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Bassong in action as Elite Development Squad lose narrowly to Aston Villa
SEBASTIEN Bassong got through a full 90 minutes for Norwich City's Under-21s as they slipped to a 1-0 loss against Aston Villa at the Pirelli Stadium.
City's Team Captain continued his recuperation from injury but couldn't prevent the defeat as Jack Grealish scored the only goal of the game five minutes prior to half-time.
Bassong was playing in his second game since starting his recovery, having featured in last week's 4-1 win over Stoke City for the Under-21s, while Carlton Morris was selected up front after scoring twice for the Under-18s against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Norwich were the better team in the early stages, and after Jamar Loza forced a good save from Bradley Watkins, Morris headed wide.
Villans winger Daniel Brown had the home team's first opportunities - first he curled a free-kick wide and then he drove a shot that Remi Matthews held at the second attempt.
They got their reward with the game's first goal on 40 minutes - Callum Robinson's cross from the left was met by the stretching Grealish, who stabbed the ball home.
HALF-TIME: Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich City
Robinson twice went close for Villa in the early stages of the second period as the home team continued to edge the contest.
The even nature of the game meant few chances were created as the game wore on, though, and it was Villa who nicked the points.
GOALS: Aston Villa - Jack Grealish (40)
NORWICH CITY: Matthews; McNeil, Gafaiti, Bassong, Toffolo; McGeehan, Hall-Johnson; Jacob Murphy, Loza, Josh Murphy; Morris (Wyatt 85). Subs not used: Barker, Reading (GK), McFadden, Norman.
ASTON VILLA: Watkins, Lyden, Webb, Donacien, Toner, Cowans, Grealish, Stieber (Abdo 69), Robinson, Johnson, Calder. Subs not used: Lewis, Grant (GK), O'Brien, Wildin.
City's Team Captain continued his recuperation from injury but couldn't prevent the defeat as Jack Grealish scored the only goal of the game five minutes prior to half-time.
Bassong was playing in his second game since starting his recovery, having featured in last week's 4-1 win over Stoke City for the Under-21s, while Carlton Morris was selected up front after scoring twice for the Under-18s against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Norwich were the better team in the early stages, and after Jamar Loza forced a good save from Bradley Watkins, Morris headed wide.
Villans winger Daniel Brown had the home team's first opportunities - first he curled a free-kick wide and then he drove a shot that Remi Matthews held at the second attempt.
They got their reward with the game's first goal on 40 minutes - Callum Robinson's cross from the left was met by the stretching Grealish, who stabbed the ball home.
HALF-TIME: Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich City
Robinson twice went close for Villa in the early stages of the second period as the home team continued to edge the contest.
The even nature of the game meant few chances were created as the game wore on, though, and it was Villa who nicked the points.
GOALS: Aston Villa - Jack Grealish (40)
NORWICH CITY: Matthews; McNeil, Gafaiti, Bassong, Toffolo; McGeehan, Hall-Johnson; Jacob Murphy, Loza, Josh Murphy; Morris (Wyatt 85). Subs not used: Barker, Reading (GK), McFadden, Norman.
ASTON VILLA: Watkins, Lyden, Webb, Donacien, Toner, Cowans, Grealish, Stieber (Abdo 69), Robinson, Johnson, Calder. Subs not used: Lewis, Grant (GK), O'Brien, Wildin.
