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Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery, spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's draw against Fulham:"Disappointing result, but fair. The first half, we tried to dominate the match, to break their high build-up with the press. We did it more times than less. Sometimes, they could break our press and they created one or two chances but saved [by] Zion Suzuki.
"We were creating chances, we were creating goals. We had a penalty shot. We scored a goal. In the first half, we more or less were [there]. Tough match, but we were more or less feeling comfortable. We wanted to carry on the second half in the same way, but we couldn't. I don't know why, but we couldn't. They were demanding it more, they were pushing more. They were creating chances more. We were defending. They scored the goal. They threw enough at it.
"It changed a bit. We started the game pushing, not being organised like we were but pushing. We created two or three chances to score the goal. I think the result is a fair result. Disappointing for us. Not enough, but we keep going forward."
On Suzuki's mistake for the goal:"Yes, but it's part of football. Keeping going forward. Keep improving. Today was about a very good test, but we need to continue working and improving things. Work to do. Try to adapt our players to get better, get confidence.
"Plus, we are improving our results. In our last five matches in the Premier League, three won, two draws. I think it is good, but our poor start is giving us a lack of points in the table. Today improving. A draw is a disappointing result, but a fair result but we must keep going. Next challenge is Tuesday against Barcelona. Next challenge is againstManchester United, so it's not time to stop. It's not time to be focussing on what was before. Our focus is the next match, next days.
"Each competition is giving us a lot of moments tot y to build the team. We are building and we are working to improve."
Aston Villa defender Ian Maatsen, spoke to Sky Sports:"We started the game well. Fulham is a good side, not easy to win [against] but we came in front. We done well but in the second half we gave them more time on the ball. They have good players and they can make chances.
"We were unlucky with the goal but we tried to keep fighting. It's important not to lose these games.
On Suzuki's mistake for the goal:"It's frustrating because don't want to concede goals but it can happen to everyone.
"Zion is a great guy, great goalkeeper. He will learn from it. We will support him and go again."
Did you know?
No Premier League player has scored more goals in all competitions this month than Nicolas Jackson (six), while Jackson is the first Villa player to score in three successive home Premier League games since Morgan Rogers in April 2024.
Since Johan Manzambi's first start for Aston Villa in September, only Erling Haaland and Nicolas Jackson (both 7) have been involved in more goals among Premier League players in all competitions than him (six - three goals, three assists).
Including shootouts, John McGinn took his second penalty for Aston Villa on Saturday. The Scot failed to score either – his first was saved against Brentford in the EFL Cup in September last season.
