Jon Harley's ascent from zero to hero was complete today as he smashed home a 25-yard thunderbolt - his first goal for Fulham - to clinch this 2-1 victory against Aston Villa at Loftus Road.

The 23-year-old left-back's strike in the 35th minute bamboozled Peter Enckelman and dipped beneath Villa's crossbar, securing three vital points to haul the Cottagers away from the drop zone.

Harley has surprisingly been overlooked by Jean Tigana since his £3.5million arrival from Chelsea 18 months ago - but Rufus Brevett's sale to West Ham gave him his first league appearance of the season against Arsenal last Saturday.

The emotion of his goal today was clear for all to see as he raced away in celebration before being mobbed by his team-mates.

Gareth Barry had slotted home the opening goal in the second minute.

That strike was levelled by Steed Malbranque's penalty - his sixth goal in four games - 11 minutes later, awarded when Luis Boa Morte threw himself to the ground after being clipped by Joey Gudjonsson.

Boa Morte's theatrical and unnecessary tumble was his only negative contribution of a fantastic first half, in which he terrorised the Villa backline with his searing pace.

Fulham's misfiring strike pair Steve Marlet and Louis Saha both somehow missed from a yard before Harley showed them how it was done 10 minutes before the interval.

Villa wilted badly after their sparkling start to the game and did not deserve to follow up their shock 5-2 success at Middlesbrough - their first on the road in the league this season - with another three-point haul in west London.

Graham Taylor's side had made a sensational start, roaring into the lead with just two minutes on the clock.

Dublin teed up Gareth Barry lurking just inside the Fulham box and he beat Maik Taylor with a cool finish.

Dublin almost doubled the Villans' lead but his volley hit Boa Morte on the line and deflected wide for a corner.

However, against the run of play, Fulham grabbed an equaliser, with Steed Malbranque slotting home from the penalty spot.

Boa Morte won the penalty by falling after a half-challenge by Gudjonsson - and Malbranque side-footed the spot-kick past Peter Enckelman and into the bottom right corner.

Steve Marlet fluffed a great opportunity to nudge Fulham in front on the 20-minute mark.

Boa Morte, at the centre of all the action in the early stages of this hectic game, crossed from the left and Marlet headed tamely into Enckelman's grasp.

Boa Morte was the star player by a country mile - and in an extraordinary 25th minute, he left the home defence in shreds three times.

First, he set up Marlet who shot weakly at Enckelman. Then he crossed for Louis Saha who missed an absolute sitter, heading across the face of goal from a yard beyond the far post.

And finally, the Portuguese winger latched onto a loose ball 18 yards from goal and sent a shot fizzing just above the left angle of Enckelman's goal.

It was all Fulham and the home side missed another open goal when Marlet met Andy Melville's flick-on but headed over from a yard out.

That proved to be only a temporary reprieve for Villa as Harley smacked home an absolute screamer in the 35th minute.

But only fantastic Fulham defending prevented Taylor's men equalising 10 minutes after the break.

Steve Finnan raced back to intercept as Darius Vassell prepared to tap home Ulises de la Cruz's drilled cross - and from the rebound, Taylor acrobatically denied Dublin from point-blank range.

Enckelman was in action again on the hour, pushing away England hopeful Sean Davis' 20-yarder.

The visiting goalkeeper also did well to block Saha's volley and seize the loose ball before Marlet poked it into the net.

Villa substitute Peter Crouch missed a golden chance to tie the scores at 2-2 on the 70-minute mark, smacking a volley wide from Vassell's cross.

And Cottagers captain Andy Melville was in the right place at the right time with 10 minutes left, blocking de la Cruz's stinging volley.

Teams

Fulham: Taylor, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Harley, Malbranque, Djetou, Sean Davis, Boa Morte (Goldbaek 83), Saha (Sava 88), Marlet (Knight 71).

Subs Not Used: Herrera, Inamoto.

Booked: Melville.

Goals: Malbranque 14 pen, Harley 36.

Aston Villa: Enckelman, Samuel, Mellberg, Johnsen, Barry, Gudjonsson, Edwards (Hendrie 46), Hitzlsperger (Crouch 67), Moore (De la Cruz 45), Dublin, Vassell.

Subs Not Used: Postma, Staunton.

Booked: Barry, Gudjonsson, Edwards.

Goals: Barry 3.

Att: 17,092

Ref: S Dunn (Avon).