Aston Villa 1-1 Fulham: Pressure eased on Alvaro Arbeloa as extraordinary mistake salvages draw

Zion Suzuki’s embarrassing howler for Aston Villa allowed Fulham to earn a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.

The Villa goalkeeper spilled a corner behind the line for a hapless own goal midway through the second half as the Cottagers made it four points from two games to ease pressure on boss Alvaro Arbeloa.

They were worthy of the point as they responded well to Nicolas Jackson’s first-half opener for the hosts, after John McGinn missed an early penalty.

The Senegal striker bagged his fifth Premier League goal in five games, but Villa were unable to build on last week’s impressive win over Manchester City as their inconsistent start to the season continued.

Villa had assumed early control and Leon Goretzka got his head to two corners, the first going just over and the second going straight at Bernd Leno.

But it was during the second that the VAR spotted a handball as Goretzka’s header flicked the outstretched arm of Sander Berge on its way through to the Fulham goalkeeper.

Huge error: Zion Suzuki

PA

Referee Sam Barrott awarded a penalty, but McGinn got his spot-kick all wrong as it crashed on to the crossbar and Fulham survived.

The hosts continued to push, but it was the visitors who almost took the lead just after the half-hour.

They hit Villa on the break as Antonee Robinson surged out of defence and rolled the ball across goal, with Gonzalo Garcia dummying for Oscar Bobb, whose shot was brilliantly turned over by Suzuki.

Instead, it was Villa that took the lead in the 38th minute as Jackson’s hot streak continued. Winger Alysson’s clever dummy allowed Johan Manzambi to surge forward as he played in Jackson, who danced into the penalty area and slotted under Leno.

Fulham ended the first half strongly in search of a response and they were also on the front foot after the restart.

They were close to a leveller when Robinson was played in down the left and his ball across goal was diverted just wide of a post by a sliding Gonzalo.

Bobb then glided into the area and had a shot blocked with Shea Charles also curling over.

Villa briefly threatened when Ian Maatsen’s shot was deflected off Pau Torres, but Leno stuck out a boot to keep it out.

The Cottagers continued to dominate and the equaliser should have come in the 63rd minute, but Iwobi missed a sitter by putting his header straight at Suzuki, with Gonzalo’s effort from the rebound deflected for a corner.

But it was from the set-piece that Fulham did eventually get on level terms and it was a real clanger by Suzuki.

Iwobi put an inswinging delivery underneath the crossbar and the Japan international inexplicably dropped the ball behind the line.

Villa had lost all fluency and struggled to regain it until the final few moments when they made a late push for victory.

Torres headed a free-kick just wide and Alejandro Garnacho had a shot blocked as they shared the spoils.