Video Assistant Refereepublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 4 April 2021

17:19 BST 4 April 2021

Ref Andy Madley is off to have a look at his screen...

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I'm not sure. Mario Lemina has been sloppy, he had a chance to clear it, but I think he might have got a touch on the ball.

Right on half-time!

Full marks to Ollie Watkins. John McGinn goes down and appeals for a penalty, nothing is given but while everyone is rather snoozing Watkins sprints across the face of Mario Lemina as he tries to clear.

Watkins goes down as Lemina swings across him. Penalty given - but did the Fulham player just nick the ball first?

It's gone really scruffy as we have a series of free-kicks. Morgan Sanson has carried on but there could be a half-time change there.

Postpublished at 41 mins

41 mins

Aston Villa 0-0 Fulham

He's been down a few times and now Morgan Sanson is having treatment again. The Villa man in the wars this afternoon.

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Aston Villa want to get Ollie Watkins in the game more. I always feel that when Jack Grealish isn't playing, Watkins has a quiet game. I think they need him now, in particular when there's no Ross Barkley.

Bertrand Traore and Anwar El Ghazi have to do more to create chances for Ollie Watkins.

Ooooh that is close! Fulham have a free-kick which is wickedly swept in, great delivery. Everyone misses it and Joachim Andersen gets a toe on the ball beyond the far post and sends it wide.

Emi Martinez was, for once, nowhere on that.

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

This is a good 0-0. There's things happening - good, sharp play in and around the box. Both teams are doing well. It's a really interesting game.

Take Jack Grealish out of the Villa team and you're not left with much in terms of creativity. It's no surprise that a side would miss their best player but they really do look toothless out there.

Bertrand Traore tries a big crossfield pass and sends it straight to Bobby De Cordova-Reid but his shot is charged down, lacked conviction.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is bringing his Serbia form to the table. Manhandles the Villa defence and then wins a free-kick from Ezri Konsa. We need a goal though.

Brian Deane should be paraded at half-time really. Villa have an effort as Douglas Luiz soars on to a cross but his header doesn't match his leap and he's well off target.

Postpublished at 22 mins

22 mins

Aston Villa 0-0 Fulham

Morgan Sanson is down and hurt after rolling his ankle but the recovery tackle from Kenny Tete was a fine one. No action required and the Frenchman is OK to continue.

Newcastle United

More from Newcastle boss Steve Bruce to BBC on Joelinton: "I was delighted he got the goal. That was arguably as good as I've seen us play. He does so well and the easiest part was probably to stick it in the net. He gives us a lot week-in, week-out. He is never short of effort. He has shown resilience. He has been the whipping boy a little bit with a few others - me included."

On the goals Newcastle conceded: "There's one thing in management - you can't deal with individual errors. Most goals are usually mistakes or sheer quality. We gifted one. I was delighted with the response. I couldn't fault the players for the way they have gone about their jobs."

On the relegation battle: "The Premier League is huge. If you're down at the bottom end it's so difficult. We're not alone down there. At times it seems like we're the only team in the bottom half of the division! Hopefully we can get a result against Burnley."

Fulham controlling the play at the moment but we've lost that early zip. Douglas Luiz and Joachim Andersen trade bookings.

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Fulham have come out of the blocks and it's just what Scott Parker would have wanted from his team.

Aleksandar Mitrovic looks really sharp. All of the front four do, to be fair - Ademola Lookman, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. They are pressing and look confident at the moment.

A win for Fulham today would actually lift them out of the bottom three. What a boost that would be at this stage of the season.

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce to BBC: "I was delighted with the performance. I think we needed that. We needed to show what we're about. We had an awful five minutes where we gave an awful goal then they produced a good bit of quality to open us up. The way the players responded and played throughout... I thought we were the better team and had an edge and energy about us.

"It's football you know. I analysed the Brighton game and our best physical stats were against them but it was our worst performance by a country mile. So it wasn't a lack of effort. I was determined I would pick a team who hadn't been away half way around the world and would be fresh. They deserved to win the game and it was the performance I was delighted with."

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Tyrone Mings has his arm round Aleksandar Mitrovic's neck and lets it go at the last minute.

But Bobby De Cordova-Reid then had a free header from five yards out and should be hitting the target.

John McGinn, slayer of the Faroes, spins and shoots but he's well off target this time. Nice open feel to the match in these early stages.