LONDON: Fulham are back in the Premier League after a lone 20th-minute goal from match of the match and captain Tom Cairney defeated Aston Villa in the promotion play-off at Wembley.

Villa were left to rue missed opportunities as they prepare for a third consecutive season in England’s second tier.

Scotland international Cairney gave Fulham the lead from the first real chance of the game, converting an assist from Ryan Sessegnon.

The latter went close to doubling the lead on the half-hour mark after Aboubakar Kamara’s cross from the right deflected off John Terry but he headed straight at the Villa goalkeeper.

The second-half saw more urgency from Steve Bruce’s Villa but Grealish missed two opportunities and they could not even take advantage agter Fulham’s Denis Odoi was sent off for a second yellow card.

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