Aston Villa kept themselves firmly in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification after edging out Fulham 1-0 on Saturday.

Youri Tielemans’ powerful header from a corner early on proved decisive at Villa Park, where Fulham’s own European aspirations were dented, with as many as 10 teams potentially able to qualify for Europe next season.

Fulham thought they had restored parity shortly after the break, but Ryan Sessegnon’s volleyed equaliser was disallowed for handball during the build-up.

The Cottagers failed to build on that momentum, though, and were lucky not to lose by more as Donyell Malen rattled the crossbar deep in stoppage time.

Villa remain seventh in the Premier League on goal difference, having moved to 60 points, level with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, who play on Sunday and Monday respectively. Fulham stay eighth on 51, but could slip down the standings by the end of the weekend.

How the match unfolded

The hosts’ set-piece threat was evident from the off, and after Ollie Watkins had glanced a header wide.

John McGinn marked his 200th Premier League appearance with a fine assist, as he curled a corner on to the edge of the six-yard box in the 12th minute, finding the unmarked Tielemans, who put a thumping header beyond Bernd Leno.

Tielemans had another sight of goal just before the break. He curled a brilliant shot towards the top-right corner from distance, but Leno, at full-stretch, tipped it wide.

A much-improved Fulham thought they had equalised in the 50th minute as Sessegnon volleyed across goal into the bottom-right corner. However, the referee pulled it back as it bounced off the winger’s arm, with VAR confirming the on-field decision.

Against the run of play, Morgan Rogers played Watkins in behind Fulham’s backline, but the forward’s low shot was too close to Leno.

Harry Wilson and Joachim Andersen had half-chances for Fulham, but Malen missed two big opportunities late on.

He fired wide from close range, right in front of Leno, and then clattered the woodwork with a powerful strike in the fourth minute of second half stoppage-time. Villa, though, were not made to pay for those misses.

Villa get the job done

Last week was one to forget for Villa, whose five-match winning streak in the Premier League was ended by Manchester City before they were knocked out of the FA Cup after a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

In a first half of few chances for both sides, Villa’s set-pieces proved their best route to goal. Joining the Premier League 200 club, McGinn brilliantly picked out Tielemans for the winner, who was not spotted by Fulham’s defence.

Villa struggled to make inroads after that; getting into good positions in the final third but looking hesitant to take on a shot until Tielemans tried his luck from range, only to be denied by Leno’s excellent save.

As Fulham upped the pressure, the hosts were content to play on the counter, but Watkins, looking to become Villa’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League, was missing his golden touch in front of goal.

His replacement, Malen, should have made sure of the points late on. When Rogers’ cross was drilled into the six-yard box, the Dutchman rushed it under pressure from Leno. He did better when holding off Andersen to take on his next chance in stoppage time, but his shot narrowly missed the target.

It is tight in the race for a Champions League spot, but Unai Emery’s team are still right in the mix ahead of a trip to AFC Bournemouth next week.

Fulham slip in European race

Fulham left it late to beat Southampton last weekend, but after getting into the driving seat for eighth place, they are now looking over their shoulders once more.

Like they did in that match, Fulham failed to find their rhythm early on, and despite getting into promising positions, they did not test Emiliano Martinez.

Raul Jimenez broke away to try and meet Sasa Lukic’s free-kick but could not make contact before he bent a cross-shot wide of the far post in an effort that summed up Fulham’s luckless first half in front of goal.

They looked a different side after the break, though, with their urgency and high press unsettling Villa’s backline. And they thought that play had been rewarded when Sessegnon wheeled away in celebration, only for it to be ruled out.

Wilson should have done better with his chance to equalise shortly after. He got caught underneath Calvin Bassey’s dinked cross and could only guide his header into Martinez’s gloves, while Andersen saw an effort from a tight angle smothered by Matty Cash.

Marco Silva’s team also had to finish the game with 10 men as Harrison Reed was forced off with an injury late on after all their substitutes had been used, not helping their comeback cause.

Fulham welcome Everton to Craven Cottage next, though they will first be hoping the teams around them fail to claim points over the rest of this weekend.

Club reports

Aston Villa report | Fulham report

Match officials

Referee: Robert Jones. Assistants: Dan Cook Neil Davies. Fourth official: Gavin Ward. VAR: Chris Kavanagh. Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.