Paul Lambert returned to Carrow Road for the first time since his sudden summer departure and left with his Villa side progressing to the semi-final of the Capital Cup.
Having made the perfect start to the game and deservedly taking the lead the Canaries then lost their way. Villa hit back with an instant equaliser and although the final score flattered them with three late goals, they did do enough throughout the 90 minutes.
The game exploded into life in the first minute when Steve Morrison for the home side saw his shot rebound off the inside of Shay Given's left post. And within two minutes it could so easily have been 1-1 when ex-Ipswich striker Darren Bent forced Mark Bunn into a smart save.
The Canaries contnued to dominate and it was no surprise when they took the lead. Grant Holt's flick on was perfect for Morrison, who coolly lifted the ball over the advancing Given to warm the City fans on a bitterley cold and foggy December night.
But Villa responded immediately with Brett Holman. He got in front of Jonny Howson on the edge of the area and beat Mark Bunn to his right-hand side. This gave Paul Lamberts men the impetus and they took control of the game especially in midfield.
Midway through the first half, Bunn kept his side in the game, making three successive stops to deny Matthew Lowton, Christian Benteke and Bent.
Having made a rare start of the season, Bent was forced to the leave the field of play after only 35 minutes, feeling his right hamstring. Andreas Weimann was a straight replacement for him up-front.
In the closing stages of the first half, following another Villa attack that had broken down City produced a lightning quick counter to relieve the pressure. Given could only parry Morrison's well-struck shot out for a corner, although disappointingly they didnt trouble Villa's defence.
HALF-TIME: City 1 Villa 1
The Canaries began the second half as they ended the first, putting Villa on the back foot with Holt and Morrison working very well to carve out several chances.
Morrison was through 1-on-1 with just Given to beat and the City striker tried to repeat his first-half goal, but chipped it too high. Then within seconds he headed over, although with his next effort he though he had given Norwich the lead, but was flagged offside.
City gave the ball away and Villa thought they had taken the lead, but Christian Benteke's strike was also ruled offside!
After a spell of pressure where City just could not find a way past Given, they were to rue those missed opportunities. Bent's replacement Weimann had a simple tap in to put the visitors ahead and being put through by Charles N'Zogbia.
This sparked Hughton into immediately bringing on the pace of Simeon Jackson, in place of Morrison, but it didnt make any difference to the outcome of the game. Villa put the game beyond the home side when they extended their lead with just six-minutes remaining with the lively Weimann planting the ball in the bottom right hand corner.
They rubbed salt into the Canaries wounds on the stroke of full-time when Benteke struck from outside the area!
FULL-TIME: City 1 Villa 4
| Norwich | Aston Villa |
|
1 Bunn |
1 Given |
|
2 R Martin |
6 Clark |
|
5 Bassong |
30 Lichaj |
|
20 Barnett |
32 Baker |
| 23 Tierney | 34 Lowton |
|
4 Johnson |
8 El Ahmadi |
|
8 Howson ** |
16 Delph |
|
7 Snodgrass |
31 Herd |
| 12 Pilkington | 9 Bent * |
|
09 Holt |
14 Holman ** |
| 16 Morison * | 20 Benteke |
|
Substitutes
|
|
|
13 Rudd (GK) |
22 Guzan |
| 6 Turner | 37 Williams |
|
18 Garrido |
10 N'Zogbia ** 73 |
| 33 Francombe | 12 Albrighton |
|
15 Fox |
25 Bannan |
|
10 Jackson * 80 |
11 Agbonlahor |
|
17 E Bennett ** 87 |
26 Weimann * 35 |
Goals:
City: Morrisson (19)
Villa: Holman (21), Weimann (79, 85), Benteke (90)
Bookings:
City: None
Villa: None
Referee:
Mr Michael Oliver
Attendance:
26,142