Every club has a dozen games under their belt in the Premier League.
But what’s the one thing you wish you could change about Fulham's season?
Was it a poor signing? Disharmony in the boardroom? A player sale that should never have been? Or maybe just some patchy form here and there?
Fulham's 28-year-old Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha said his failed deadline-day move to Bayern Munich "really affected me". (Mail, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Drew Heatley, Fulhamish, external
Well, that was a miserable Premier League run between international breaks.
Sunday’s loss at Aston Villa means we picked up a grand total of one point from four (admittedly tough) games. That puts us 19th in the form table for that period, above only Burnley - who picked up zero.
The main issue is, of course, goals. We scored just two times in the league in these games - one fewer than we scored in one night at Portman Road in the Carabao Cup the other week. Our failure to replace Aleksandar Mitrovic will be the defining story of our season unless we get the chequebook out in January, or bag a striker on loan who is looking for a shop window pre-Euros.
If you’re grasping for a shred of optimism, Fulham fans, here’s one for you: Raul Jimenez finally scored a Premier League goal after 20 months and 32 games. That’s quite the monkey off the striker’s back, just in time for his former club Wolves to arrive at Craven Cottage in a little less than two weeks.
A win for Gary O’Neil’s side at the weekend, as well as victories for Bournemouth and Everton, means we’re now firmly looking down the table.
However, our next half-dozen matches feature four home fixtures, including games against Nottingham Forest, West Ham, and Burnley. That run-up to Christmas is starting to feel season-defining.
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Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha has discussed the possibility of a transfer to German champions Bayern Munich, who he almost joined in the summer, despite signing new contract at Craven Cottage. [Goal], external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
We asked for your views on Sunday's game between Aston Villa and Fulham.
Here are some of your comments:
Aston Villa fans
Anthony: Three points off the top (not getting excited about that as it’s looking like one of those seasons where everyone will drop points). The Nottingham Forest game was the banana skin that was always going to come but we seem to have come back well. The games until the end of December however will show us if we are in touching distance of the top four.
David: Winning is a good habit to develop, but there is still room to improve. If Fulham and Forest can beat our high line, then better teams definitely will. The game also summed up the Watkins conundrum. Scores a goal out of sheer effort, then misses a sitter. You can almost see him overthink finishes at times.
Steve: Although Villa overran Fulham for most of the game, Konsa stood out as the best player on the pitch. At the moment, he's the best English centre-back out there and yes, that includes Maguire.
Fulham fans
Rob: Sleep walking to relegation. Lack of passion and desire. Time to ask questions of Marco and his strategy. Antonee Robinson is a liability. We need impetus from somewhere, anywhere after the break. We have no chance against a hungry Wolves who are playing with desire.
James: Terrible first-half performance. Bringing on Harry Wilson at half-time made an impact. Created some decent chances in the second half but lacked quality in the final third to get back into the game. Good to see Raul Jimenez get his goal. Disappointed overall but Villa deserved the win.
Brian: I believe we are in trouble. No strength in depth. No forward line. Second-season syndrome.
Mark Chapman introduces highlights and analysis of Sunday's five Premier League fixtures.
If you missed Match of the Day 2, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.
And Match of the Day brings you a round-up of Saturday's five games here.
Listen to Sunday's commentaries here:
Aston Villa have won each of their last 13 home games in the league, which is their longest such run in the top-flight since October 1983 (also run of 13). They have also won 14 home games in the Premier League in 2023 – as many as in the previous two calendar years combined.
Fulham have gone six Premier League away games (D3 L3) without a win across the same campaign for the first time since April 2019 (run of 17).
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has been directly involved in 26 Premier League goals across 2023 (18 goals, eight assists), with only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah boasting more involvements across this calendar year.
Antonee Robinson is the only player to have scored multiple own goals in the Premier League this season (two), and the first Fulham player to do so in a single campaign in the top-flight since Chris Baird in 2011-12 (also two).
Fulham’s Raúl Jiménez scored his first Premier League goal in this match since March 2022 v Watford – ending a run of 33 games without a goal in the competition. He had gone 45 shots without scoring in the Premier League prior to this strike.
