Norwich City 0 Aston Villa 2
Dean Smith may have only been gone for 38 days but the achievements of their former manager have already long been consigned to history as far as Aston Villa supporters are concerned. An impressive performance capped by Jacob Ramsey’s brilliant individual goal and a late tap-in from Ollie Watkins made it four wins out of six since Steven Gerrard took over as they moved into the top half of the table for the first time this season. Inspired by the all-action John McGinn performing a decent impression of his new manager during his pomp, Smith could only watch on as Norwich were outclassed by opponents with simply too much guile and ability. It could prove to be a very long season for him and his new side.
Smith insisted this week that he had moved on quickly after being sacked by his boyhood club just five weeks ago, with Norwich having already picked up as many points in their last five matches as they managed under Daniel Farke in the previous 11.
Yet while the visiting supporters welcomed the arrival of their former manager before the match with a respectful cheer, Norwich’s fans were less deferential towards the returning Emi Buendía and the Villa captain Tyrone Mings, whose crime was once playing for deadly rivals Ipswich. Smith made four changes to the side that were beaten here by Manchester United on Saturday, handing Todd Cantwell his first start since November and a full league debut to Danish midfielder Jacob Sorensen. After seeing Villa narrowly defeated against Liverpool, Gerrard’s only change was to bring in Buendía to replace the injured Marvelous Nakamba in an attacking line-up.
Judging by the way they lined up at kick-off with both full-backs pushed right up, it seemed Villa had only one intention against opponents who had conceded 32 times in their first 17 Premier League matches. McGinn’s early swirling effort from fully 35 yards had Tim Krul back-pedalling before the Norwich goalkeeper was just able to tip the ball over the bar. While Krul would not be properly tested again for some time, Norwich struggled to get forward until midway through the half when Billy Gilmour and Teemu Pukki almost combined inside Villa’s box.
A sublime piece of skill at the other end from Buendía to beat his marker and play in Matty Cash down the line only needed a touch from Watkins to break the deadlock. But Norwich were to prove architects of their own downfall 10 minutes before the break when Max Aarons set off on a run upfield and was dispossessed 20 yards inside Villa’s half. Despite his best efforts to recover, the England Under-21 defender could only help divert Ramsey’s shot past Krul after the Villa midfielder had played a one-two with Watkins. Villa could have doubled their lead before half-time had it not been for late interventions from Brandon Williams and then Krul to tip away McGinn’s deep corner, although the departure of defender Ozan Kabak with a suspected ankle problem gave Smith even more of a headache.
A scrappy start to the second half did not bode well for Norwich but they were presented with a lifeline when Ashley Young misjudged a back pass. Unfortunately for the home fans, it fell to Kenny McLean and the midfielder could only toe poke the ball well wide of the target under pressure from Emiliano Martínez. Villa responded by tearing forward once more. McGinn’s cross picked out Watkins at the far post but Krul was down sharply at his near post to save. Gerrard sent on Danny Ings to replace Young with half an hour to play and Smith also decided it was time for another striker, with Adam Idah replacing Cantwell. The midfielder seemed less than impressed and headed straight down the tunnel.
Norwich’s output improved considerably after his departure, even if they never looked likely to find the equaliser despite pinning Villa back in their own half for sustained periods.
Buendía’s big chance to score on his return to Carrow Road came with 15 minutes to play, only for Williams and Aarons to combine to block his goalbound strike.
The Argentinian was roundly booed again when he was replaced by Carney Chukwuemeka with seven minutes to play, although it was Villa who had the last laugh when Watkins tapped in the substitute’s cross to round off a perfect night for Gerrard and cue a mass exodus of the home supporters. – Guardian
