Aston Villa vs Norwich City. Sky Bet Championship.
Villa ParkAttendance32,605.
Sunday 2 April 2017 23:18, UK
Jonathan Kodjia took his goal tally to 17 as he paved the way to Aston Villa's 2-0 Championship win over Norwich - their fourth successive home win without conceding a goal.
The win means Villa have collected an impressive 18 points from their last seven games, during which time they have been indebted to the goalscoring skill of Kodjia.
Norwich, who have only won one of their last 14 away games, failed to propel themselves back into the promotion race despite showing some good form.
The visitors also finished with 10 men after Ivo Pinto was shown the red card for two bookings in the 80th minute.
Norwich, who have generally struggled away from home, were potentially dangerous on the break with Cameron Jerome a major threat with his solo efforts.
The former Birmingham striker should have had the Canaries buoyant as early as the 10th minute. He cleverly jinked his way past three defenders only to agonisingly stub his close range effort just wide of the post.
It signalled a spell of Norwich pressure with Villa's defence far from happy as they attempted to quell a City side, generally inspired by some astute play from Alex Pritchard.
In sharp contrast, Villa were disjointed. Promising attacks repeatedly broke down and, as a result, Scott Hogan and Kodjia lacked a service to unlock the Norwich defence.
However, in the 25th minute the two strikers combined together to open the scoring. It was Hogan who sent Kodjia clear down the right channel and the Ivory Coast star cleverly checked inside to score with a rising shot into the roof of the net.
Hogan attempted to get in on the goalscoring act himself with a shot on the turn only to be foiled by an outstanding save by Michael McGovern.
On-loan goalkeeper Sam Johnstone demonstrated why Villa want to sign him when he bravely raced from his line to thwart another possible goal from the persistent Jerome.
Meanwhile, Ryan Bennett cleared a 61st-minute header from Nathan Baker off the line and straight to Conor Hourihane, who clipped the bar with his effort.
Kodjia, who has now scored 32 Championship goals over the last two seasons, settled the game three minutes from time to convert a long free-kick from Johnstone.
Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce:
"Since I started in management, I've always said that you are only as good as your strikers. At the moment we have someone playing at the top of his game. Even after being away on international duty (with Ivory Coast), he has come back in such good form.
"The first goal in particular is a wonderful piece of finishing. There will not be a better goal than that this weekend in any league. "There is no pressure to sell, and nor should there be. We are Aston Villa and we have to get back into the big league."
Norwich acting manager Alan Irvine:
"I thought we played really well even with 10 men. We dominated possession and had territorial advantage. We probably fell down where we would normally be at our strongest, in the final third, and none more so than Oliveira at 1-0 late in the game.
"Obviously, Villa have some good players but they are a real threat on the counter-attack and that is how they got their first goal. At times this season away from home I have been really disappointed with our performances. On this occasion I wasn't, as the team played really well."
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