Barry wasteful as Villa held

The England midfielder, who has vowed to remain with Villa until at least next summer, could have had a hat-trick but his finishing deserted him.

For Roy Hodgson's Fulham, a second successive away point against top-four opposition leaves them unbeaten in four and moves them into eighth place.

Barry missed the first decent chance of the game after 24 minutes. Ashley Young was the creator with an inswinging cross which was met by the England midfielder at the far post but he directed his header just wide.

Young had a half-chance when Gabriel Agbonlahor squared the ball to him on the edge of the box but he summed up proceedings by shooting high over Mark Schwarzer's goal.

Steve Sidwell was also guilty of a glaring miss after 39 minutes when it looked easier to score. Young arrowed in a free-kick from 30 yards out and Sidwell timed his run perfectly to find himself unmarked six yards out but he headed over when he needed only the deftest of touches.

Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel was called into meaningful action for the first time two minutes later to tip over a 20-yarder from Clint Dempsey.

Schwarzer came to Fulham's rescue when he tipped a close-range header from Barry onto the crossbar from another dangerous Young free-kick.

Friedel then parried away a fierce angled drive from Simon Davies at the expense of a corner.

Barry missed another good chance when he headed across the goal when unmarked from a Young free-kick, as the game petered out into a frustrating stalemate.