Unai Emery hailed a "very important win" for Aston Villa as they remained on course to achieve their "dream" of successive Champions League qualifications.

Villa moved level on points with fifth-place Chelsea following a 1-0 victory over Fulham with three games remaining, with Youri Tielemans' first-half strike enough to secure the win at Villa Park.

Emery's side are now unbeaten in their last 17 Premier League home games (won 10, drawn seven), their joint-longest run in the competition, also doing so between March and December 2023 (won 16, drawn one).

Having reached the Champions League quarter-finals this season, narrowly losing out to Paris Saint-Germain, the Spaniard is eager to ensure the club's return to Europe's premier club competition.

"It's a fantastic victory," he said. "Through the Premier League, we are setting our objective because, through it, we can play in Europe again.

"Fulham are nine points behind us and this victory against this opponent was very important. We did it. We performed fantastically.

"Even when we were winning 1-0, we had chances, but didn't score another. We could have had some problems defensively, but we defended well, we were focused on the 90 minutes and we played a good match.

"We deserved to win and maybe to score one more. I'm very happy because to be in Europe is the objective, and our dream is to repeat playing in the Champions League.

"We're not favourites because other teams are in front of us, but we can continue to dream for it, playing strongly to [qualify again for] the Champions League.

"The real objective is for us to be in Europe and, after today, we are close to being there."

Tielemans headed in John McGinn's corner for his 10th goal involvement of the season (three goals, seven assists); his joint-most in a single Premier League campaign (also in 2020-21 and 2021-22).

Meanwhile, only Arsenal and Crystal Palace (both 16) have scored more goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) than Villa this term (15).

Having had a flavour of Champions League football this term, Villa want to be back at Europe's top table again in 2025-26.

"All our games, we know we have to win them to have a chance to be in the Champions League next season," Tielemans told TNT Sports.

"It is the biggest European competition club wise. We have had a taste this season, and we want to do it again.

"This afternoon was a good win. A tough opponent, Fulham are a very good team. We could have finished the game earlier, but credit to the guys. Good fight and good win."

Meanwhile, Fulham's hopes of securing European football took a potential blow.

Nevertheless, Marco Silva hailed the mentality demonstrated by his players at Villa Park.

"We had to deal better in [the first half] but, even so, not many chances for them, and they scored from a set-piece," he said. "[It is] always very difficult for us to take.

"Our reaction in the last 10 minutes [of the first half] was a little bit better. We started to be much more aggressive in the pressure moments.

"[In the] second half, the reaction was very good from us, and we knew we had to go and try to press a bit more, man for man, all over the pitch.

"Harry Wilson has a great chance for us to equalise. Of course, after that, they had some chances to score, but the game was completely balanced.

"The team showed a great spirit again, great attitude towards the end of the match. Unfortunately, we didn't score and we lost the game.

"It is a sad moment for us. Now, next week, we have another game to play, and very important for us to get the three points."