Norwich City FC might just fill out a police report about the points that were snatched by 2 Gabby Agbonlahor strikes on Saturday afternoon. Villa did play well, but there was 3 pieces of fortune in the result.
Norwich coming into the game has been jittery of late. It has played decent football, but lack finishing. This came to fruition again as the Canaries created nothing substantial, despite great build up.
The home side copied Sunderland’s early tactic of harassing Villa as soon as it got on the ball, resulting in so many turnovers, that I was actually willing the young lions to not cross the half-way line just so they could keep possession a little more. The fans had been given noisemakers and used them enthusiastically, really getting behind their side, clapping even the safest obvious passes.
Lowton finally succumbed to injury after not missing a moment of Villa’s games this season and was replaced by Lichaj. His counterpart Bennett on the left was having a torrid time dealing with Snodgrass.
Villa’s best spell came before halftime and Gabby Agbonlahor saw his cross almost deflect under the crossbar. Halftime arrived and Villa had to be the happier to hear the whistle.
Villa started the second half brighter and again created a decent moment 14 seconds after the restart when some lovely skill by Benteke left the striker 1 on 1 with Bunn in goal. But, a defender did enough to make sure his effort was too soft, by diving in as he was about to shoot.
Like Sunderland, whose pressing game collapsed after half an hour, Norwich was no longer closing Villa down. That pressing game is difficult to keep up that long and Villa enjoyed more possession. Not long later Villa took the lead. AGBONLAHOR received a short pass on the halfway line and ran at the Norwich defenders who backed off. He cut the ball to his right and caught Bunn out with a well placed shot inside the post.
Norwich reeled and Villa should have doubled their lead. On a breakaway from a corner, Gabby sprinted down the wing and Weimann only trailing by a couple of yards got to his cross, but could only volley over with the goal at his mercy. Delph should have done better when the goal opened up for him and he over elaborated. A great 1-2 from Benteke allowed Gabby in and his shot went inches wide.
Moments after that miss the game turned. Benteke got into an altercation with Bassong and grabbed at the defenders throat. It should have been, or at least could have been a red card, but the ref kept a cool head allowing the Villa man to get away with yellow.
Norwich galvanized came at Villa and the crowd that had been starting to heckle some errant passes was back on their side. However, a large element sang “you don’t know what you’re doing” to manager Chris Hughton when he replaced Houlihan with Kamara. Within 5 minutes they were back on his side when the move paid off.
Joe Bennett only made two illegal tackles at Villa Park in the reverse fixture. He was booked both times. This time after getting another yellow on his first foul of the match, he got away with a four more. Then Bennett rugby tackled Snodgrass outside the area and held on to him inside the box and the ref rightly awarded a penalty. Villa’s second stroke of fortune came when Bennett didn’t receive his marching orders. Villa could have been down to 9 players at this point.
Holt dispatched Guzan the wrong way. The American usually saves penalties hit where Holt put it. But, it was 1-1 and Norwich smelled blood. However, once again, Norwich’s bark was worse than its bite and Villa handled their attack comfortably. In fact, Guzan was finally troubled with a shot in the 87th minute when Snodgrass hit the side netting. Much earlier in the half Holt had had a good opening and hit the luxury boxes above the first tier and that was about it for their chances, so another penalty seemed their best route to goal.
Norwich could no longer close down like they had earlier in the game and in the final minute it cost them. Westwood was given time on the half way line and he drove an inch perfect pass for AGBONLAHOR, who raced past the defender and tucked the ball, again, inside that post.
Villa had one more piece of luck to ride out. Guzan had a rush of blood to the head and rushed out to cut out a cross. Holt beat him to it, but his header went agonizingly wide of the goal and Villa won to jump ahead of Norwich in the table.
The Norfolk side could not afford to lose this after playing so limply in Stoke last week; they must now be favourites with Sunderland for the drop. But, Villa, Wigan and Newcastle are not safe either even though Villa reached the so called magical 40 point mark.