Aston Villa at Fulham

Moments make matches. Difference makers make moments. In Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa possess two such players they can thank for their newly-earned status among the Premier League elite.

With the game at a sun-kissed Craven Cottage tantalisingly poised at 1-1 just before the half-hour, Martinez plunged to his left to hold on to a weakly taken Andreas Pereira penalty and retain parity for his side.

Watkins chose the 59th minute to make his own telling contribution, a stooping header as he shifted his body weight away from goal to reach Youri Tielemans’ out-swinging corner, but which was timed to such perfection that it drew admiring gasps from the Fulham supporters as well as the jubilant Villa throng.

Five minutes later, Watkins used his pace to draw a challenge from Joachim Andersen that was deemed worthy of a red card and Villa’s ascent to fourth place was assured.

There were other moments, too, of course – a goal apiece in a frantic opening 10 minutes full of attacking verve, an own goal from Issa Diop moments after replacing Andersen and Villa substitute Jaden Philogene’s own red card for a second bookable offence.

Yet what will stay in the memory are the telling and timely contributions of Martinez and Watkins.

Villa manager Unai Emery said: “Emiliano, in my opinion, is the best goalkeeper in the world. That means that we need him in moments like today. I was dreaming that he saved the penalty, and he did.

“Ollie Watkins is so consistent in how he works for the team and he scored a fantastic goal today. I’m very happy and proud of everyone today.”

Fulham have their own player for the moments that matter in Raul Jimenez. The Mexican continues to surge back towards the form that made him one of the Premier League’s most feared strikers prior to the horrendous head injury he suffered at Arsenal five years ago.

It was Jimenez whose strength held off Pau Torres before he struck Fulham in front, although the forward ought to have scored again minutes after Morgan Rogers’ deflected strike had brought the visitors level.

Fulham manager Marco Silva acknowledged as much. He said: “In the decisive moments of the match we were not ruthless and clinical. The penalty would have given us more confidence, but overall we were not at the level that we are normally at.”

The match contained plenty of controversy, too. Fulham’s penalty arrived courtesy of a VAR review which decided that Matty Cash, less than a yard away, had handled a Jimenez header.

Then, when Watkins raced clear and fell under Andersen’s challenge, no review was deemed necessary.

In the dying moments of injury time, the numbers were evened up when Villa substitute Philogene was dismissed for a second bookable offence for bundling over Reiss Nelson.

The undeniable truth was that Villa were convincing victors. They have already earned 10 points from losing positions this season, while their points tally from their opening eight fixtures is their highest in the Premier League for 26 years.