Aston Villa 2-0 Norwich City: Canaries relegated from Premier League
Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Norwich were relegated from the Premier League with defeat against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The tame loss, coupled with Burnley’s dramatic comeback win at Watford, left the Canaries bottom of the table and 13 points from safety with four games to play.
Their fans continued to support as a relegation that has looked on the cards for some time was confirmed.
Ollie Watkins put Villa ahead in the first half, capitalising on a slip from Brandon Williams before lashing high into the net.
Williams’ error summed up Norwich’s season, as did their lack of potency in front of goal. They created limited openings, while Villa hit the woodwork in each half.
Danny Ings added a late goal in stoppage time to add to Norwich’s misery.
The low-key win for Villa ends a five-match winless run, lifts them to 13th in the table and takes them to the 40-point mark.
Norwich head back to the Championship again
This is the third successive time Norwich have been immediately relegated following promotion to the Premier League.
The afternoon was particularly painful for Norwich boss Dean Smith given that he left Villa earlier this season.
In truth, Norwich’s slide back to the second tier has looked likely throughout a season when they have rarely reached the standard required of a top-flight team.
Again, they were spirited and had good spells in possession, but their lack of threat in front of goal was once again laid bare, a diving stop to deny Milot Rashica from distance the only serious save Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez had to make.
There were issues at the back too with Villa’s opener coming from a long, hopeful ball that was not cleared, even before Williams’ slip. The full-back was also outmuscled by Watkins, whose finish was aided by a slight deflection.
At full-time the Norwich fans applauded their side’s effort and there was no outpouring of emotion.
The club’s joint majority shareholder Delia Smith watched from the stands and some may again question the hierarchy’s resistance to spending big following promotion.
But their prudency, and manager Smith’s previous promotion with Villa, should leave Norwich well placed to bounce back once again.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Aston Villa
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameMartínez
Average rating6.64
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Squad number2Player nameCash
Average rating6.75
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Squad number16Player nameChambers
Average rating6.45
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Squad number5Player nameMings
Average rating6.47
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Squad number27Player nameDigne
Average rating6.64
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Squad number47Player nameIroegbunam
Average rating6.82
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Squad number31Player nameBailey
Average rating5.90
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Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Average rating7.40
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Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey
Average rating6.79
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Squad number23Player namePhilippe Coutinho
Average rating7.04
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Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Average rating7.20
Substitutes
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Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Average rating6.49
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Squad number10Player nameBuendía
Average rating7.02
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Squad number20Player nameIngs
Average rating7.08
Norwich City
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameKrul
Average rating5.53
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Squad number2Player nameAarons
Average rating5.29
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Squad number5Player nameHanley
Average rating6.27
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Squad number3Player nameByram
Average rating5.05
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Squad number21Player nameWilliams
Average rating5.24
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Squad number8Player nameGilmour
Average rating6.23
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Squad number16Player nameNormann
Average rating4.96
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Squad number10Player nameDowell
Average rating5.05
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Squad number20Player nameLees-Melou
Average rating4.93
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Squad number17Player nameRashica
Average rating5.00
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Squad number22Player namePukki
Average rating5.89
Substitutes
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Squad number7Player nameRupp
Average rating3.95
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Squad number24Player nameSargent
Average rating3.98
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Squad number46Player nameRowe
Average rating4.46
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Martínez
- 2Cash
- 16ChambersBooked at 44mins
- 5Mings
- 27Digne
- 47IroegbunamBooked at 61minsSubstituted forDouglas Luizat 73′minutes
- 31BaileySubstituted forIngsat 40′minutesBooked at 65mins
- 7McGinn
- 41J RamseyBooked at 67mins
- 23CoutinhoSubstituted forBuendíaat 76′minutes
- 11Watkins
Substitutes
- 4Konsa
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 10Buendía
- 15Traoré
- 18Young
- 19Nakamba
- 20Ings
- 25Olsen
- 33Chukwuemeka
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Krul
- 2AaronsBooked at 23mins
- 5Hanley
- 3Byram
- 21Williams
- 8Gilmour
- 16Normann
- 10Dowell
- 20Lees-MelouSubstituted forSargentat 67′minutesSubstituted forRuppat 81′minutes
- 17RashicaSubstituted forRoweat 78′minutes
- 22Pukki
Substitutes
- 4Gibson
- 7Rupp
- 11Placheta
- 18Tzolis
- 19Sørensen
- 24Sargent
- 28Gunn
- 30Giannoulis
- 46Rowe
- Referee:
- John Brooks
- Attendance:
- 40,290
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Aston Villa 2, Norwich City 0.