Suzuki own goal earns Fulham draw after Jackson puts Aston Villa ahead

Aston Villa were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham at Villa Park on Saturday after goalkeeper Zion Suzuki’s own goal cancelled out Nicolas Jackson’s first-half opener. The result denied Unai Emery’s side a fifth victory in six games, while Fulham took their tally to seven points from their past three Premier League matches, according to The Guardian’s match report by Peter Lansley.

Watch the highlights:

Villa had an earlier opportunity to take control from the penalty spot. Sander Berge was judged to have handled a header from Leon Goretzka, giving John McGinn his first penalty for the club outside shootouts. The midfielder struck the crossbar, leaving the home side without a reward from that chance. Fulham also threatened before the break, with Oscar Bobb drawing a fingertip save from Suzuki.

Jackson broke the deadlock in the 39th minute after Johan Manzambi released him with a through ball into the inside-left channel. The striker carried the move into the penalty area, worked his way past Timothy Castagne and David Affengruber and finished to put Villa ahead. It was his eighth goal of the season and his fifth in his past five league appearances.

Fulham, who arrived after successive league wins, continued to create openings in the second half. Antonee Robinson delivered a cross from the left that brought Suzuki and Gonzalo García into contact with the ball before it went out for a goal kick. Another opportunity followed an Alex Iwobi corner: Castagne headed it on, García and Shea Charles both touched the ball, and it ended up on the roof of the net.

The equaliser came midway through the second half, shortly after Suzuki had saved an Iwobi header. From Iwobi’s subsequent corner, the goalkeeper dropped the ball over his own line despite being under no pressure, The Guardian reported. That mistake erased the lead Jackson had established and secured a point for the visitors.

Villa had entered the match with the chance to climb to seventh in the Premier League. Instead, they finished level with a Fulham team that sustained its recent run of results. Emery’s side now turn to Tuesday’s trip to Barcelona before facing Manchester United the following Sunday.