Fulham 0-3 Aston Villa

Aston Villa put in an impressive performance to sweep aside Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage and continue their 100 per cent start to the season.

Captain Jack Grealish set the visitors on their way after just four minutes before Conor Hourihane doubled the advantage shortly afterwards as he finished off a well-worked move, with the industrious John McGinn claiming both assists.

Tyrone Mings then made sure of victory when he poked home Hourihane’s 48^th-minute free-kick, securing a first league triumph on the road since New Year’s Day.

It is only the third time in the club’s history Villa have won their opening two Premier League fixtures, coming after 1995/96 and 99/00, with Dean Smith’s side now having won each of their four opening matches in all competitions.

Victory in the capital was also secured via another clean sheet, a first away from home in the top flight in 27 attempts.

Head coach Smith named an unchanged starting XI for the encounter, keeping faith with the same line-up who defeated Sheffield United 1-0 last Monday to open the club’s 2020/21 Premier League campaign with all three points.

And the visitors got off to a dream early start as Grealish raced on to McGinn’s inch-perfect ball over the top and slotted past Alphonse Areola.

It was soon 2-0 as Grealish this time found McGinn and he laid the ball off to Hourihane to sweep home and put the visitors firmly in control.

Ollie Watkins came within inches of a third after 27 minutes, narrowly failing to connect with Trezeguet’s cross, before heading wide another opportunity on the stroke of half-time.

But Villa did make it 3-0 three minutes after the restart as Mings timed his run to perfection to beat the offside trap and meet Hourihane’s free-kick and poke home past Areola.

Bobby Decordova-Reid saw his effort ruled out in the 55^th minute for a foul in the build-up, referee Stuart Attwell checking his pitchside monitor via VAR before chalking off the goal.

Both sides went close to adding to the scoreline in the final quarter of the clash, Grealish and Mings going closest for the visitors, with substitute Jacob Ramsey also making his Premier League debut as the Villans triumphed away at Fulham for the first time since 2010.

Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz (Nakamba 87), Hourihane (Ramsey 77), Trezeguet (Traore 84), Watkins, Grealish (c).

Subs: Steer, Elmohamady, Hause, Davis.