FULHAM chief Tony Khan vowed to make more signings before deadline day after his side were routed 3-0 by Aston Villa.
Jack Grealish starred as the Cottagers put in a torrid performance at home to make it three defeats from three games.
Jack Grealish led the charge as Aston Villa cruised to a 3-0 win at FulhamCredit: Getty – Pool
Conor Hourihane also scored as Villa ran riot at Craven CottageCredit: Andy Hooper-The Daily Mail
Khan said: “I apologise to Fulham supporters for our performance tonight. We’ve looked to add centre-backs since Wembley.
“I’m sorry we haven’t yet as two got COVID and we lost a free we thought was close.
“We had another issue with a fourth CB. I promise players in and better efforts from this squad.”
Grealish stole the show with a performance sure to seal his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
Scott Parker’s Fulham could barely get close to the playmaker all evening as Villa maintained their surprise 100 percent start to the season.
They were behind after just four minutes when John McGinn’s chip over the top picked out Grealish for an unerring finish.
And their fate was well and truly sealed 11 minutes later when McGinn laid-off Grealish’s low cross for Conor Hourihane to hammer home from close range.
It means Fulham remain as pointless as celebrity fan Richard Osman and are already stuck at the bottom of the table.
Tyrone Mings’ goal early in the second half left Fulham stunnedCredit: Reuters
Grealish opened the scoring in the 4th minute after jinxing his way through to goalCredit: Getty – Pool
Parker is hoping to conclude a deal for Brazilian centre-half Marlon Santos from Sassuolo this week and it’s clear that he’s going to need all the defensive help he can get.
The last time Fulham were in the Premier League they didn’t keep a clean sheet in their first 18 games, conceded 81 goals and were relegated straight back to the Championship.
It’s still very early days but the writing is already on the Craven Cottage walls that history could be about to repeat itself unless they get their act together pretty damned sharpish.
Villa, though, are barely recognisable as the team who avoided the drop by the skin of their teeth last season.
They are playing with a real swagger and go into Thursday’s Carabao Cup clash with Stoke looking for their fifth straight win.
Hourihane doubled Villa’s lead in the 15th minuteCredit: Reuters
Mings took advantage of a set-play scramble to score minutes into the second halfCredit: PA:Press Association
New signings Ollie Watkins, Matty Cash and Emiliano Martinez are already making an impression and Bernard Traore is biding his time on the bench following his recent £17million move from Lyon.
Watkins should have put this teatime special to bed before the six o’clock news was even finished but headed wide from Hourihane’s cross just before half-time.
But Fulham’s defending was so half-hearted that further chances were sure to materialise.
And so it proved just three minutes after the break when Tyrone Mings was handed the freedom of the penalty-area to secure the three points.
Fulham couldn’t get out of first gear as they produced a flat performanceCredit: Andy Hooper-The Daily Mail
Villa have won both of their games in the new seasonCredit: Reuters
Once again it was Grealish who set Villa on their way, drawing the foul from Denis Odoi for Hourihane’s free-kick into the danger zone.
At six feet four inches tall and with a foghorn of a voice, you would think it would be pretty hard not to notice Mings.
But Fulham somehow managed it as they left the towering centre-half all alone to stick out a leg and turn the ball past keeper Alphonse Areola.
Parker could barely believe what he was seeing and must already be feeling grateful that he signed a new three-year contract earlier this month.
Scott Parker is yet to find a solution after promotion to the Premier LeagueCredit: Guardian News & Media / Free to use by all titles in perpetuity under NMC agreement
Dean Smith and John Terry will be feeling confident ahead of their next league game against LiverpoolCredit: Andy Hooper-The Daily Mail
He thought his team had reduced the deficit when Bobby De Cordova-Reid netted in the 56th minute.
But even that small crumb of comfort was denied him when VAR ruled that Aleksandar Mitrovic had fouled Ezri Konsa in the build-up.
If Mitrovic spent even half as much time running as he does complaining, Fulham might still have a glimmer of hope.
But right now it’s hard to see where their first points are going to come from.
Ally Samatta transfers to Fenerbahce after just 8 months at Aston Villa
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
