VILLA ARE HELD UP BY RHODES

Canaries soar high with two-goal Jordan

JORDAN RHODES was the Norwich hero as Dean Smith found out how difficult a job he has managing his beloved Aston Villa.

Smith’s men were cruising thanks to James Chester’s first-half header.

But on-loan Sheffield Wednesday ace Rhodes – left on the bench for most of the last month – turned things around in style after being given his chance thanks to an injury to Teemu Pukki.

Villa have now won just twice in 13 games and the ambition of a Premier League return looks some way off.

Things initially looked all rosy for ex-brentford boss Smith following the 1-0 victory over Swansea at the weekend and an encouraging start in East Anglia. They took the lead with 19 minutes on the clock when skipper Chester headed home from Conor Hourihane although the ball brushed the head of Tom Trybull on the way past.

In-form Tammy Abraham was inches away from making it two as his shot from Alan Hutton’s cross came back off the post with Albert Adomah’s shot from the rebound blocked.

Norwich had not been helped by Alex Tettey’s hasty withdrawal from the starting line-up after his partner went into labour.

But they could have levelled when Marco Stiepermann headed into the side netting.

Villa pressed for a second before the break as Hourihane went just over with a free-kick.

However Villa were hindered by a double injury blow at the start of the second half.

Adomah and Abraham went off and the Canaries took advantage.

Rhodes equalised on 54 minutes when he headed in from Emi Buendia’s corner.

Axel Tuanzebe headed off-target from Hourihane’s free-kick as Villa responded.

But it was their defence that switched off again on 73 minutes with Rhodes finishing in style from a low cross by Stiepermann.

It was the 22nd goal Villa have conceded in the Championship this season after failing to replace the retired John Terry, now assistant to Smith.

Villa never looked like finding a late equaliser despite having plenty of the play in the closing stages.

Sub Scott Hogan went closest, glancing wide from a cross by Ahmed Elmohamady.