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Live Commentary: Norwich City 1-2 Aston Villa - as it happened

Read how Aston Villa made it two wins on the bounce by snatching the points late on at Norwich.
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Paul Lambert took his in-form Aston Villa side to former club Norwich City this afternoon, with both clubs hoping to reach the magical 40-point mark in the Premier League.

It was Villa who took all three points thanks to Gabriel Agbonlahor's two goals either side of Grant Holt's penalty.

Read how it all unfolded in sunny Norfolk in our minute-by-minute updates below.


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Good afternoon folks! Apologies for my lateness but I've just been covering one of the craziest ever finishes to a season in the Championship. Read how it all unfolded here.

At Carrow Road we haven't missed a goal as it's still goalless in sunny Norfolk.

UPDATE: There's five other 3pm kickoffs in the Premier League and the first goal has just come at Craven Cottage as already-relegated Reading take the lead against Fulham thanks to Hal Robson-Kanu's penalty. The game at White Hart Lane between Spurs and Southampton has been delayed by half an hour because of traffic issues in North London.

SHOT! Mark Bunn is tested properly for the first time as Weimann cuts in from the right and fires a left-foot effort low towards the near post.

BOOKING! The first name to go into referee Kevin Friend's book is Villa's Bennett for climbing all over the back of Snodgrass.

As I came in so late I wasn't able to bring you team news from today's match. Instead, you can click here to see today's lineups.

Norwich have a free kick right of centre and it's perfect for their set-piece king Snodgrass. He curls it towards the back post and Ryan Bennett is there but heads it down and straight at Guzan.

Bad news for Villa as Lowton appears to have picked up an ankle problem and Lichaj is being readied on the bench.

VILLA SUB: The youngster hobbles off and that breaks his run of playing every minute of every Premier League game this term. Everton's Leighton Baines is now the only outfield player to have played every minute of this campaign.

UPDATE: The second goal of the afternoon comes at The Hawthorns as West Brom take the lead against Wigan. That goal will be music to the ears of both sets of fans at Carrow Road as Wigan could be on their way down. Meanwhile, they've just kicked off at White Hart Lane in that Spurs-Southampton game that was delayed because of traffic.

Free kick to Norwich right on the edge of the area as Baker hauls down Snodgrass, who will be favourite to take this.

Snodgrass does indeed take it but it goes straight into the midriff of a man in the wall. The ball pops back for the Scot and his low effort is held comfortably by Guzan.

Better from Villa as Benteke lays it out to Weimann on the right of the area. He tries to fizz it back across goal but it's deflected into the hands of Bunn at the near post.

UPDATE: Wigan equalise against West Brom as Arouna Kone heads home. A Latics victory there will make both of these sides desperate for three points.

Garrido with a great cross in from the left that bounces just ahead of Hoolahan but there's Holt who heads high and wide. The big man was a little on his heels there.

OFF THE BAR! Villa look to end the half on a high as Agbonlahor's cross is deflected high into the air by Garrido and it bounces on top of the bar. The resulting corner is cleared by Snodgrass and half time is on its way.

HALF-TIME: Norwich 0-0 Villa

Agbonlahor tried to score with basically the last kick but was superbly blocked by Bennett. Friend brings the half to a close after just one additional minute and we're still goalless in Norfolk.

LATEST SCORES! Here are the latest scores in the Premier League:

Fulham 0-1 Reading
Swansea 0-0 Man City
Spurs 0-0 Southampton (kicked off at 3.30pm)
West Brom 1-1 Wigan
West Ham 0-0 Newcastle

Click here to read our half-time reports from the top flight.

To view the latest Premier League table with results as they are now, click here. Villa are currently moving up one spot to 15th while Norwich will remain a point and a place higher.

Out trot the players into the Carrow Road sunshine. The second half is about to begin. No changes from either manager. Remember, Lambert was forced into that early change when Lowton picked up a problem.

CHANCE! Almost an instant goal for Villa as Benteke flicks the ball over Bennett and bears down on goal. The Belgian's finish is weak though and easy for Bunn to get down and smother.

Groans from the home fans as Snodgrass overruns the ball down the right. Much of this game has been played in the midfield third of the pitch, with Benteke spurning perhaps the best chance of the match minutes ago.

Westwood clips a free kick to the back post and it's headed out for a corner but that too comes to nothing.

