Aston Villa gained their fourth win in six games since Steven Gerrard took charge as they beat their former boss Dean Smith’s new team Norwich – whose relegation fears deepen.
Jacob Ramsey broke the deadlock with a magnificent solo effort, running at the Norwich defence from inside his own half before thumping the ball past Tim Krul with his left foot.
Ollie Watkins sidefooted home Carney Chukwuemeka’s low delivery to complete the scoring late on.
Ashley Young’s wayward backpass almost gifted Norwich an equaliser early in the second half, but Kenny McLean appeared to be put off by the presence of Emiliano Martinez and failed to get a shot off.
Krul did well to keep out Watkins’ downward header not long afterwards, while former Norwich favourite Emi Buendia had a powerful shot blocked by a combination of Brandon Williams and Max Aarons.
The win lifts the visitors into the top half of the Premier League before Wednesday’s fixtures, while Norwich remain rooted to the foot of the table.
Dominant Villa win comfortably
Since replacing Smith at Villa Park last month, Gerrard has set about making Villa more difficult to beat.
They delivered a resilient display as they were beaten 1-0 at Liverpool on Saturday – but at Carrow Road, the onus was on Gerrard’s team to set the tone against a side with the worst defensive record in the division.
John McGinn almost opened the scoring with the kind of swerving, long-range effort his manager would have been proud of in his heyday, only for Norwich goalkeeper Krul to tip the ball over the crossbar.
But it was Ramsey – one of the players promoted to the Villa first team by new Norwich boss Smith – who gave the visitors the lead their intricate play deserved. The 20-year-old was allowed to run unchallenged from inside his own half to open the scoring with a powerful finish.
Watkins was denied by Krul early in the second half, but the Dutchman was powerless to stop the 25-year-old’s close-range effort three minutes from time. Second-half substitute Chukwuemeka showed skill and composure to pick out the former Brentford forward at the far post, leaving him with a simple finish.
More to follow.
Player of the match
McGinnJohn McGinn
Norwich City
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Squad number19Player nameSørensenAverage rating
5.72
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Squad number23Player nameMcLeanAverage rating
5.71
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Squad number1Player nameKrul
Average rating5.54
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Squad number22Player namePukki
Average rating5.34
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Squad number11Player namePlacheta
Average rating5.33
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Squad number8Player nameGilmour
Average rating5.28
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Squad number21Player nameWilliams
Average rating5.22
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Squad number2Player nameAarons
Average rating5.19
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Squad number15Player nameKabak
Average rating5.12
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Squad number4Player nameGibson
Average rating4.98
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Squad number14Player nameCantwell
Average rating4.77
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Squad number3Player nameByram
Average rating4.72
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Squad number35Player nameIdah
Average rating4.70
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Squad number10Player nameDowell
Average rating4.33
Aston Villa
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Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Average rating8.24
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Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey
Average rating7.85
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Squad number33Player nameChukwuemeka
Average rating7.70
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Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Average rating7.69
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Squad number2Player nameCash
Average rating7.44
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Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Average rating7.18
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Squad number1Player nameMartínez
Average rating7.13
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Squad number4Player nameKonsa
Average rating7.13
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Squad number5Player nameMings
Average rating7.12
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Squad number3Player nameTargett
Average rating7.02
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Squad number10Player nameBuendía
Average rating6.91
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Squad number18Player nameYoung
Average rating6.64
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Squad number16Player nameTuanzebe
Average rating6.61
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Squad number20Player nameIngs
Average rating6.55
Line-ups
Norwich
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Krul
- 2AaronsBooked at 46mins
- 15KabakSubstituted forByramat 45+1′minutesBooked at 55mins
- 4Gibson
- 21WilliamsBooked at 64mins
- 8Gilmour
- 19Sørensen
- 23McLean
- 11PlachetaSubstituted forDowellat 75′minutes
- 22Pukki
- 14CantwellSubstituted forIdahat 61′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Byram
- 10Dowell
- 26Mumba
- 28Gunn
- 30Giannoulis
- 35Idah
- 40Tomkinson
- 43Dickson-Peters
- 46Rowe
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Martínez
- 2Cash
- 4KonsaBooked at 49mins
- 5Mings
- 3Targett
- 7McGinnSubstituted forTuanzebeat 88′minutes
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 41J Ramsey
- 10BuendíaSubstituted forChukwuemekaat 83′minutes
- 11Watkins
- 18YoungSubstituted forIngsat 60′minutes
Substitutes
- 16Tuanzebe
- 17Trézéguet
- 20Ings
- 30Hause
- 32Philogene-Bidace
- 33Chukwuemeka
- 35Archer
- 44Marschall
- 47Iroegbunam
- Referee:
- David Coote
- Attendance:
- 26,836
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Norwich City 0, Aston Villa 2.
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Second Half ends, Norwich City 0, Aston Villa 2.
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Attempt saved. Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Ollie Watkins.
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Foul by Billy Gilmour (Norwich City).
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Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Adam Idah (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Matthew Cash (Aston Villa).
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Substitution, Aston Villa. Axel Tuanzebe replaces John McGinn.
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Goal! Norwich City 0, Aston Villa 2. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Carney Chukwuemeka.
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Foul by Adam Idah (Norwich City).
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Matthew Cash (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution, Aston Villa. Carney Chukwuemeka replaces Emiliano Buendía.
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Attempt blocked. Jacob Sørensen (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieran Dowell with a cross.
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Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Emiliano Buendía.
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Foul by Teemu Pukki (Norwich City).
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Matt Targett (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Max Aarons.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Adam Idah.
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Substitution, Norwich City. Kieran Dowell replaces Przemyslaw Placheta.
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Attempt blocked. Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ollie Watkins.
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