Rumours that David O'Leary was seen in the car park after the match, frantically trying to arrange meetings between his players and D-list reality TV celebrities are thus far unfounded. But such has been the catalysing effect on Hendrie since his wife discovered his affair with blubbering Big Brother blimp Jade Goody, the Irishman must be tempted. With 15 minutes to go yesterday, Villa were desperately holding on to a narrow one-goal lead, when the midfield chav took the ball from substitute Carlton Cole on the edge of the area, looked up, and curled a pin-point shot with his left foot in off Edwin van der Sar's right-hand post to give Villa their first win in six league games.
Until then, the home side had lead from Nolberto Solano's free-kick just before the half hour. Hendrie was again involved, though less auspiciously so, falling over his own feet under pressure from Papa Boupa Diop and winning a foul right on the edge of the Fulham D. Solano, who until then had been quite poor, stepped up and curled his right-footed effort round the wall and past Van der Sar to give the home side the lead their possession warranted.
But from then on the game became scrappy, with the rain continuing to fall heavily and conditions deteriorating. At times it resembled an enthusiastic but ultimately inept youth club attempting to perform their interpretation of Swan Lake on ice, with players helplessly aquaplaning into advertising hoardings. The situation was especially harsh on Darius Vassell, who consistently found himself in good positions before losing his footing and grazing the corner flag with his fluffed shot. His miserable afternoon was completed when he was taken off on a stretcher after turning over on his ankle under a challenge from Diop.
Vassell's strike partner Juan Pablo Angel won more than his fair share of the ball though, while there was also much promise in the performances of Peter Whittingham and JLloyd Samuel on the left side, with the youngsters both finding the form that won them plaudits last campaign, but Villa could not extend their lead. Fulham came out after the interval much stronger, and although they never really tested Thomas Sørenson, back in the team despite the unfortunate Stefan Postma's heroics at Highbury last week, they perhaps should have had a penalty when Hendrie - who else? - handled Claus Jenson's free-kick.