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Aston Villa recorded their second win of the 2013/14 Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday, courtesy of Libor Kozac’s 30th minute strike.
The win may have come at a cost though as Villa’s powerhouse forward Christian Benteke was subbed off in the 28th minute after appearing to injure his groin, in an attempt to challenge Sebastian Bassong for an aerial ball.
Villa had their first chance within the first minute via Andreas Weimann, before Nathan Redmond skied over at the other end for Norwich shortly after.
A short time later, Weimann was at it again, hitting the left upright of John Ruddy’s goal with a curling right footed strike after a brilliant run and cut back from Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Christian Benteke had an attempt well saved off the rebound by John Ruddy, but was rightfully adjudged to be offside anyway.
The Canaries were given a golden opportunity when referee Chris Foy harshly adjudged Villa’s Ciaran Clark to have handled the ball in the box and awarded the home side a penalty.
Scot Robert Snodgrass, easily Norwich’s best first half player, stepped up to take the penalty but had his effort well saved by Brad Guzan, low to his left, who was coming way off his line in the process.
Snodgrass nearly redeemed himself shortly after; his sumptuous cross from the right finding Nathan Redmond at the back post, with the 19-year-old cutting the ball back to the head of Ricky Van Wolfswinkel.
The Dutchman, instead, opted to chest the ball, and hit it over from a couple of metres out as a result.
On 24 minutes, Aston Villa fans looked on in despair as talismanic Belgian Benteke went down under a challenge, appearing to hurt his groin. After going off the field, he attempted to come back on, making it all of two metres before being forced off again.
The young striker was subbed out for newly signed Czech striker Libor Kozac. While play continued without Benteke, Van Wolfswinkel fired narrowly wide after some great Norwich play down the right.
Kozac made an immediate impact as he put Villa ahead in the 30th minute. A slide rule pass from Andreas Weimann set Kozac free through the middle, but the striker put his shot the wrong way and Ruddy saved low to his right.
However, Agbonlahor picked up the ball and showed great composure to control before squaring back to Kozac who finished smartly into the corner.
They nearly added a second six minutes later when a ball from Agbonlahor was nearly turned in by Weimann. Two minutes later, Norwich defender Sebastian Bassong was substituted for Ryan Bennett after going down with a hamstring injury.
Aston Villa retained their lead at half time, despite Norwich seemingly dominating with 63 percent of possession. The second half was a dourer affair than the first, with fewer chances of note from both sides.
Russel Martin threatened early for Norwich, twice cutting inside down the right, near the baseline, before his crosses were scrambled away by the Villa defence.
Chris Hughton drew surprise and jeers from the home crowd when he substituted Nathan Redmond off for Nathan Pilkington, but was cheered for the introduction of new signing Gary Hooper, who came on for Johan Elmander in the 63rd minute.
Leroy Fer created Norwich’s next real chance of note, stealing onto a loose ball in the Villa defence and racing down the left, however, his eventual cross found no yellow shirts in the box.
Kozak again came close for Villa in the 78th minute, spearing into the box from the right; his powerful strike blocked by a brilliant sliding tackle from Ryan Bennett.
Van Wolfswinkel was presented with yet another good chance in the 82nd minute; Leroy Fer touched the ball back for the Dutch striker just inside the box, his powerful drive deflecting off two defenders for a corner.
The only yellow card of the game was given shortly after, to Norwich’s Michael Turner, for a decidedly rash challenge on Villa left back Luna.
Brad Guzan came to the rescue for Villa once more in the 88th minute, as he somehow managed to reach Gary Hooper’s close range effort, tipping it onto and over the bar to secure a point for Villa, and help record their first clean sheet in 27 matches.
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