Premier League: Aston Villa 3 Norwich 2

Aston Villa secured their first win in over a month on Saturday, coming from behind to beat Norwich 3-2 in a pulsating encounter at Villa Park.

The visitors took the lead through a great Anthony Pilkington free-kick but two goals from Darren Bent and a Gabriel Agbonlahor goal after a poor back-pass by Leon Barnett put Villa in control.

Steve Morison hit back late for Norwich, but the hosts were good enough to hang on for all three points.

Norwich started the game quickly, with Pilkington managing to get down the left flank and feed Morison in the area, but his shot was blocked by a stretching Richard Dunne.

Villa were soon on the attack though, with Bent supplying Charles N’Zogbia who’s shot after a mazy run was blocked by Marc Tierney, and Chris Herd almost managed to bundle the ball in from the resulting corner.

The visitors took the lead just before the half-hour mark and it was through a wonderful strike from Pilkington.

Grant Holt was tripped by Alan Hutton 20 yards from goal and Pilkington’s strike rocketed past Shay Given and into the roof of the net.

Villa responded well, with Agbonlahor beating Kyle Naughton down the left and sending in a great cross which Bent could not quite get on the end of.

Minutes later and a repeat performance from the winger saw Bent equalise for the home side as he nipped in ahead of Tierney to bundle the ball home.

Villa went ahead just three minutes into the second half when a slack back-pass from Barnett allowed Agbonlahor to beat Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy to the ball, and the striker neatly rounded the ‘keeper to register his fifth goal for the season.

Villa were on top and Emile Heskey was almost next on the score sheet, but Barnett got across to block his near-post flick after a cross from N’Zogbia.

Norwich were still attacking and always looked dangerous, with Barnett heading wide from a corner and Morison seeing his shot saved comfortably by Given.

But their defending left a lot to be desired and they were punished again as Agbonlahor, this time from the right, was able to zip in a cross which an unmarked Bent tapped in from five yards out.

Norwich boss Paul Lambert responded by bringing on David Fox for Elliott Bennett while Jermaine Jenas was given 30 minutes on the pitch after replacing Heskey to make his Villa debut.

Norwich pulled a goal back 13 minutes from the end when a pinpoint Holt cross found Morison at the back post to head home.

With time running out the visitors stuck numerous crosses into the area, but the Villa defence held strong to secure a morale-boosting victory.