WATCH: Villa misery deepens as Jimenez heads Fulham in front at Villa Park after just three minutes
Aston Villa’s poor start to the season took another blow as it took Fulham just three minutes to take the lead in their Premier League game at Villa Park.
Villa, who are still searching for their first win of the Premier League season, kicked off looking to build on a 1-0 victory over Bologna in the Europa League on Thursday but their task was made harder almost immediately.
Raul Jimenez, formerly of Villa’s rivals Wolves, ghosted in almost unmarked to head in a corner at the far post after losing Lamare Bogarde as the ball came in.
It was the Mexico international’s first league goal of the season after coming into the side to replace Rodrigo Muniz up front.
Unfortunately for Jimenez, he was taken off moments later after appearing to injure his lower midriff in the build-up to the goal, leaving Fulham without a recognised striker as Adama Traore replaced him.
A win for Fulham will take them up to fifth place in the league and secure their fourth conscutive win in all competitions.
Villa are staring at a third defeat of the season and a loss which will keep them in the bottom three.
Aston Villa vs Fulham confirmed team news
Aston Villa confirmed line-up
Emery has decided to stick with Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins in the hope the duo can rediscover their form after a poor start to the campaign.
Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott makes his first Premier League start for the club, with Boubacar Kamara not fit to start as Lamare Bogarde partners John McGinn in midfield.
Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, McGinn, Bogarde, Guessand, Elliott, Rogers, Watkins
Subs: Bizot, Kamara, Maatsen, Torres, Sancho, Buendia, Lindelof, Malen, Burrowes
Fulham confirmed line-up
Fulham have made five changes to the side who beat Cambridge 1-0 in the Carabao Cup, with Bernd Leno and Joachim Andersen to the backline.
Jorge Cuenca, Emile Smith Rowe, Sander Berge and Harry Wilson also return to the starting XI.
Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon, Berge, Lukic Wilson, King, Iwobi, Jimenez
Subs: Lecomte, Cuenca, Robinson, Reed, Cairney, Smith Rowe, Traore, Chukwueze, Kevin