Agbonlahor bags brace in Villa victory
Gabriel Agbonlahor struck a last-minute winner to give Aston Villa what could be a crucial victory in their battle to stay in the Barclays Premier League as Paul Lambert returned to beat his old club Norwich 2-1 at Carrow Road.
Villa have injected fresh life into their survival bid with a decent run of form, thumping Sunderland 6-1 on Monday night, and they did enough to merit another maximum-points haul with two fine goals from Agbonlahor in the second half. The Villa winger had drilled in a superb 25-yard effort on 55 minutes, which was cancelled out by a penalty from Norwich captain Grant Holt.
However, Lambert - who had guided the Canaries to successive promotions back up into the top flight before an acrimonious departure last summer - enjoyed the last laugh as Agbonlahor rolled in a late winner which leaves his old club still looking anxiously over their shoulders heading into the final two matches.
The home side started brightly, with wingers Anthony Pilkington and Robert Snodgrass dangerous down the flanks.Villa, however, looked strong on the break as Agbonlahor's shot was blocked behind.
Villa opened up the Norwich defence at the start of the second half when Benteke waltzed into the penalty area, only to then shoot tamely at Bunn from 10 yards out.
The visitors did break the deadlock on 55 minutes. Agbonlahor picked the ball up just inside the Norwich half and, as the defenders back off, the Villa winger surged forwards before unleashing a superb strike into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Benteke and Norwich defender Sebastien Bassong got involved in an unnecessary confrontation, with both players raising hands and were somewhat fortunate to only be shown yellow cards.
With 20 minutes left, Kamara replaced Hoolahan - a change which was greeted with chants of "you don't know what you are doing" by some in the home crowd. Not long after, those same supporters were in more positive mood as Holt equalised from the spot on 74 minutes.
Snodgrass got away down the right and cut back into the area, where he was bundled over by Bennett. Holt had missed Norwich's only other penalty this season, in stoppage time here against Southampton, but he made no mistake this time as he crashed the ball into the bottom left corner.
Both sides pressed for what would be a crucial winner in their battle for Premier League safety. And it was Agbonlahor who secured a crucial three points for Villa when he got goalside of Bassong, before rolling the ball into the far corner.