Fulham boss Marco Silva: "The way we played in the second half, we showed our quality. The first half, no. Some details I don’t like to call unlucky. Another own goal. Even the second goal, two players fight for the ball. They’re not normal things.
"We need to be more relaxed and calm. We have to express ourselves on the ball. The first half not enough, second half completely different but it was 2-0. We gave the ball away so easy for the third goal. The reaction and commitment was there. We had chance to make it 3-2 and it would be different until the end."
On Raul Jimenez getting his first goal: "It’s important. I don’t like to put all the pressure on the strikers. The other players have to take that responsibility as well. I really believe in the future he will score and we will take points.
"Of course when we don’t get good results it’s something to be concerned about. We knew this would be a tough match and it was."
On losing players for the international break: "It’s not good. I’d prefer we have all of them to work and settle some important things we needed. Some of our players have been out a long time and it’ll be good to have them with us. We’ll have 13 or 14 players gone but it’s a good sign you have so many international players."
Aston Villa maintained their winning start to the season at home with a routine Premier League victory over a lacklustre Fulham side.
Antonee Robinson's own goal and John McGinn's placed finish into the bottom right corner put Unai Emery's side firmly in control at the break.
And Ollie Watkins' tapped in substitute Leon Bailey's cross, with McGinn again involved, just after the hour mark as Villa claimed a 13th consecutive win at home in the top flight for the first time since 1983.
The result also means Villa have opened a season in England's top division with six successive home wins for the first time since 1932-33.
Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?
Villa fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here
Image source, BBC There are five games being played out in the Premier League on Sunday and we'll bring you every moment.
Follow all the action and reaction here
Live match commentaries:
Liverpool v Brentford - BBC Radio 5 Live
Chelsea v Manchester City - BBC Radio 5 Live
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.
This week, he takes on two Manchester City fans - frontman and guitarist Tom Ogden and drummer Joe Donovan from indie band Blossoms - and a Chelsea supporter - Madness frontman Suggs.
Sutton's prediction: 2-0
Fulham were only beaten by a stoppage-time goal against Manchester United last weekend but I'm still not convinced by them, especially in attack.
I was surprised to see Aston Villa lose at Nottingham Forest, but we all know how good they are at home, where they have won five out of five this season, scoring 20 goals.
Villa need to get back on track if they are going to keep pushing for the top four, and that's what I think will happen.
Tom's prediction: 1-1
Joe's prediction: 2-0
Suggs' prediction: 1-1
Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Fulham's Premier League game against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Rodrigo Muniz's injury is "not really serious but it is going to prevent him from being involved in the next few games. It's a big blow. We can’t hide that. Rodrigo was growing."
He acknowledged current form needs to improve: "Some details are going against us. We have to score more goals and the goals have to come from all the team."
After the team went for dinner this week, Silva said: " "I'm pushing for them to do it. It's important for us to be together and share moments together outside of the training ground."
He said playing an in-form Villa at Villa Park is "the perfect challenge": "After Sheffield United, I said to the players that our schedule will demand us to be [at our] top [level]. This is the Premier League - if you want to be here, you have to reach certain levels."
On Unai Emery's side: "They have been so dominant and achieved such good results. It's impressive. They have not lost any points [at Villa Park] -we want to be the first ones to do it."
Keep across all Friday's Premier League manager news conferences
Hit 'Follow' at the top of this page and if you are using the BBC Sport app, tap the bell icon to get Fulham news, analysis and more sent to you
Hear live commentary of Aston Villa v Fulham on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Aston Villa have won their past five Premier League matches against sides from London, beating Fulham, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Chelsea and West Ham United in this run. The Villans have never won six in a row against London teams in their league history.
Fulham have won just one of their 19 league games at Villa (D7 L11) and have lost the past four.
Villa centre-back Pau Torres has progressed the ball further upfield than any other Premier League player this season (2,202 metres). It is also 1,304 metres further than any other Villa player (Ezri Konsa, 898m).
Since beating Everton in their opening game of this season, Fulham haven’t registered a win against a team who wasn't newly promoted to the division (P8 D3 L5). Of their past seven league victories, three were over sides relegated last season (Leeds United, Leicester City and Southampton), two were against promoted teams (Luton Town and Sheffield United) and the other two were against Everton.
