Aston Villa 2-0 Norwich City

Aston Villa returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Norwich City at Villa Park.

England international Ollie Watkins drilled home the crucial breakthrough in the 41^st minute, registering his ninth Premier League goal of the season.

Substitute Danny Ings had only been on the pitch a mere minute when he provided the assist for the opener, and it was he who made sure of all three points when he found the net in injury time.

The hosts twice hit the woodwork through Ings and Leon Bailey as they ended a five-match winless sequence with all three points, securing an 11^th clean sheet of the campaign and back-to-back shut-outs after last weekend’s solid point at Leicester City.

It was a fourth consecutive triumph over the Canaries and an eighth victory in the last nine Premier League meetings, as Norwich suffered relegation from the top flight.

Villa, who move on to 40 points from 33 matches, will now be looking to secure successive wins when they travel to Burnley next weekend.

Midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, 18, was awarded his full Villa debut, with head coach Steven Gerrard making three changes to his starting XI from last Saturday’s draw at King Power Stadium, fit-again left-back Lucas Digne and centre-back Calum Chambers also included.

Villa captain Tyrone Mings made his 100th Premier League appearance in a claret and blue shirt.

Former Villa boss Dean Smith was given a warm welcome by the home faithful upon his first return since parting ways with the club in November.

The hosts dominated the initial exchanges, Watkins firing over from close range, but Pierre Lees-Melou enjoyed the clearest opening, firing well wide when in space on the edge of the penalty area.

Matty Cash headed straight at Canaries goalkeeper Tim Krul before Bailey went much closer in the 19^th minute, cutting inside on to his left foot 20 yards out before seeing his goalbound strike tipped on to the crossbar by Krul.

Villa No.1 Emi Martínez matched his efforts in the 27^th minute as he flew to his right to push over Milot Rashica’s long-range strike.

Gerrard was forced into a change after 40 minutes as Bailey was forced off injured, replaced by Ings.

And the Villa frontman made an immediate impact, sending a super ball over the top for Watkins to latch on to, get beyond Brandon Williams and drill past Krul.

It was a lead Villa held on to at the break after Williams headed over for City at the other end.

The hosts came close to doubling their lead at the start of the second half, Ings thwarted by Krul after a well-worked move before he headed against the far post from the subsequent corner.

Watkins drilled into the side-netting in the 55^th minute before Martínez saved from Lees-Melou.

Gerrard introduced Douglas Luiz and Emi Buendía, coming on against his former club, as the Villans looked to double their advantage.

Buendía came close and then, minutes later, Jacob Ramsey was denied by Krul, but Ings converted the rebound to double Villa’s advantage.

It ensured a league double over Norwich, whose relegation from the Premier League was confirmed with Burnley’s victory at Watford.