LONDON - Jimmy Bullard scored a late winner to earn relegation-haunted Fulham a vital Barclays Premier League victory against Aston Villa at Craven Cottage.
Bullard, who spent 16 months out with a career-threatening knee injury, scored a superb free-kick to give Roy Hodgson his first win since he replaced Lawrie Sanchez as manager.
Midfielder Simon Davies had levelled in the 72nd minute after Aaron Hughes had scored an own goal to put Villa in front four minutes earlier.
Villa were hampered by the loss of new England recruit Gabriel Agbonlahor through injury at half-time - the striker may now be forced to withdraw from the squad to face Switzerland next Wednesday.
Fulham began the game in an ebullient fashion and almost opened the scoring in the second minute but Bullard's 20-yard free-kick was deflected over the bar by Curtis Davies.
In the 12th minute Clint Dempsey's header was cleared off the line by Wilfred Bouma as the home side continued to dominate the early exchanges.
Fulham continued to press forward and looked much the better side with new signing Erik Nevland a constant threat in attack.
In the 20th minute Nevland rose highest to meet a free-kick from Davies but he could not direct his header on target.
For a team chasing a European place this season, Villa were disappointing and Agbonlahor found it difficult to get into the game.
The Villa striker, called up by new England boss Fabio Capello for next week's friendly international against Switzerland, struggled to find any space in attack.
Fulham, with Bullard orchestrating the midfield, just lacked the perfect final ball.
Paul Konchesky tried to find Nevland inside the area in the 19th minute but his pass was quickly cut out by Olof Mellberg.
But Hodgson's side were determined not to let Villa control the game and they continued to cause the visitors problems in defence.
Fulham's clever approach work was continually let down by their inability to place the final ball into the danger area.
Villa's first real attempt on goal arrived on the half-hour when Agbonlahor got clear of the Cottagers' defence and should have won a corner when his shot was deflected wide by goalkeeper Antti Niemi.
Villa winger Shaun Maloney then tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area after a mistake by Chris Baird allowed him the time and space to have a shot.
But Fulham demonstrated they were still dangerous on the counter-attack and seconds later Davies failed to get his left foot over the ball - and his shot bounced tamely into the arms of the waiting Scott Carson.
Another mistake by Baird gave Maloney another chance in the 36th minute but again the winger failed to hit the target.
Villa wasted a chance to opening the scoring six minutes before the break when Maloney's cross eluded the outstretched foot of John Carew on the edge of the six-yard box.
The visitors then lost the services of Agbonlahor at half-time - he was replaced by Marlon Harewood.
Villa looked a little more inventive after the restart and John Carew should have done better with a 20-yard effort which failed to test Niemi.
Bouma was booked by referee Chris Foy in the 62nd minute when he was adjudged to have fouled Dempsey - but the resultant free-kick was wasted.
Villa looked the more likely to break the deadlock and a speculative volley from substitute Harewood bobbled into the hands of Niemi.
And they got their goal in the 68th minute when Hughes - playing against his former club - turned Maloney's corner into his own net under pressure from Carew.
The hosts immediately sent on Brian McBride for his first appearance since dislocating a kneecap in August 2007.
But Fulham were level four minutes later when Bullard supplied a clever pass for Davies to curl the ball past Carson.
And the comeback was complete when Curtis Davies fouled Diomansy Kamara on the edge of the penalty area - setting up Bullard for his free-kick heroics.
