Premier League: Aston Villa 2 Fulham 2

Aston Villa and Fulham shared the points in an uninspiring game that only came to life late at Villa Park.

Villa started the brightest with Kyle Walker and Stewart Downing linking up well and causing problems down the right.

And they had the ball in the net as early as the sixth minute, Darren Bent following in after Downing’s effort was saved by Mark Schwarzer, but the striker was ruled to be offside when Downing shot.

However, Villa did take the lead seven minutes later. A superb cross from the outside of Downing’s left boot was headed into his own net by John Pantsil.

Fulham created little in the first half, with just a couple of long-range efforts from Steve Sidwell, one that goalkeeper Brad Friedel was forced to parry.

But it was a similar move in the seventh minute of the second half that set up the equaliser.

Friedel again failed to hold Sidwell’s stinging shot, but this time Andy Johnson was on hand to head the rebound down, over the keeper and into the net.

Villa regained the lead thanks to a wonderful strike from home debutant Walker in the 72nd minute.

The defender was the last man back when he picked up the ball in the centre circle, but he powered past Sidwell before firing a wonderful low, curling shot from 30 yards into the bottom corner.

Fulham levelled again six minutes later, when Danny Murphy’s in-swinging corner found the head of Clint Dempsey who powered home.

Both sides had chances to win it in the final minutes and Fulham keeper Schwarzer did well to tip away an Ashley Young free kick.

Meanwhile, his opposite number Friedel showed strong hands to keep out a Johnson shot from inside the box, and Chris Baird fired a volley inches wide in injury time.