Aston Villa's sorry season took a turn for the better on Saturday afternoon, as they won 2-0 against Norwich City at Villa Park, slightly lifting fears of relegation.
Joleon Lescott opened the scoring before half-time, before Gabriel Agbonlahor scored his first of the season to make it 2-0 with 51 minutes gone, ensuring a happy day for the Villa support.
With Jordan Ayew suspended after his red card on Tuesday, Gabriel Agbonlahor led the line for Villa in a fairly defensive looking team, with Carles Gil playing just off him in a 4-4-1-1 formation.
However, they did start fairly well, with Agbonlahor looking to get his first goal of the season, latching onto a low cross. However, the Englishman got his feet all tangled up, and saw the ball bounce off his legs and out for a goal kick.
Naismith causes early trouble
However, Norwich were always going to be a threat on the counter-attack with their new signings, as Steven Naismith created a chance just past the 20 minute mark. Feeding Dieumerci Mbokani on the edge of the area, the striker hit a powerful shot towards goal, only for Mark Bunn to push the ball out for a corner.
Naismith was on hand again to help create the next chance of the game. Switching the ball to Robbie Brady across the pitch, the full-back found Sebastian Bassong with a cross, however his header bounced over the bar.
Villa ahead through Lescott, before Agbonlahor nets
The Canaries would live to regret those missed chances, as Remi Garde's men went ahead on the stroke of half-time. The man who scored the winner in their last game, Lescott, was on hand again, turning the ball in from a free-kick, via the aid of a deflection.
The lead was doubled shortly after the second half began, with Gabriel Agbonlahor scoring his first goal of the season. Breaking behind the Norwich defence, the Canaries' 'keeper Declan Rudd made a poor mistake in rushing out, allowing Agbonlahor to easily round him and net.
That goal gave Villa an extremely comfortable lead, one which they were comfortable in sitting on for the remainder of the game, only looking to counter-attack when thinking offensively.
Norwich did look to threaten, with Naismith threatening before he came off, much like Nathan Redmond. However, they had to wait for the penultimate minute for their best chance, of the second half, as goalscorer Lescott cleared Mbokani's effort off the line, despite Bunn having been beaten.
Next up for the Villans is a home game against Liverpool a week on Sunday, whilst Norwich play host to West Ham United in their next match.