Aston Villa 1 Fulham 1:Moritz Volz rescued a deserved point for Fulham on a day of mixed fortunes for Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry in front of England coach Steve McClaren.
Barry started the game promisingly and put Villa ahead with a penalty after replacing Juan Pablo Angel as the side's spot-kick taker.
But he was not alert enough to spot the danger in his own box after Liam Ridgewell had been pulled out of position to allow Volz equalised on the stroke of half-time.
Villa remain as the only unbeaten side in the Premiership but manager Martin O'Neill will be concerned at his side's inability to again fire on all cylinders for 90 minutes.
They had been out of sorts against Tottenham in the first half the previous week before rallying strongly in the second 45 minutes.
On this occasion they started in a positive vein with Gabriel Agbonlahor posing problems on the flank and Stiliyan Petrov orchestrating matters in the centre of the park.
But they were second best after the break to a resilient Fulham side for whom Zat Knight was a rock-like figure at the back.
Villa did have strong appeals for a penalty rejected by referee Chris Foy when Liam Rosenior appeared to handle a first time cross from Mellberg.
Then an inswinging free-kick from Petrov caused danger to the Cottagers and Ridgewell, who was operating in the left-back role, only just failed to get a touch.
The home side spurned a golden chance to take the lead after 15 minutes.
Angel exchanged passes with Agbonlahor before finding space in the box but he completely miskicked attempting a shot from the resulting cross and then Milan Baros' control let him down.
Fulham only beaten by Chelsea and Manchester United in the league this season, retaliated and acting skipper Knight was only just wide with a downward header from Claus Jensen's corner.
Villa's pressure finally paid off after 25 minutes with Barry putting them ahead from the penalty spot.
Steven Davis' first time ball played in Petrov and he was adjudged to have been held back by Liam Rosenior.
Referee Chris Foy immediately pointed to the spot and Barry drilled a powerful left-footed shot into the roof of the net.
Knight was booked by Foy for protesting too strongly and Fulham midfielder Michael Brown was fortunate to escape punishment after TV replays showed him appearing to catch Barry with his elbow.
Fulham hit back and Jensen could have brought them level when a McBride volley flashed across the face of goal but he was unable to make proper contact.
In injury time the Cottagers drew level when Volz side-footed home from close range following a left-wing cross by Tomasz Radzinski.
O'Neill opted to make a half-time switch, bringing on Didier Agathe for the ineffective Baros which meant Agbonlahor moving up front alongside Angel.
The opening exchanges of the second half were scrappy but Villa came within inches of taking the lead when four players failed to get the slight touch needed to turn home an inswinging Barry free-kick.
Villa produced one of their few fluent moves of the second half when Barry turned the ball into the path of Angel on the edge of the Fulham box.
But the Colombian international hesitated instead of shooting first time and Antti Niemi was able to comfortably collect his eventual low drive.
Villa had gone off the boil and Sorensen had to cling onto a shot on the turn from Radzinski from the edge of the box.
O'Neill's side seemed to be running out of ideas although Niemi opted to tip over the bar a harmless looking cross from Ridgewell when under no pressure.
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