Norwich boss Alex Neill delighted with 'crucial' win over Aston Villa

Alex Neil was pleased as his Norwich side recorded a 'crucial' win over Aston Villa to move three points clear of the drop zone.

Jonny Howson gave the Canaries the lead in the first half before Dieumerci Mbokani's header sealed a 2-0 win late on.

Neil believes the first goal was key and, having picked up 20 points in the first half of the season, he expects Norwich better that tally in their next 19 games.

"I think it's crucial," he said of the victory. "I highlighted it last week after the game and it puts us on 20 points at the halfway mark so I think we're in decent shape and I would hope and expect that we'll pick up more points in the second half of the season.

"I just think that we played some good stuff in the first 10 games, we didn't pick up as many points as we'd have liked but that's now four games at home where we've not been beaten, we've two wins and two draws.

"So there's certainly hopeful optimism and I think we've still got a big squad in terms of players who can come in and out.

"We made four changes today and it didn't really have any effect on the team so that's certainly a positive."

Prior to taking the lead, Norwich had been second-best with goalkeeper Declan Rudd forced into action on a number of occasions to keep the scores level.

"I think it's fine margins at this level, the first goal is absolutely crucial," said Neil.

"I think we looked a bit apprehensive and a bit nervous to start with but I think that first goal settled us down and allowed us to sit ourselves back in there, be compact and then hit Aston Villa on the break.

"That's how the game panned out but, to be honest, I would have taken anything that gave us the three points today. The performance was secondary but to get the three points, we're really pleased.

"They're all tough games in this league, you don't get an easy game in this league and we're just pleased that we managed to win this one today."

The clean sheet was just the second the Canaries have managed this season and Neil praised the contribution of Rudd to securing it.

"It's something we need to improve, I thought Declan Rudd in goal was excellent again today and credit to the back four so a good day all-round," he added.

"He [Rudd] is doing really well and what typified it for me was two crosses that came in, one that he had to sort of stumble back a way to recover and one where he's taken in under pressure from Gestede and he collected both of them really cleanly.

"I think it shows the confidence and his kicking today was excellent as well so he's been a real positive for us."