Ryan Sessegnon scored the only goal as Fulham boosted their hopes of finishing in the European places by beating Aston Villa at Craven Cottage.

The win nudged the Cottagers up to 10th, at least for a short while, and they are now just two points behind sixth-placed Brighton and right among the other sides in the European mix.

Sessegnon, who signed a contract extension at Fulham this week, swept in the rebound after Emi Martinez saved Sasa Lukic's header late in the first half.

The hosts also had a headed goal by Timothy Castagne ruled out for a foul on Villa goalkeeper Martinez in the second half.

With England head coach Thomas Tuchel watching, Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers missed chances for Villa and Unai Emery's side were lacklustre at the start of a crucial spell for them.

They play Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday.

Victory over Fulham would have all but confirmed a top-five finish prior to that tie, but Villa instead still have work to do to confirm Champions League qualification via the league.

After just one win in six games, Fulham's season was threatening to peter out.

This victory ensures there is still something to play for in their final four matches of the campaign.

Marco Silva's side have tricky fixtures against Arsenal and Bournemouth to come, but afterwards they face Wolves and Newcastle – two winnable matches as they aim to pip the likes of Brentford, Everton and the Cherries to a European place.

Silva was incensed when Castagne's header was ruled out. He will argue Martinez had as much of Sander Berge's shirt as the Norway international did of the Argentine's.

In truth, he need not have worried. Silva's side largely held Villa at arm's length in seeing out the match.

Captain Joachim Andersen, who made more tackles, interceptions and clearances then any team-mate, was superb.

The only disappointment came with match-winner Sessegnon, whose new deal takes him until the end of next season, limping off injured in the second half.

Defeat should not be met by panic at Villa.

At worst they will end the weekend with a seven-point advantage over those outside of the Champions League places with four games to go. They will almost certainly have enough.

Emery cut a frustrated figure for much of the second half, however.

His side were loose on the ball and, without the thrust offered by injured midfielder Amadou Onana, struggled to break through Fulham's solid defensive shape.

Watkins followed his well-crafted first-half chance by blazing an effort over in the second.

After six goals in his previous five games, it would be harsh to read too much into the striker's showing when it comes to debating whether he will make England's World Cup squad, but his miss was untimely with Tuchel watching on.

He was substituted with 10 minutes to go and replaced by Tammy Abraham, who wasted a chance of his own.

An exasperated Emery bounded around his technical area in response to that miss. He will hope for much better at Forest on Thursday.

Fulham make the short trip to Arsenal for their next match on Saturday, 2 May at 17:30 BST.

Villa's next Premier League fixture, after Thursday's Europa League semi-final against Forest, is a home game against Tottenham on Sunday, 3 May (19:00 BST).