Norwich 1 Aston Villa 5 - Report and pictures

Record signing Wesley scored twice and had a penalty saved during a frenetic first-half at Carrow Road.

Skipper Jack Grealish and Conor Hourihane further increased the advantage for Dean Smith's men early in the second period.

Substitute Douglas Luiz then completed the scoring for Villa with a stunning long range effort before Josip Drmic netted a late consolation for the hosts.

Analysis

Norwich's late goal came after a mix-up between Tyrone Mings and Tom Heaton and blotted an otherwise perfect afternoon for Villa, who recorded their biggest away win in the top flight since the 6-0 victory at Derby in March, 2008.

It was a result which sent them flying out of the relegation zone, while in turn denting the spirits of the Canaries, who replace them in the bottom three.

This was also a day on which the club and players got a few collective monkeys off their back. Villa got their first win away from home in the top flight since the first day of the 2015-16 relegation season. Grealish, meanwhile, netted for the first time in the top flight since September, 2015.

More than anything this was a victory built on an excellent team performance led by Wesley, the £22million man who had entered the afternoon with something to prove after a poor showing in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Burnley.

Boy, did he make the critics eat their words with an excellent forward display. The 22-year-old scored twice in the opening half-hour, the only blemish on his afternoon being the missed penalty which denied him the match ball.

Norwich were well in the game during an end-to-end first-half but gradually Villa wrestled control and once Grealish had netted their third, there was only going to be one winner.

Smith named an unchanged XI from the one which started the previous week’s draw with the Clarets.

That again saw Grealish fielded in an advanced position on the left wing, with Hourihane keeping his place in midfield.

Villa were quick out of the blocks, with Anwar El Ghazi sending an early shot straight at Norwich keeper Michael McGovern, while McGinn curled just wide of the post after good work by Wesley had seen the visitors win the ball back deep in the home side’s half.

Norwich also had their moments in an opening 10 minutes which set the tone for the half. A late intervention was required from Mings to deflect Marco Stiepermann’s shot over the bar, while the German blazed off target when well placed soon after.

But Villa were more precise in the final third and took the lead on 14 minutes. A patient passing move ended with El Ghazi looping in a cross from the left. Ben Godfrey, looking to clear, only succeeded in jumping under the ball and Wesley was left with the simple task of chesting it down and firing past McGovern from six yards out.

The hosts looked for a swift response and Mortiz Leitner saw a shot deflected wide following a sustained spell of pressure.

Yet still it was Villa who possessed the cutting edge. El Ghazi brought a flying save from McGovern and then sent a header against the bar from four yards out, after the keeper could not hold Wesley’s header from the subsequent corner.

Norwich were howling for a penalty soon after, with home players adamant Mings had handled the ball during a goalmouth scramble. Referee Andrew Madley disagreed, however, with VAR also deeming the official had made the correct call.

With home fans voicing their anger, Villa promptly doubled their lead. The visitors attacked down the left and Matt Targett found Hourihane, whose low driven cross was turned home by Wesley inside the six-yard box.

By half-time the Brazilian really should have completed his hat-trick. He was quick to grab the ball when Hourihane was clumsily sent tumbling by McLean. But the spot-kick was too close to McGovern, who was out quickly to block the striker’s rebound effort over the bar.

The spot-kick should have given Norwich a lift but ultimately meant Villa’s third goal was delayed until after half-time.

Again the hosts were guilty of losing possession in their own. Nakamba sent Grealish racing at the Norwich backline, the skipper exchanging passes with El Ghazi, who had made a run to his right, before sending a left-footed, first-time finish into the bottom corner.

The same combination almost delivered Villa’s fourth, this time Grealish’s right-footed effort curling just wide of the post.

Instead it was Hourihane who further increased the lead. Targett won the ball 25 yards out with a fierce challenge on Buendia and it fell to Hourihane, who curled a trademark left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Luiz produced an even better effort with seven minutes remaining, curling a shot into the top corner, before Drmic pounced on a loose pass from Mings to salvage some face for the hosts.

Key Moments

14 - GOAL - Villa are rewarded for a bright start as Wesley nets his third of the season. The striker has time to chest down Anwar El Ghazi’s cross and fire past Michael McGovern.

25 - OFF THE BAR El Ghazi sends a close range header off the bar after McGovern saves Wesley’s header from Hourihane’s corner.

30 - GOAL Villa double their lead. Matt Targett finds Hourihane, whose low cross from the left is stabbed home by Wesley.

37 - PENALTY SAVED Wesley can’t complete his hat-trick as McGovern saves his spot-kick - and then the rebound - after Kenny McLean brings down Hourihane.

49 - GOAL Jack Grealish makes it 3-0 Villa. The skipper exchanges passes with El Ghazi before sending a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

61 - GOAL Villa make it four. Matt Targett wins the ball 25 yards out and Hourihane fires in from distance.

83 - GOAL Douglas Luiz makes it 5-0, curling home from distance.

88 - GOAL Josip Drmic nets a late consolation for the home side.

Teams

Norwich (4-2-3-1): McGovern, Aarons, Amadou, Godfrey, Lewis, McLean, Leitner, Buendia, Stiepermann (Roberts 76), Cantwell, Pukki (Drmic 84) Subs not used: Byram, Srbeny, Idah, Famewo, Mair (gk).

Villa (4-3-3): Heaton, Guilbert, Engels (Konsa 75), Mings, Targett, McGinn, Nakamba, Hourihane (Luiz 78), El Ghazi (Trezeguet 64), Wesley, Grealish Subs not used: Taylor, Jota, Davis, Steer (gk).