Norwich City was relegated from the Premier League as Aston Villa produced one of the comfortable football scores of the weekend. Ollie Watkins put the hosts ahead in the 41st minute before Danny Ings sealed the three points in second-half stoppage time. Burnley’s win at Watford ensured the demise of the Canaries who will be back into the Championship next season.
Player ratings
Aston Villa: Martínez (7), Digne (7), Mings (7), Chambers (6), Cash (6), Ramsey (7), Iroegbunam (6), McGinn (7), Coutinho (7), Bailey (6), Watkins (7).
Subs: Luiz (6), Buendía (7), Ings (7)
Norwich: Krul (6), Byram (5), Williams (6), Hanley (6), Aarons (5), Gilmour (6), Normann (6), Rashica (6), Lees-Melou (6), Dowell (6), Pukki (6).
Subs: Rupp (N/A), Sargent (N/A), Rowe (6)
Man of the match: Danny Ings
Managers Reaction
Norwich manager Dean Smith: “I’m disappointed because it wasn’t a performance we should have got relegated on. I thought it was a good performance. We quietened the crowd. They probably scored against the run of play – a ball over the top and a slip: Brandon slips and Ollie scores. Unfortunately, that’s cost us an awful lot of games this season – little individual mistakes. I felt we should have had a penalty just after that and didn’t get one, but I don’t suppose I’ll get a phone call from Mike Riley.”
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard: “I wouldn’t say [it was a ‘total’ team performance]. We’re very happy with the three points and, obviously, the win and clean sheet but I’ve seen us play better. I thought we were patchy today, we started the first 20 minutes on the front foot, we were progressive and created chances. Credit to Norwich, they got some fantastic blocks in and a few goods saves. I also thought we started the second half in the same vein, but when that second goal doesn’t come, you’ll have some nerves set in then, some edgy moments, and that’s what I’ve seen today so I think we can play a lot better.”
For more football scores, click here
