Aston Villa claimed their first away win in the Premier League since 2015, and in some style, beating Norwich 5-1 at Carrow Road.
Villa have now scored more away goals than any other top-flight side in all domestic competitions this season.
Dean Smith fielded an unchanged eleven to contest Norwich’s impressive home record that saw them win the Championship and start the season beating Manchester City on home ground.
Though, it was no fortress against the Villa.
Villa start well
The away side started well, with John McGinn and Anwar El Ghazi testing Michael McGovern in the opening exchanges. With nine shots on target registered in the first half, Villa were looking to make an impact in East Anglia.
It was Wesley who did just that on the 14th minute. Holding the ball up well with his chest, the Brazilian shifted the ball onto his preferred side and stroked home to break the deadlock.
He and Villa didn’t have to wait much longer for another. The next quarter of an hour passed and it was two, as Wesley doubled his tally for the game and his campaign. He tapped home Conor Hourihane’s cross from the left flank.
Delirium in the away end, composure open the pitch, Villa were getting their just rewards after a frustrating opening to their season.
It should have been three before the break as Wesley failed to convert a penalty, missing out on the match ball. But he’s certainly silenced those early critics. It was a selfless display from the big forward, who was out to impress Smith after his pre-match rallying cry.
The goals keep coming…
After the break Villa carried on from where they left off, scoring goals.
Jack Grealish bagged his first Premier eagle goal since 2015 after a neat combination with El Ghazi on the right flank. Grealish received the ball back from the Dutchman before calmly slotting past McGovern.
Ten minutes later and Hourihane got in on the act. His fifth goal involvement in seven appearances this season was typical of the Irishman. Shifting the ball onto his left side, there was only one place the ball was going to end up.
Later replaced by Douglas Luiz, it was a goalscoring substitution as the Brazilian managed to get his second of the season in a similar fashion to his beauty against Bournemouth earlier this campaign. He whipped the ball into the top corner to condemn the Canaries to second home defeat this season.
Villa have now moved out of the relegation zone and will host Brighton later this month after an international break.
[…] Norwich 1-5 Aston Villa […]
[…] term has put them on course for the drop, while Norwich could fill the other slot, especially after Villa’s dominating 5-1 victory over the Canaries at Carrow Road. However, the final relegation spot could be filled by a number of teams circling in […]
[…] cracker against Norwich to add a fifth to proceedings on Norfolk wasn’t bad either, and clearing a goal-bound effort off the line in the crucial reverse fixture […]