A last-gasp equaliser from captain Lee Clark preserved Fulham's unbeaten start to 2005 in a match in which Villa missed two penalties.

Juan Pablo Angel looked to have condemned Fulham to defeat when he put Villa ahead in the 53rd minute with a neat glancing header.

But the striker then missed two penalties inside six minutes, Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar twice diving to his right to save in the 75th and 81st minutes.

The home side had already wasted their own gilt-edged chance when Andy Cole missed a 59th-minute spot-kick.

Olof Mellberg felled Luis Boa Morte but Cole sent his effort wide of Thomas Sorensen's right-hand post.

Villa then paid for Angel's wastefulness when Clark despatched a low shot into the bottom corner of the net for a last-minute leveller.

Fulham had begun the contest in a spirited fashion and in the opening minute Tomasz Radzinski let fly with an 18-yard shot which Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen did well to hold.

It was a bright opening from the home side, who have recorded three wins out of four since their 3-2 defeat by Birmingham at the end of last year.

However, in the eighth minute Fulham had defender Zesh Rehman to thank for clearing a dangerous-looking cross from Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Moments later Hitzlsperger flashed a brave header just wide of van der Sar's left-hand post after Nolberto Solano's cross found its way to him through a crowded penalty area.

The home side responded with a fine effort from Cole in the 14th minute. Some neat approach play involving Radzinski and Boa Morte culminated in Cole despatching an 18-yard shot which Sorensen did well to turn aside for a corner.

The hard-working home side had prevented Villa from settling into any kind of fluency but they did not possess the guile or creativity to worry the Midlanders in the final third.

Both sides were guilty of giving the ball away far too cheaply and it made for a frustrating period as half-time approached.

The dreadful spell was encapsulated by the wayward shooting of Fulham's Papa Bouba Diop.

He found the top tier of the stand behind Sorensen's goal three minutes before the interval despite having time and space to prepare himself for the shot.

Villa opted to inject a much-needed spark into their attacking play in the second half by introducing Luke Moore into the action in place of the lacklustre Carlton Cole at the interval.

Chris Coleman's side, which had dominated the opening period without being able to break down a stubborn Villa defence, remained unchanged.

In the 47th minute Lee Hendrie entered his personal contender for the miss of the season when he somehow managed to turn a right-wing cross from Solano over the crossbar from just three yards.

It was the best chance of the contest so far but red-faced Hendrie failed to make the most of it - much to the amusement of the home fans and the disbelief of his team-mates.

Five minutes later Thomas Hitzlsperger tried his luck from 25 yards and, although van der Sar had to scramble across to his right-hand post, the ball bounced harmlessly wide.

But Villa had clearly increased the tempo and in the 53rd minute they took the lead with a header from Angel.

His neat glancing effort was adjudged to have crossed the line despite a last-ditch attempt to clear the ball by skipper Lee Clark.

The goal brought an immediate reply from Fulham and the home side felt they should have had a penalty when Cole went down under a challenge from Liam Ridgewell.

However, in the 59th minute referee Chris Foy awarded Fulham a spot-kick when Mellberg brought down Boa Morte.

The Villa players were incensed by Foy's decision but their anger turned to relief seconds later when Cole inexplicably sent his effort wide of Sorensen's right-hand post to the delight of the travelling contingent.

In the 75th minute Villa were awarded the first of two penalties inside six minutes when Moritz Volz fouled Moore on the edge of the six-yard box.

Goalscorer Angel stepped up to take it but his effort was brilliantly saved by van der Sar.

Amazingly Angel missed a second spot-kick in the 81st minute when van der Sar again dived to his right to push the ball to safety after Gareth Barry had been fouled by Liam Rosenior.

The drama was completed in the final moments when Clark made Angel pay for his double error by firing home from 18 yards.

Teams

Fulham Van der Sar, Volz, Knight, Rehman, Rosenior, Clark, Diop, Pembridge, Radzinski (John 68), Cole (McBride 73), Boa Morte.

Subs Not Used: Legwinski, Crossley, Goma.

Booked: Boa Morte.

Goals: Clark 90.

Aston Villa Sorensen, De la Cruz, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Barry, Solano (Djemba-Djemba 79), Hendrie (Davis 64), Berson, Hitzlsperger, Cole (Luke Moore 45), Angel.

Subs Not Used: Laursen, Postma.

Booked: De la Cruz, Angel, Davis.

Goals: Angel 55.

Att: 17,624

Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).