Defeat should not be met by panic at Aston Villa.
At worst they will end the weekend with a seven-point advantage over those outside of the Champions League places with four games to go. They will almost certainly have enough.
Emery cut a frustrated figure for much of the second half, however.
His side were loose on the ball and, without the thrust offered by injured midfielder Amadou Onana, struggled to break through Fulham‘s solid defensive shape.
Watkins followed his well-crafted first-half chance by blazing an effort over in the second.
After six goals in his previous five games, it would be harsh to read too much into the striker’s showing when it comes to debating whether he will make England’s World Cup squad, but his miss was untimely with Tuchel watching on.
He was substituted with 10 minutes to go and replaced by Tammy Abraham, who wasted a chance of his own.
An exasperated Emery bounded around his technical area in response to that miss. He will hope for much better at Forest on Thursday.