Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham

Shaun Maloney snatched three points for Aston Villa with an injury-time goal in a pulsating Premiership encounter.

Clint Dempsey gave the visitors the lead on six minutes, the midfielder pouncing on Diomansy Kamara's deflected through-ball and rifling his shot home.

Ashley Young equalised on 51 minutes when his cross-shot was deflected past Kasey Keller by Zat Knight.

And substitute Maloney pounced on Young's through-ball at the death to seal a deserved win for his side.

Steven Davis had the first chance of the game when his shot was blocked after a sweet cross-field ball from Alexey Smertin and a cushioned pass from Simon Davies.

And Dempsey put Fulham ahead shortly after, slamming his shot past Scott Carson in the Villa goal.

The lively Young had Villa's first sight on goal, but the 22-year-old forward shot straight at Keller, on debut after signing on a free transfer from Borussia Moenchengladbach, with players awaiting a cut-back.

Young shot wide on 16 minutes after a mazy run before John Carew was dispossessed by Paul Konchesky when through on goal.

Fulham should have had a penalty shortly after when defender Craig Gardner blocked Kamara's left-footed shot with his arm.

But the hosts, looking for their first home win since February, took control as the first half progressed.

On 32 minutes, Carew should have done better with only the keeper to beat, the Norwegian striker shooting tamely at Keller.

And three minutes later, Young teed up Gabriel Agbonlahor with a slide-rule pass but the England U-21 striker dragged his right-footed shot wide.

Carew, afforded acres of space by the Fulham defenders, hit the bar with a buller header in first-half injury time and the half-time whistle was greeted by boos by the Villa faithful.

Immediately after the restart, Villa substitute Luke Moore sent a rasping shot just wide after a clever turn before Kamara struck the base of Carson's post at the other end.

But Martin O'Neill's half-time team talk did pay dividends when Young, who gave Fulham's defenders a torrid time all afternoon, levelled after another teasing run.

Moore forced Keller into a fine sprawling save on 59 minutes before Carew, once again rising above the Fulham markers, sent a header wide.

Carew, who could have scored four or five, ballooned another free header over the bar before Villa thought they had snatched a winner on 70 minutes.

The teasing Young was checked by Chris Baird on the edge of the area and referee Steve Bennett had blown his whistle before Moore could slot the ball home.

Baird was dismissed for a second bookable offence but Young bent the resulting free-kick inches over the bar.

Gareth Barry slotted home with two minutes remaining but was ruled off-side, but Maloney made Villa's dominance tell after a magnificent through-ball from Young.