Aston Villa moved up to 11th in the Premier League with a 4-1 thumping of Norwich City on Sunday afternoon, which left the visitors in 15th.
Norwich got the perfect start when Wes Hoolahan scored a tap-in from a Gary Hooper cross and they were looking good until Christian Benteke scored a spectacular overhead volley midway through the half.
After that, Villa scored another three goals in 16 minutes to blow away Norwich, with the first half glut of goals ending the match as a contest.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon all! There is currently a League Cup final taking place... but the Premier League is also in action today. We have three matches to bring you and right here we have the clash between Villa and Norwich - two teams currently on 28 points.
Both teams will be thinking that this game is winnable, and that should make for an interesting game at Villa Park. Villa's form at home has been far worse than their away record and with Norwich's recent improvement at the back they might struggle here. Norwich, though, have only won two of 13 away games this season.
Let's get straight to the team news then, shall we? Who do Paul Lambert and Chris Hughton feel are the players to get the three points today...
VILLA XI: Guzan; Bacuna, Vlaar, Baker, Bertrand; Westwood, Delph, El Ahmadi; Weimann, Benteke, Agbonlahor
NORWICH XI: Ruddy; Martin, Yobo, Bassong, Olsson; Tettey, Johnson; Snodgrass, Hoolahan, Redmond; Hooper
Villa subs: Steer, Sylla, Holt, Clark, Albrighton, Bennett, Robinson
Norwich subs: Bunn, Whittaker, Howson, Pilkington, Elmander, Becchio, R Bennett
So Lambert has named an unchanged side from the one that lost to Newcastle United last weekend. It was only 1-0 and the goal was very late in the game, so the Villa boss obviously saw enough to suggest that team would be able to get the better or Norwich today. Christian Benteke leads the line in an attacking trio also including Andreas Weimann and Gabby Agbonlahor.
Hughton has made two changes from the lineup that beat Spurs last weekend, but both are forced upon him. Ricky van Wolfswinkel failed a late fitness test, which means that Gary Hooper starts in his place up front. Leroy Fer is also injured, so Wes Hoolahan comes into the midfield for him and will play off Hooper.
Teamsheet. #AVFCLIVE #NCFC pic.twitter.com/mCGrS0N6Ps
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) March 2, 2014
UPDATE: It's full time at Wembley and Manchester City have fought back from 1-0 down at the break to beat Sunderland 3-1. They will lift the League Cup trophy shortly - Yaya Toure, of course, scored an absolute belter. Here's our report of that game.
Are either of these sides going down? If I'd asked myself that before last weekend I'd have said Norwich were in real danger. They have some good players but something just wasn't going right for them and they did look to be plummeting. I think 36 points might be enough this year and with Cardiff City and Fulham almost certainly gone, I can't see Norwich finishing below all three of West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Crystal Palace.
As for Villa, well they have been dreadfully inconsistent all season but do manage to pick up enough wins to keep them above water. They desperately need to improve at home, but wins like the one against West Brom at the end of January - 4-3 at Villa Park - will add up over the season and I can see them surviving with a couple of games to spare.
Two of the teams below both of these sides are also in action today, and both face very tricky encounters. Palace travel to Swansea, which you can follow with us here, while Cardiff are in London to take on Tottenham Hotspur. Again, we have coverage of that game. So as you can see it's a big day for the bottom half of the table.
Norwich have taken on Villa away from home on five occasions so far since the Premier League started. How many have they won? None. How Hughton would love for that to change this afternoon. They did, however, win 3-2 the year before the Premier League (Premiership then) was introduced, which was 1992.
Villa, in fact, have won each of the last three meetings between the teams. Last season they won 4-1 away in the League Cup as well as a 2-1 win at Carrow Road in the league. The reverse game this season also went the way of the Midlands side, they won 1-0 in September.
However, Villa are not in good form at all. They have not scored for 326 minutes, have not won for four games and have the joint-worst home record in the league. They, along with Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland have only won three times in front of their own fans. History is irrelevant here.
PREDICTION: With all that said, what do we at SM think that the result will be? This has draw written all over it for me. An edgy 1-1 is what I'm plumping for.
The conditions as well as the respective league standings are not particularly favourable for flowing football today. It's blowy and a little bit misty at Villa Park and there is definitely rain in the air. That would probably favour Villa's counter-attacking game more than it will Norwich, but we shall see.
