Gabby Agbonlahor struck twice in four minutes as Villa got their Champions League charge back on track with their first win at Craven Cottage since 2004.

A precise 40th-minute header followed up by a wonderful turn and finish a minute before half-time ended Agbonlahor’s eight-game run without a goal, handed the claret and blues their first Premier League victory – and goals – in five matches.

It was no less than they deserved after complementing an excellent first-half attacking performance with a resolute defensive display after the break as victory ensured they climbed above Manchester City into sixth – for 24 hours at least.

Manager Martin O’Neill stuck with the same side which drew with Arsenal in midweek and they had a chance to lead as early as the third minute, only for Emile Heskey to head over.

While the pitch did neither side any favours, both persisted and the Cottagers came close to an opener on eight minutes, when Simon Davies capitalised on a weak defensive header from Luke Young only to see his shot saved well bygoalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Villa slowly began to dominate proceedings and Ashley Young had a great chance to make it three in as many games when Milner slipped him towards goal, but the winger scuffed his shot and Mark Schwarzer in the home goal saved comfortably.

The veteran Aussie goalkeeper then did brilliantly to deny Luke Young, when the Villa full-back’s diving header looked destined for the top-right corner.

But Fulham always looked dangerous on the counter, and they had a gilt-edged opportunity in the 37th minute when Zamora raced through but just as the Fulham forward was set to pull the trigger, Cuellar’s last-ditch recovery tackle cleared for a corner.

Just three minutes later Roy Hodgson’s men came to rue the missed opportunity, as Agbonlahor stole in ahead of Smalling to head Petrov’s cross beyond Schwarzer.

It was the striker’s first goal since scoring the winner at Manchester United in December and, with his confidence restored, the Brummie hitman was celebrating again a minute before the break.

With his back to goal on the right side of the Fulham box, Agbonlahor controlled Carlos Cuellar’s ball into feet superbly, rolled Brede Hangeland with embarrassing ease and curled a delightful shot inside the left post.

It capped an excellent first half from the claret and blues and they looked comfortable, soaking up some inevitable pressure from the home side after the break, restricting them to a handful of opportunities.

Former Albion star Zoltan Gera saw a speculative shot fly past the post, while a Smalling header was hooked away to safety by James Collins.

Agbonlahor got a sniff of a hat-trick with just Hangeland to beat to go clean through, but this time the big Norway defender triumphed in the tussle, making a fine sliding recovery tackle.

Fulham then had the ball in the net late on when substitute David Elm steered a shot inside the left post, but the goal was ruled out for offside.