Kod the miracle worker

ASTON VILLA boss Steve Bruce admits he could face a struggle to keep two-goal match-winner Jonathan Kodjia out of the clutches of the top Premier League clubs.

The Ivory Coast striker (above left) took his season’s total to 16 Villa goals as his in-form side notched up their 18th point from their last seven matches.

But Bruce is realistic enough to know that Kodjia could be tempted away by the likes of Chelsea.

The Villa boss said: “There shouldn’t be any financial pressure to sell him because we are Aston Villa. We’ve got to get back to the big league.

“But how can you deny him if Chelsea come along? He’s vital to us. You are only ever as good as your strikers.

“There’ll not be a better goal this weekend in any league than his first today.”

Cameron Jerome provided an early threat for Norwich but dragged a shot wide and then saw a close-range effort deflected off-target.

But Villa had a more lethal striker in Kodjia, who cut inside and curled a leftfoot shot into the top corner of the net.

The Canaries stepped up the pressure in the second half but it was still the visitors’ goal which came under most threat as Nathan Baker’s header was cleared off the line by Ryan Bennett and Kodjia volleyed just wide.

And the visitors’ task was made nearimpossible when Ivo Pinto was sent off for a second yellow in the 80th minute.

Late on Villa wrapped it up as Kodjia latched on to a clearance from keeper Sam Johnstone to roll in his second after side-stepping Michael McGovern.

It was Norwich caretaker manager Alan Irvine’s first defeat in his three games in charge. He said: “I thought we dominated possession but fell down in the final third.” Possession Shots On Target Shots Off Target Blocked Shots Corners Fouls Conceded Offsides Yellow Cards Red Cards 31% 69% 4 4 7 7 2 4 2 10 14 9 1 1 1 0 0 1