The Tanner Report: Fulham 3 Aston Villa 0

The difference between this season and the previous two relegation ones are wins over our peers.

The last relegation season began with a comprehensive defeat at home to Crystal Palace.

Although we do not meet them until Boxing Day a much better performance and result are likely.

Yesterday’s performance against a luck-lustre Villa was the best of the season.

From the start we took the game to Villa and might have scored 3 goals by half time.  The one that we did was a delicious first time strike from the edge of the penalty box by Harrison Reed.

He is a tenacious midfielder with an outstanding work ethic but not known for his goal-scoring prowess.

Yet he has already scored two this season.

Alex Mitrovic added a second from a penalty.

The decision might seem harsh but Matty Cash’s arm was away from his body and crucially deviated the ball away from the goal.

Tyrone Mings deflected Neeskens Kebano’s cross into the net for the third goal.

The defeat cost Stevie Gerrard his job as his side looked poor and uninspired.

Fulham now have 15 points and play Leeds away, Everton at home, Manchester City away and Manchester United at home before the World Cup break.

If we can get 20 points by then we are in a position of safety, the only concern being the injury to Mitrovic.