Norwich 3 Aston Villa 1 - Report

Josh Murphy set the hosts on their way to victory with a stunning long-range effort on the stroke of half-time, before Dennis Srbeny doubled the lead early in the second half.

Villa showed signs of rallying and pulled one back when Jack Grealish finished smartly from the edge of the box.

But any hopes of a comeback for Steve Bruce’s men were ended when James Maddison lashed home 17 minutes from time.

Analysis

This was Villa’s third defeat in five games and leaves them seven points behind second-placed Cardiff, with only five games to play.

The Bluebirds visit Villa Park on Tuesday but the game now has a lot less riding on it for Villa, who barring a remarkable turnaround must now settle for the play-offs.

Of all their recent disappointments, this was arguably the toughest to comprehend.

Cardiff’s 1-0 home defeat to Wolves on Friday night - in particular the manner of it - had appeared to rekindle hopes of chasing down the Welsh side.

Yet Villa failed to grasp their chance with a sluggish performance in Norfolk which got the result it deserved.

Norwich, who had won just one of their previous ten games, looked low on confidence in the first-half.

But Villa allowed the hosts to settle and paid the price Murphy’s stunning opener gave the hosts renewed belief, which saw them push on for victory in the second period.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, Bruce’s team struggled to find their rhythm. That is something which will surely be preying on the manager’s mind ahead of the play-offs, when a similar showing would prove costly.

Bruce kept faith with the same team which had defeated Reading 3-0 last Tuesday but it was a slow start from both sides.

James Maddison flashed an early free-kick, while Murphy brought a sharp save out of Villa keeper Sam Johnstone.

Villa looked dangerous on occasions but failed to test home keeper Angus Gunn thanks, in some part, to sharp defending from Ivo Pinto and Grant Hanley.

At the back, they were rarely troubled, with the biggest moment of alarm in the opening 30 minutes an injury to John Terry.

The Villa skipper required treatment after coming off worse in a tangle with Mario Vrancic but was deemed fit to continue, despite Mile Jedinak at one point primed to come on as his replacement.

Then, in the second minute of stoppage time, Murphy broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion.

The winger cut in from the right wing and unleashed a soaring left-footed effort which dipped viciously over Johnstone before going in off the post.

Going behind should have sparked Villa but instead it was Norwich who began the second half on top and ten minutes in, doubled their lead.

Murphy this time turned creator, picking up the ball on the left wing and dashing 30 yards before finding Reed, whose chipped cross was side-footed behind Johnstone by the burly Srebny, who had gotten in between Terry and Taylor.

Bruce responded by withdrawing wingers Albert Adomah and Robert Snodgrass and bringing both Lewis Grabban and Jonathan Kodjia off the bench.

Hope arrived with 23 minutes remaining when Grealish drilled a first-time, right-footed shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

But within five minutes Norwich’s two-goal cushion was restored thanks to more excellent work by Murphy, who embarked on a bursting run to draw three defenders before squaring for Maddison to stroke home from ten yards out.

Substitute Wes Hoolahan missed the chance to make the afternoon worse for Villa when he blazed over, before Johnstone saved with his legs from Pinto in stoppage time.

Key Moments

45+2 GOAL Josh Murphy breaks the deadlock in spectacular fashion with a dipping long-range effort which goes in off the post.

55 GOAL Villa are left with a mountain to climb as Dennis Srebny side foots home Harrison Reed’s cross.

67 GOAL Villa have a lifeline as Jack Grealish drills home a right-footed shot from the edge of the box.

72 GOAL James Maddison restores Norwich’s two-goal cushion from close range after a superb Murphy run.

Teams

Norwich (4-2-3-1): Gunn, Pinto ©, Hanley, Klose, Lewis, Tettey, Reed (Hoolahan 83), Maddison (Zimmermann 80), Vrancic, Murphy, Srbeny (Oliveira 85) Subs not used: Husband, Leitner, Edwards, McGovern (gk).

Villa (4-1-4-1): Johnstone, Elmohamady, Chester, Terry ©, Taylor, Bjarnason, Snodgrass (Grabban (55), Grealish, Hourihane, Adomah (Kodjia 55), Hogan Subs not used: Lansbury, Whelan, Jedinak, Onomah, Bunn (gk).