Promoted Norwich City wrapped up the Championship title with victory at play-off bound Aston Villa.
The Canaries only needed a point to be crowned champions but their result was essentially meaningless as second-placed Sheffield United – who required a win for any chance of leapfrogging them – were held at Stoke.[1]
The league’s golden boot winner Teemu Pukki prodded in his 29th goal of the season to put Norwich ahead before Villa replied when Jonathan Kodjia flicked home Conor Hourihane’s low free-kick.
Both sides threatened a winner in a free-flowing game before Jamal Lewis burst forward to find Mario Vrancic, who slotted into the bottom corner for Daniel Farke’s side.
Norwich finish the season with 94 points, five clear at the top, while fifth-placed Villa – who suffered their first defeat since mid-February – will now face West Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion in the play-offs, hosting the first leg next Saturday (11 May).
Dean Smith’s hosts made five changes – leaving out top scorer Tammy Abraham, playmaker Jack Grealish and key midfielder John McGinn – as Villa turned their attention to a second successive play-off campaign.
An excellent through ball from Kenny McLean – who later went off injured – was the catalyst for Norwich’s opener, Onel Hernandez cutting back for Finland striker Pukki to convert.
Villa’s Kodjia showed good movement to escape his marker for a third goal in his last four games, then Hernandez struck the bar for the visitors.
Norwich had the better of the second half, Jamal Lewis curling wide and Marco Stiepermann forcing a low save from Jed Steer, before Vrancic’s goal secured their fourth second-tier title.
It was also the first time the Canaries have completed a league double over Villa since 1992-93, when both clubs finished in the Premier League top three.
Line-ups
Aston Villa
- 12Steer
- 21Hutton
- 4Tuanzebe
- 30Hause
- 3Taylor
- 6Whelan
- 37Adomah
- 8LansburyBooked at 62minsSubstituted forBjarnasonat 80′minutes
- 14Hourihane
- 19Green
- 26KodjiaSubstituted forDavisat 72′minutes
Substitutes
- 15Jedinak
- 17Davis
- 20Bjarnason
- 22El Ghazi
- 24Elphick
- 27El Mohamady
- 28L Kalinic
Norwich
- 1Krul
- 37Aarons
- 6ZimmermannBooked at 60mins
- 4Godfrey
- 12LewisBooked at 78mins
- 8Vrancic
- 23McLeanSubstituted forTetteyat 42′minutes
- 17BuendíaBooked at 29mins
- 18StiepermannSubstituted forLeitnerat 73′minutes
- 25HernándezSubstituted forHanleyat 90+2′minutes
- 22Pukki
Substitutes
- 10Leitner
- 11Rhodes
- 15Klose
- 27Tettey
- 31Hanley
- 33McGovern
- 36Cantwell
- Referee:
- Peter Bankes
- Attendance:
- 41,696
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away23
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home9
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away13
Live Text
Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Norwich City 2.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Norwich City 2.
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Maximillian Aarons.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Grant Hanley replaces Onel Hernández.
Foul by Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City).
Alan Hutton (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Mario Vrancic (Norwich City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high following a corner.
Attempt missed. Jamal Lewis (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right following a corner.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Kortney Hause.
Goal!
Goal! Aston Villa 1, Norwich City 2. Mario Vrancic (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jamal Lewis.
Attempt missed. Kortney Hause (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Conor Hourihane with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Tim Krul.
Attempt saved. Albert Adomah (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Keinan Davis.
Foul by Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City).
Alan Hutton (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Birkir Bjarnason replaces Henri Lansbury.
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Jamal Lewis.
Booking
Jamal Lewis (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Jamal Lewis (Norwich City).
Henri Lansbury (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Ben Godfrey (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emiliano Buendía with a cross.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Andre Green.
Attempt blocked. Maximillian Aarons (Norwich City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Moritz Leitner replaces Marco Stiepermann because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Marco Stiepermann (Norwich City) because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Keinan Davis replaces Jonathan Kodjia.
Attempt blocked. Marco Stiepermann (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Maximillian Aarons.
Attempt missed. Jamal Lewis (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mario Vrancic with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Onel Hernández (Norwich City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Marco Stiepermann (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Emiliano Buendía.
Attempt missed. Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation.
Attempt blocked. Mario Vrancic (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Mario Vrancic (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jonathan Kodjia (Aston Villa).
Attempt blocked. Marco Stiepermann (Norwich City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Onel Hernández.
Attempt missed. Jamal Lewis (Norwich City) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marco Stiepermann.
Booking
Henri Lansbury (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card.
Mario Vrancic (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Henri Lansbury (Aston Villa).
References
- ^ held at Stoke. (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Relive the final day of the Championship (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Line-ups (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Match Stats (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Live Text (www.bbc.co.uk)
