Jimmy Bullard's superb late free-kick gave Roy Hodgson his first victory as Fulham manager as Aston Villa were beaten 2-1 at Craven Cottage.Aaron Hughes had given the visitors the lead midway through the second-half before Simon Davies first-time finish and Bullard's curling 25-yard free-kick four minutes from time handed the Cottagers their first Premier League win in three months.

Hodgson handed debuts to Erik Nevland, Leon Andreasen and Brede Hangeland whilst Brian McBride was named on the bench after an injury lay-off of nearly six months.

Bullard, also continuing his comeback from a serious knee injury, saw his third minute free-kick deflected harmlessly over Scott Carson's crossbar before the Villa keeper was forced into a diving save to smother Clint Dempsey's low, 25-yard drive in the seventh minute.

Villa began to find their rythym as the first-half wore on and Shaun Maloney should have done better on two occasions just after the half-hour mark. First, he turned Chris Baird inside-out after robbing the Northern Ireland international of possession prior to curling an effort harmlessly wide on 32 minutes before lifting an effort from the left of the penalty area over Antti Niemi's bar with the keeper out of position following Baird's poor clearance.

Maloney was in the mood and five minutes prior half-time, he fooled Danny Murphy on the touchline to make enough space for a fine low coss which was diverted away from Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew by the palm of Niemi.

Agbonlahor's afternoon came to a premature end as he was replaced by Marlon Harewood at half-time after picking up a hamstring injury which must surely put in doubt his participation in England's friendly with Switzerland on Wednesday.

Set-peice specialists Villa were in front on 68 minutes. Maloney's corner from the right was flicked on by Olof Mellberg at the near post before being turned home inadvertently by Aaron Hughes.

Martin Laursen should have put the visitors two up three minutes later when he volleyed another Maloney corner over the crossbar from point-blank range and the Danish defender was made to pay for the miss as Fulham equalised two minutes later.

The Villa defence gave Bullard time and space to deliver a curling cross which was flicked past Carson by Simon Davies for his fourth league goal of the season.

Both sides went in search of a winner but the home side had the momentum. Hangeland's toe-poked effort was straight at Carson after a 78th-minute free-kick caused confusion in the Villa box before Bullard stepped-up to curl home the winner in the 86th minute to give Fulham their first win since beating Reading on November 3rd.

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