Fulham 2 Aston Villa 1

Fulham have unleashed their secret weapon on those embroiled in the relegation struggle but, rather than a new Dutch manager with fresh ideas and a lofty status as a coach, theirs is a temperamental Bulgarian whose reputation would normally precede him.

Dimitar Berbatov had hardly stirred this season, his mood reflecting a player apparently with little appetite for a relegation scrap after a career largely spent competing for honours.

His agent had been quoted last week suggesting the time was close for him to jump ship, talk of imminent divorce rather unsettling for Fulham in the troubled context of this season. Yet, if Rene Meulensteen has achieved anything in his first week as manager, he has coaxed form and even drive from the man on whom his team must rely.

A penny for Martin Jol’s thoughts as news of the masterclass to which Berbatov subjected Aston Villa reached the departed Dutchman. The former manager had hoped his team would benefit regularly from this kind of display, with Berbatov creative, constantly involved and, as a result, inspirational in this crucial victory.

His influence was felt most obviously for the second goal, sparked by a flick with the outside of his boot, skill summoned on the pirouette just inside the centre-circle, which liberated Alexander Kacaniklic. The Swede eventually tumbled despite appearing to back into Leandro Bacuna and Berbatov coolly tucked home the penalty.

Inevitably he had been involved in Fulham’s opener, too, with a slick exchange of passes with Ashkan Dejagah, the Iranian eventually slipping a pass to Steve Sidwell. The ex-Villa man wrapped his left foot round the loose ball at full stretch to clip it into the far corner of the net.

Guardian Service