Blistering Bullard's the ideal tonic for Fulham

It was meant to be the afternoon when Villa's England contingent proved the future is bright to Fabio Capello.

But Gabriel Agbonlahor's hamstring injury, two crucial mistakes by Curtis Davies and poor positioning by Scott Carson meant a miserable afternoon instead.

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Roy Hodgson's side more than held their own and even though an Aaron Hughes own goal put Villa ahead after the break, Fulham showed their stomach for the battles ahead when Simon Davies put them back on level terms before Bullard's crucial strike.

The victory was only Fulham's third of the season and Hodgson's first since taking over.

And the Fulham manager was full of praise for how Bullard has bounced back 16 months after a serious knee injury.

Also praising skipper Brian McBride, who came off the bench for his first action since August,

Hodgson said: "We have to give them both enormous credit. They've both had injuries that lesser players might not have had the resolve to come back from.

"Full credit to Jimmy for taking the free-kick so well. It's a first step on the road to recovery and we get ourselves slightly closer to the other teams. It's important we maintain this level of performance over the next 13 games."

Hodgson revealed that his players will decide on what punishment defender Chris Baird will receive for Thursday's training-ground fracas that left Bullard with a cut and bruised nose.

But if it prompts performances like this from Bullard, in only his fifth game back, Baird might just get off with a warning.

"I caught one across the bugle," said Bullard. "We're friends now and there are no hard feelings.

"I still can't believe I scored. Just to be out there kicking a ball is fantastic. I was on my last legs in the last five minutes. The boys at the back were fantastic. We still believed even though we went a goal down."

Given Villa's impressive record on the road, Hodgson opted for caution by employing debutant Erik Nevland as a lone striker.

But it was the home side who showed far more adventure early on Carson's handling was tested inside seven minutes, but the England keeper dealt with Clint Dempsey's speculative effort comfortably enough.

Dempsey went to close against moments later, his goalbound header needing a clearance from Wilfred Bouma.

Villa were struggling to get into their stride, the absence of suspended Ashley Young particularly noticeable.

Indeed, a dangerous Shaun Maloney cross five minutes before the break was their only attack worthy of note.

Matters were hardly helped when Agbonlahor was forced off at the break and the restart was delayed when referee Chris Foy was forced to escort a break-dancing Billy the Badger off the pitch before play could resume, the Fulham mascot's dismissal earning a chorus of boos from the home support.

And it looked as if there would be little for Billy to celebrate when Villa old boy Hughes handed the visitors the lead.

Maloney's corner was flicked on by Olof Mellberg, but as Hughes attempted to clear he only succeeded in slicing the ball past his own keeper.

But just four minutes later Simon Davies gave Fulham a glimmer of hope. Bullard swung in a cross to the near post after some neat buildup play and Davies was on hand to beat his Villa namesake to the ball before applying a neat finish.

Hope then turned to reality.

Villa's Davies picked up a booking for a rash challenge on substitute Diomansy Kamara 25 yards out, allowing Bullard to size up an effort on goal. And with one swing of the boot the months of rehabilitation paid off as he saw his effort curl over the wall and wrongfoot Carson.