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Fulham's quest for a Europa League spot was put back on track after Diomansy Kamara inspired them to a comfortable 3-1 win over a listless Aston Villa side at Craven Cottage.

A Danny Murphy penalty - won by Kamara - and a stylish brace from the Ivorian forward gave the hosts the victory in a match they controlled.

Winger Ashley Young was on target for Villa, who are in serious danger of losing fifth spot to Everton after challenging for the title only a few months previously.

It was a man-of-the-match display for Kamara, who only started because Andy Johnson was injured and Bobby Zamora left on the bench after recovering from his own fitness problems.

The former Portsmouth and West Brom man's performance was all the more impressive given that, last month, he returned from a serious knee injury that had threatened to end his time at the Cottage.

The Whites' attempt to qualify for Europe after narrowly avoiding relegation last season was dealt a blow when they lost to Chelsea last week, but this result highlighted the good job boss Roy Hodgson has done despite limited resources and a relatively uncompetitive squad.

They also played the kind of football worthy of a place in continental competition, stroking the ball around neatly and patiently, rarely losing possession and generally looking organised and composed at the back.

Villa, meanwhile, lacked confidence and guile and seemed to miss a creative spark to add to their work-rate and direct style of play.

Fulham started the better side with Erik Nevland forcing Brad Friedel into action with a fourth-minute save from a header created by a particularly advanced Paul Konchesky's left-wing cross.

They took the lead soon afterwards when, following an excellent short-passing move, Kamara was felled in the box by a clumsy James Milner challenge.

Skipper Murphy sent a rasping spot-kick past Friedel - who guessed correctly but was unable to reach the ball - into the bottom right corner for a seventh-minute lead.

The Whites should have been two up five minutes later but Nevland stole the ball off Konchesky just as he was about to pull the trigger following a great run down the left and the Norwegian fired over when he should have made Friedel work.

Nevland was left to rue his haste and miss three minutes later when, after Fulham's defence failed to deal with a low cross from Milner, Young arrived at the far post to smash the ball past Mark Schwarzer into the top right for a 15th-minute leveller.

It was Villa's first real chance and the match subsequently opened up for both sides.

Zoltan Gera's far post shot forced an excellent save from Friedel after the visitors failed to clear a corner, while Kamara had successive efforts blocked and deflected over from a similar set-play.

Villa, meanwhile, struck the woodwork when Gabriel Agbonlahor led a counter attack down the right and found Young, who had an acute angle for the finish narrowed by Schwarzer's huge, diving frame.

A 1-1 scoreline at half-time would have pleased Villa more than Fulham, and the hosts came out for the second half with a look of urgency.

Villa gave the ball away from the restart and Fulham broke to send Kamara clean through and with a simple, low finish to Friedel's right into the bottom-left corner.

The Villans rallied but their pressure left gaps at the back and, just before the hour mark, Fulham won a corner after Gera almost wriggled past Curtis Davies.

Konchesky's delivery was headed on by Brede Hangeland and the ball dropped to Kamara who, with his back to goal, executed a delightful backheel past Friedel to make it 3-1.

Fulham could afford to relax and sat back absorbing Villa's incessant but uninspiring barrage of high balls.

O'Neill gambled by bringing on Nigel Reo-Coker and Emile Heskey for full-backs Luke Young and an angry Nicky Shorey.

It initially had little effect, with Heskey barely getting a touch and Fulham continuing to repel any attacks Villa put their way.

The last 10 minutes were somewhat of a rearguard action for Hodgson's side, who had a lucky escape when Heskey put over from close range after the ball spun quickly to him following a Davies knock-down from a Milner cross.

But they held on without too much difficulty to move seventh in the standings, while Villa are only one point ahead of sixth-placed Everton, who have a superior goal difference.

Reda Maher / Eurosport