CITY's Under-23s hit the woodwork twice as they suffered a harsh 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in their Premier League 2 meeting at Carrow Road.

Andre Green's assured finish midway through the second half secured three points points for the visitors, with the Canaries sure to feel hard done by at coming away with nothing.

Villa started the stronger and Keinan Davis missed a fine chance to put them ahead on 12 minutes when he headed Green's cross wide under no pressure.

Diallang Jaiyesimi curled a shot over from distance as the Canaries grew into the match, with Glenn Middleton drawing a save from visiting stopper Viktor Johansson.

A short delay due to an injury to the referee disrupted City's rhythm but Johansson was called into action again when Benny Ashley-Seal jumped on a defensive error to shoot low from the angle.

Dmitri Halajko's side started the second half strongly and Todd Cantwell went closest to breaking the deadlock when he turned Middleton's cross goalwards - only to see it rebound off the post.

They were punished on 67 minutes when Green was released down the left flank, with the winger holding off the challenge of Louis Ramsay before poking the ball past Ben Killip.

Three minutes later, a combination of Johansson and the woodwork denied the young Canaries a leveller when Cantwell drilled a shot goalwards from outside the box.

Davis steered a volley wide as Villa searched for a second, while up the other end Johansson was quick off his line to smother another effort from Ashley-Seal.

In the end, Green's single strike proved enough to settle the game, with City's next fixture coming against Everton in the Premier League Cup on Wednesday, February 15 (7pm).

FULL-TIME: Norwich City 0-1 Aston Villa

GOALS: Canaries: Villans: Andre Green (67)

NORWICH CITY: Killip (c); Ramsay, Efete, Odusina, Lewis; Crowe, Adams; Jaiyesimi, Cantwell, Middleton; Ashley-Seal. Subs not used: Spyrou, Hallett (GK), Sambu, Syme, Aarons.

ATTENDANCE: 568

UNDER-23s: CITY 0-1 VILLA

More Community

#NCFC

Principal Partners

Primary Partners