Fulham’s Andreas Pereira created six chances in their 1-0 defeat by Manchester United last time out. Since the start of last season, it was the third time he had created six or more chances in a Premier League game.
Fulham Arsenal and Liverpool sent representatives to watch Fluminense's Andre during the Copa Libertadores final. The 22-year-old Brazil midfielder has an agreement to leave the South American champions, who value him at 35m (£30.4m) euros, in January. (Globo Esporte - in Portuguese), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Sammy James, Fulhamish, external
Saturday was such a deflating defeat after what was a decent performance by the team.
Sadly though, we paid the price for not making the most of our second-half dominance, and the longer the game went on the more likely it was to become a classic Manchester United 'smash and grab'.
The game was also notable because of the Fulham Supporters' Trust's protest against the club's ticketing policy. With regular tickets as high as £160 and many behind-the-goal tickets priced over £70, many fans felt enough was enough.
Yellow cards were held up across Craven Cottage on 18 minutes, correlating to the minimum 18% season ticket price rise from last season to this, and participation in the ground was high. The FST said that all 7,000 cards were distributed before the match.
I felt proud of the Fulham supporters for making a stand. It's very easy to complain and do nothing, so I feel like credit has to be given for actually doing something.
I have been told by FST representatives that many supporters' trusts from other clubs have been in contact and were watching what happened on Saturday with keen interest.
Given price rises are occurring at many clubs, I'd expect similar actions to be taken across the country in the coming months and years.
Hit 'Follow' at the top of this page and if you are using the BBC Sport app, tap the bell icon to get Fulham news, analysis and more sent to you
We asked for your views on Saturday's game between Fulham and Manchester United.
Here are some of your comments:
Fulham fans
Aidan: When the first goal went in, I got really scared that we were going to get battered - then it was ruled out. After that we showed our talents for this season - the main one being our ability to not score goals. We let them press and then Muniz went off and any chance of scoring went with him. Palhinha made a mistake and then goal. A joke at the end.
Mark: Fulham need to get the balance between being too casual in defence and completely panic-stricken. To call that last act 'schoolboy defending' would be an understatement - it was far worse than that.
Rob: Frustrating disappointment - same old, same old. Could have - should have - cleared for the goal six or seven times. Lots of nice passages when in play but lack of threat in final third. Long winter ahead. Could be bottom three in January, Mr Director of Football. Jay Stansfield, anybody?
Keir: Woeful. We had many chances but the lack of a decent number nine means we'll carry on slipping down the table.
Man Utd fans
Rateesh: We cannot rely on individual brilliance and miracles to be a winning team. This victory is nothing more than just relief we didn't lose. This mentality of celebrating or criticising individuals need to stop. Scoring goals and playing beautiful football consistently needs to be lauded. Consistency is the key. Until then, it's worrying times.
Kath: Not the best performance but at least some hope. Maguire was magnificent - and who would have thought that a few weeks ago.
Ronnie: Not a great improvement but playing Garnacho is a must. He works hard, helps the defence and attacks the penalty area - the complete opposite of Anthony, who doesn't do any of these things.
Gee: The manager must learn that beating up players in public is not the answer. The players must learn they are not bigger than the club and act like adults, not spoilt children. They all need to grow up for the club to get back where it belongs, not where it is now!
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.
If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.
And Match of the Day 2 brings you a round-up of Sunday's games here.
Listen back to Saturday's commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:
And Sunday's commentaries are here:
Neil Johnston, BBC Sport
At least Fulham do not have to face Manchester United in the league again until 24 February.
After Saturday's narrow 1-0 defeat, they have not tasted victory in 18 games against United in all competitions (D3 L15) since defeating them 3-0 in 2009.
Marco Silva's side looked to be closing in on a hard-earned point until a sloppy clearance allowed Bruno Fernandes to score a stoppage-time winner.
Suddenly, the feel-good factor from clinching a quarter-final spot in the Carabao Cup has evaporated.
Fulham have lost three of their past five Premier League games and while they are not in any immediate danger of dropping into the relegation zone, Silva's side need to rediscover the winning habit sooner rather than later.
It's Aston Villa away next. Another defeat and it will be a gloomy international break for Fulham.