Forward @BentekeChris20 in focused mood. #AVFCLIVE #NCFC pic.twitter.com/T6YZdtBws7
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) March 2, 2014
So the players are doing their final warmups. Still plenty of empty seats around Villa Park - is that a reflection of what the fans have seen here so far this season, or is it because it's cold and they're enjoying a pre-match pie in the concourse? We're almost ready to start.
KICKOFF: Here we go then. We're underway for what will hopefully be a cracking afternoon of football.
GOAL! Villa 0-1 Norwich (Wes Hoolahan)
What a story. Hoolahan, who could have joined Villa this season, has opened the scoring against them! I think Hooper was offside from Hoolahan's initial pass, but it was a great reverse ball to the midfielder who turns it into the empty net from the striker's cut-back. That is woeful defending.
What have Villa got in them now? There were audible groans when Hoolahan's goal went in from the home faithful. They haven't come out of the blocks as yet and already there have been a few aimless punts to Benteke. They need to get on the ball more.
Another swift break there from Norwich. Tettey does well to take on a couple of players and thread in Hooper to his right, but this time the cross from the striker isn't good and it's too powerful for Redmond to reach, who was arriving at the far post.
That's the first time Villa have really had a meaningful spell of possession. Benteke finds Agbonlahor, who finds himself outnumbered by yellow shirts. In the end he goes down and loses the ball, but there wasn't a foul in there.
The early lead has given Norwich a lot of confidence here and they are passing it around with purpose. There is plenty of patience, too - if the pass isn't on they'll go back and start again.
El Ahmadi is doing his best to up the tempo for the hosts, but the passing is just not there in the final third. The home crowd are frustrated and very quiet - this is perfect so far for Norwich.
Villa have enjoyed a little more of the ball in the last few minutes. That said, Vlaar gives the ball away to Hooper, who finds Snodgrass, but the Villa man got back really well to win the ball once more.
John Ruddy has still not had anything to do so far, except for gather a couple of crosses. Benteke has been shut out of the game - Agbonlahor has been their most lively player but he has still not created anything.
GOAL! Villa 1-1 Norwich (Christian Benteke)
Woof. What else can you say? Benteke still has a lot of work to do when he receives the ball in the box on his chest. With his back to goal he brings it down but whips it into the top corner with an volley over his head. That is sheer class.
GOAL! Villa 2-1 Norwich (Christian Benteke)
Out of nothing, Villa have turned this around! Bassong allows himself to be outmuscled by Benteke from a corner and there was only one place that was heading when the Belgian met it - the back of the net. Just two minutes between the goals and Villa have a lead the scarcely deserve!
UPDATE: The deadlock has been broken in both other games today. Swansea are 1-0 up against Palace with a goal from Jonathan De Guzman, while Spurs have just taken the lead against Cardiff thanks to Roberto Soldado.
BOOKING: "Off, off off!" chant the home crowd as Tettey leaves Baker in a heap on the ground. He was beaten to the ball by the centre-back and in truth both players had their feet high. Tettey's was just higher and it is he who goes into the book after catching Baker in the chest.
Norwich have not been able to get back in the game since the double blow from Benteke. They were very comfortable in possession for a while, but Villa are all over them like a rash now off the ball.
SAVE! That's a brilliant piece of work behind the sticks by the home keeper. Hoolahan squeezed his way into the box past a few home shirts but his shot is stopped by Guzan, with Delph then clearing the Norwich man's follow-up off the line and behind.
GOAL! Villa 3-1 Norwich (Leandro Bacuna)
That is counter-attacking at its finest! Agbonlahor sprints through the middle at pace before laying it right to Weimann. He takes his time to find Bacuna inside the box, who flicks on to his left foot and guides the ball into the bottom corner. Wonderful goal.
Villa are really enjoying their time out there at the moment. And why not? Six hours without a goal and suddenly they have three inside 12 minutes!
GOAL! Villa 4-1 Norwich (Sebstien Bassong o.g)
Well it's an own goal but there's not much Bassong could have done! Delph skips into the box down the left and fires in an absolutely wonderful cross, which would have been tapped in by Agbonlahor had Bassong not turned it in. A half that started so well for Norwich is ending miserably.
Delia Smith is not looking happy in the directors' box. Friday marked nine years since her bizarre "Let's be having you!" speech on the pitch. I don't think she'll be allowed to do the same at Villa Park.
There will be two minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.