Down the other end and it's Norwich who have a pop at goal through Holt. Howson did really well to hold it up on the edge of the box before laying off to the striker who blazed his effort way over the bar.

GOAL! Norwich 0-1 Villa (Agbonlahor)

GOAL! Norwich 0-1 Villa (Agbonlahor)

Great strike, this. Agbonlahor streaks clear of Pilkington before driving straight at the Norwich defence. Howson comes across to try and shepherd him away but the striker is too clever, shifting it onto his right burying it into the far corner from 20 yards.

That goal sends Villa up to 14th and eight points clear of the drop zone as things stand.

CHANCE! Big mix-up at the back post sees Norwich squander a great chance to level. Garrido's deep cross looked perfect for his fellow full-back Martin but Hoolahan headed in front of him.

MISS! This trio of Villa forwards really are superb on the counter. This time it's Agbonlahor who streaks away down the left. He then picks out Weimann in the area but he can't volley home from just a couple of yards, poking it over on the stretch.

All Villa now as Delph turns on the edge of the area before lifting an effort tamely over the crossbar.

UPDATE: Goals elsewhere as Wigan equalise against West Brom once more before Reading open up a two-goal lead at Fulham.

JUST WIDE! This really is lovely from Villa. Again it's Agbonlahor who goes close, this time exchanging passes with Benteke before fizzing a left-foot effort just wide.

Christian Benteke is a lucky, lucky boy. He's just grabbed Bassong by the throat right in front of the referee but Friend lets him off with just a yellow card.

UPDATE: Fulham pull one back against Reading as Bryan Ruiz slots home.

Back to Carrow Road and yet again it's Villa on the counter but this time it doesn't quite work out.

PENALTY TO NORWICH! Bennett is penalised for bringing down Snodgrass.

GOAL! Norwich 1-1 Villa (Holt)

Friend had no choice but to point to the spot for Bennett's tug/push on Snodgrass. Holt took responsibility and sent Guzan the wrong way, by placing it firmly in the bottom-right corner.

UPDATE: A Fulham comeback looks unlikely as Adam Le Fondre makes it 3-1 to Reading at Craven Cottage.

Norwich have brought on Kei Kamara for Hoolahan and that's really boosted the Canaries' attack at the moment.

UPDATE: Maybe a Fulham comeback is on the cards?! Ruiz has just headed in his second to make it 3-2.

VILLA SUB: Lambert makes his second change as Brett Holman replaces the energetic Sylla in midfield.

Into the final 10 minutes then and we're all level at Carrow Road. Villa started the second half better but Norwich have been much better since the equaliser.

UPDATE! More goals at West Brom and Fulham! Amazingly Wigan now lead at The Hawthorns thanks to Callum McManaman while Reading have restored their two-goal advantage. They lead 4-2.

NORWICH SUB: Snodgrass is taken off for Elliot Bennett and that means that there are now three Bennetts on the pitch. Elliot and Ryan for Norwich and Joe for Villa.

Almost a winner for the hosts as a long crossfield ball is nodded down by Kamara and there's Holt to volley it on the turn but it flies just wide of the near post.

GOAL! Norwich 1-2 Villa (Agbonlahor)

GABBY! It's Agbonlahor's second of the game and another fine finish. He is played in down the inside-right channel by Westwood and holds off Bassong before drilling across Bunn into the far corner. Villa on course to reach 40 points.

Four minutes added on in Norfolk.

NORWICH SUB: Hughton tries to shake things up by bringing on Simeon Jackson for Javier Garrido. Just two minutes for the Canaries to find a leveller.

JUST WIDE! Oh so close to an equaliser! Guzan makes a strange decision to come and claim Kamara's cross and he doesn't get there, allowing Holt to head at goal but he loops it agonisingly wide.

Villa race down the other end and Weimann could shoot but instead tries to pull it back for Benteke but Bassong is there to clear the danger.

FULL-TIME: Norwich 1-2 Villa

A second successive win for Villa and they're now five points clear of the drop zone.

Norwich are just three points ahead of Wigan, who have a game in-hand and the Canaries will definitely be looking over their shoulders now.

You can find the latest Premier League table by clicking here and see all of today's results here.

Thanks for joining Sports Mole this afternoon. Make sure you now head over to our coverage of QPR vs. Arsenal (KO 5.30pm) with Liam Apicella. See you soon.

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Villa's Christian Benteke celebrates his hat-trick goal against Sunderland on April 29, 2013
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