U23s beaten 3-0 at Aston Villa

Villa 'keeper Akos Onodi made a string of saves throughout the first quarter of the game, denying Tyrese Omotoye, a Rob Nizet free-kick and a Zach Dronfield long-ranger.

The visitors continued to look dominant approaching the half hour mark as a Reece McAlear corner caused confusion in the 18-yard box, but thirty minutes in, with the Canaries having failed to make their chances count, the tide began to turn.

Akin Famewo was forced off after landing awkwardly, but it was later confirmed that he was only substituted as a precaution, with Jonathan Tomkinson taking his place. Villa looked lively after the brief break, however, with Aaron Ramsey playing a nice one-two before picking out the top right corner for 1-0.

Jon McCracken stuck out his left foot to clear the danger in the 36th minute, before Josh Giurgi forced a fine save from Onodi in the 39th.

City may have felt somewhat hard done by to go into the half-time break 1-0 down.

The hosts scored their first of two dead-ball goals in the 62nd minute, Dominic Revan getting on the end of a free kick at the far post to head in for 2-0.

As City delegated more bodies further up the pitch, Villa looked like breaking on the counter, eventually winning a penalty in the 73rd minute, which Jaden Philogene-Bidace duly dispatched.

Tom Dickson-Peters and Tony Springett replaced Matthew Dennis and William Hondermarck respectively with ten minutes remaining.

Springett demonstrated fresh legs just prior to stoppage time, darting down the right wing and cutting inside onto his left foot before throwing in a few step overs and shooting just wide of the post.

There was one more chance for City in stoppage time, Ethen Vaughan laying off a free-kick for McAlear to lace just over the bar.

Aston Villa Starting XI: Onodi, Burton, S. Revan, D. Revan, Bridge, Brunt, Wright, Guy, Archer, A. Ramsey
Goals: Ramsey (31'), D. Revan (62'), Jaden Philogene-Bidace (74')

Norwich City Starting XI: McCracken, Vaughan, Omabamidele, Famewo (Tomkinson 31'), Nizet, McAlear, Dronfield, Giurgi, Hondermarck (Springett 80'), Dennis (Dickson-Peters 80'), Omotoye
Subs not used: Milovanovic, Blair