HALF TIME: Aston Villa 4-1 Norwich City
I've heard of a game of two halves, but that was a half of two halves. Norwich were 1-0 up early on and cruising for more than 20 minutes, but four goals in just 16 minutes has seen Villa take a resounding 4-1 lead into the break.
Norwich defended magnificently against Spurs last weekend, but they have been torn apart so far today. Benteke's first was as good an individual goal as you will see and Bacuna's as good a team goal. All in all Lambert will be over the moon after going behind just three minutes in.
STATISTICS: As well as being thoroughly efficient on the break, Villa have also enjoyed 61% of possession so far. The shot stats are almost even - six to five with three on target each - and it has been Villa's clinical edge that has made the difference.
It's quite amazing that we have had five goals from six on target, but remember there was an own goal as well. I can certainly see more goals in this one considering how porous the visitors' defence has been - and Villa's, too, on the first goal.
The players are coming back out for the second half then. I'll let you know of any changes - I believe Norwich are making one.
Indeed they are. Anthony Pilkington is on for Snodgrass, who was booked right at the end of the half. The visitors get us back underway.
Hoolahan tries to get through again early in the half. He attempts a one-two with Johnson, but cannot get on the return ball and loses out.
CHANCE! Not much in the way of ball control at the start of the half yet. However, Villa keep hold of it for several passes before Delph crosses from the left for Agbonlahor, but he put his header low and straight at Ruddy. He really should have done better I think.
Norwich have been woeful with their passing so far in this half. Villa are pressing them high up the pitch and the Canaries can barely get out of their own half at the moment.
Hoolahan is still looking very lively, though. He's been by far their best player tonight, but he has just put an angled pass aimed for Pilkington out of touch.
Westwood is being helped off the pitch having taken a knock. He should be fine to continue, though, and I would imagine he's back on the pitch in a minute or so.
Johan Elmander is now warming up on the sidelines. Norwich have under 30 minutes left to score three goals and really since Villa's first they have looked incredibly unlikely to even get one. This half has yet to hit the standards of the first.
NORWICH SUB: The change is booed as Redmond comes off. That might well be for Redmond's Birmingham City links, or it could be that the Norwich fans do not approve of it. He didn't do a lot, in truth.
Olsson tries to drive through the middle but he's taken out by El Ahmadi. The foul allowed Villa to regroup in numbers and when they have done that Norwich have really struggled to create anything. I'd be stunned if they came close to a comeback here.
Benteke looks like he's tweaked his lower back there as he battles with Yobo out on the left wing. Johnson is pressured by Agbonlahor and loses out, but referee Taylor blows for a foul against the Villa man.
It's fancy dress in the away end tonight and it's fair to say that considering the result it looks like the worst party ever right now. I think the people at the wake when Del Boy and Rodney showed up as Batman and Robin were having more fun.
That said, the Norwich faithful are still shouting "ole" with every made pass. It's out of irony, of course, but they do manage to create a half-chance for Elmander who slices a shot wide from a tight angle.
Agbonlahor has had a lot of joy with his pace this evening. He shoots from the edge of the box and it strikes the elbow of Martin and goes out for a corner. That would have been an exceptionally harsh penalty - Taylor got that one spot on.
NORWICH SUB: Another change for the visitors then as Tettey makes way for Howson. It's pretty much a lost cause, but Howson is certainly able to have an impact.
VILLA SUBS: Grant Holt is coming on to face his old club and he gets a warm reception from the away fans. It's Benteke who is replaced - and a standing ovation for him too. Weimann comes off for Albrighton as well.
The game was over as a contest in the first half, really, and there hasn't been much in the way of goalmouth action since the break. Norwich are seeing more of the ball in the last few minutes but they are painfully short of attacking ideas.
SAVE! That's a terrible piece of defending for Villa, who play Hooper onside. He has so much time but telegraphs what he's trying to do - the far bottom corner. Guzan reads it and makes an excellent stop.
BOOKING: Elmander gets carded for a striker's tackle on Westwood. He doesn't complain, helps the felled Villa man up and we carry on.
We will have just two minutes added on at the end of this half. Benteke is also announced the Villa man of the match - yep. That's fair. Although Agbonlahor has played very well too.
FULL TIME: Aston Villa 4-1 Norwich City
It's a thumping win for Villa and the damage was done in 16 first-half minutes. Hughton applauds the fans on the way off and he will know his side must do better if they are not to be caught in the relegation battle.
Thanks for joining me for this one. Please do stick around on site for reports and analysis from all of today's football. From me here, it's goodbye!
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
