Aston Villa 2 Fulham 1

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was banished from the dug-out after a verbal blast at referee Steve Bennett and then saw substitute Shaun Maloney snatch an injury-time winner in a 2-1 victory over 10-man Fulham at Villa Park.

O'Neill watched the second 45 minutes from the press box after berating Bennett as he left the pitch at half-time.

Ashley Young's deflected shot off Zat Knight, cancelled out Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey's first-half effort and, after Chris Baird had been sent off with 20 minutes remaining, Maloney struck in the dying seconds.

O'Neill was hugged by fans at the final whistle as Villa grabbed its first win of the campaign after spurning a host of chances.

Young in particular was a constant threat and demonstrated why O'Neill paid Watford so much for him as Villa camped in the Fulham half after the break.

But the Villains looked like paying for their lack of a clinical finish in the danger area until Maloney settled the issue.

It means Fulham is still searching for its first away win since September.

Steven Davis had an early opportunity to make his mark against his former employers after seizing on a square pass from Simon Davies but, as he lined up a left-footed drive, he was on the receiving end of an excellent tackle from Mellberg.

But, in the sixth minute, the Cottagers stunned Villa by taking the lead through Dempsey.

Diomansy Kamara's pass took a deflection off a Villa player into the path of the midfielder whose rising left-footed drive beat Scott Carson via the underside of the crossbar.

Fulham then looked to have strong claims for a penalty in the 31st minute when a half volley from Kamara at close range appeared to be handled by Martin Laursen but referee Steve Bennett waved play on.

Carew had another opportunity after the ball cannoned off Konchesky into his path but the ex-West Ham player got back quickly to put him off and the eventual low shot was easily dealt with by Keller.

Gabriel Agbonlahor had a golden chance after 35 minutes from a well measured pass from Nigel Reo-Coker. The England Under-21 player took the ball confidently enough in his stride but slipped his shot the wrong side of the post.

O'Neill had been involved in an angry exchange with referee Bennett when he left the field at half-time - and he took up a place in the press box for the second period after being banished from the dug-out.

After the break, Villa started strongly when Reo-Coker's pass found the impressive Young in space on the left flank and he cut into the area before beating Keller with a cross-shot which took a deflection off Zat Knight into the far corner of the net.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining as Baird picked up a second yellow card for a challenge on Young just outside the box.

Dempsey almost won the game for Fulham in a rare attack but Carson did well to keep out his close-range header before Maloney's late winner sealed Villa its first points of the season.

English Premiership League

Aston Villa 2 (Knight 51og, Maloney 90)
Fulham 1 (Dempsey 6)