Conor Hourihane has six goals and three assists in eight league appearances against Norwich
Conor Hourihane came off the bench to score the only goal against fellow strugglers Norwich and halt Aston Villa's four-match losing streak.
Both sides were promoted back to the Premier League last season and came into Christmas in the relegation zone after going five games without a win.
It was visitors Norwich who were the most positive during the first hour at Villa Park, with Sam Byram's first-half header bouncing against the top of the crossbar.
But within eight minutes of coming on, Irish midfielder Hourihane swept the ball in from Jack Grealish's lay-off to score with just Villa's second shot on target.
Tom Heaton then produced a fine reflex save to deny Norwich substitute Onel Hernandez as Villa held on for a crucial victory.
Although they remain third-bottom, Villa are back within a point of safety while Norwich have slipped below Watford to the bottom of the table.
More to follow.
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Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich - As it happened
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Aston Villa
1Heaton
27El Mohamady
15Konsa
30Hause
18Targett
11NakambaSubstituted forHourihaneat 56'minutes
6Douglas LuizBooked at 89mins
21El GhaziSubstituted forLansburyat 90+2'minutes
10Grealish
17TrézéguetSubstituted forJotaat 84'minutes
9WesleyBooked at 88mins
Substitutes
8Lansbury
14Hourihane
22Engels
23Jota
24Guilbert
25Nyland
26Kodjia
Norwich
1Krul
2Aarons
6Zimmermann
5Hanley
3Byram
27TetteyBooked at 35minsSubstituted forStiepermannat 75'minutes
19TrybullBooked at 74minsSubstituted forVrancicat 75'minutes
17BuendíaSubstituted forHernándezat 76'minutes
23McLean
14Cantwell
22PukkiBooked at 42mins
Substitutes
8Vrancic
11Hernández
12Lewis
18Stiepermann
21Fährmann
24Amadou
32Srbeny
Referee:
Chris Kavanagh
Attendance:
41,289
Match Stats
Home TeamAston VillaAway TeamNorwich
Possession
Home43%
Away57%
Shots
Home11
Away16
Shots on Target
Home2
Away6
Corners
Home5
Away8
Fouls
Home15
Away12
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Norwich City 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Norwich City 0.
Posted at 90'+5'
Grant Hanley (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 90'+5'
Foul by Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa).
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).
Posted at 90'+4'
Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+2'
Substitution, Aston Villa. Henri Lansbury replaces Anwar El Ghazi.
BookingPosted at 89'
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 89'
Attempt blocked. Teemu Pukki (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Max Aarons with a cross.
Posted at 89'
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Kortney Hause.
BookingPosted at 88'
Wesley (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 87'
Mario Vrancic (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa).
Posted at 86'
Attempt saved. Onel Hernández (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sam Byram with a headed pass.
SubstitutionPosted at 84'
Substitution, Aston Villa. Jota replaces Trézéguet.
Posted at 84'
Attempt missed. Kenny McLean (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Posted at 84'
Attempt blocked. Marco Stiepermann (Norwich City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at 83'
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Trézéguet.
Posted at 81'
Attempt blocked. Trézéguet (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Hourihane.
Posted at 80'
Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa).
Posted at 80'
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Douglas Luiz.
Posted at 79'
Attempt missed. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Trézéguet with a cross.
Posted at 78'
Attempt missed. Sam Byram (Norwich City) header from the left side of the six yard box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Kenny McLean with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 77'
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Anwar El Ghazi.
SubstitutionPosted at 76'
Substitution, Norwich City. Onel Hernández replaces Emiliano Buendía.
SubstitutionPosted at 75'
Substitution, Norwich City. Marco Stiepermann replaces Alexander Tettey.
SubstitutionPosted at 75'
Substitution, Norwich City. Mario Vrancic replaces Tom Trybull.
Posted at 75'
Attempt missed. Kortney Hause (Aston Villa) header from very close range is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Grealish with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 74'
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Christoph Zimmermann.
BookingPosted at 74'
Tom Trybull (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Tom Trybull (Norwich City).
Posted at 73'
Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 72'
Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 72'
Foul by Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa).
Posted at 70'
Attempt missed. Kenny McLean (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Emiliano Buendía.
Posted at 67'
Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 67'
Foul by Kortney Hause (Aston Villa).
Goal!Posted at 64'
Goal! Aston Villa 1, Norwich City 0. Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Jack Grealish.
Posted at 61'
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Grant Hanley.
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Source: bbc.com