Villa on Targett again as Gerrard nets second win
Steven Gerrard knows Aston Villa have a lot more work to do, but was delighted to watch his new team make it two wins from two since he took over following a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace.
Matt Targett fired the visitors ahead after 15 minutes in south London from Ashley Young’s corner and John McGinn wrapped up the points with a wonderful curled effort in the 86th minute.
Palace centre-back Marc Guehi pulled one back for the hosts in stoppage time, but it was Gerrard who triumphed over opposite number Patrick Vieira.
He said: “Both our goals were worked extremely well. One from a set-piece and that puts Ashley as the highest assist-maker at the club so well done to him.
“Our first-half performance was excellent. I thought in a lot of departments we were top. But we knew we would have to roll our sleeves up in the second half because Patrick would make changes.
“Palace improved and made it difficult for us, but we still had chances to score so it was a fantastic away performance and I’m really pleased to have six points from six so far.”
Palace boss Vieira was frustrated to see their seven-match unbeaten run end with a below-par display.
Viera said: “I am really disappointed with the result, but more disappointed by the performance. Today we didn’t play well enough.
“We didn’t move the ball quick enough, didn’t defend well enough as a team and a consequence is not getting anything from the game.
“There is a lot of frustration again by the way we conceded the first goal.”
Dean Smith felt Norwich’s performance in the goalless draw with Wolves was an improvement on their win against Southampton.
New boss Smith’s tenure got off to a winning start with a 2-1 home victory against Southampton last weekend and it was followed up by a significant point against a top-half Wolves team.
“I thought the performance was better than last week against Southampton. We were probably fortunate to get an extra two points last week and we were probably unfortunate that we probably lost a couple of points this week,” Smith said.
“I thought our overall performance was really good.
“When I first came in I said I wanted us to stop giving away big chances, which we did today. We restricted them to very few and I’m not sure (goalkeeper) Tim (Krul) has had much to do today and we created four big chances. On another day we win the game.”
Wolves manager Bruno Lage admitted his side lacked a “spark” to find the breakthrough.
“In the final third I think we could be more aggressive and create our own chances,” he said. “It’s a point, but I think we should do better.”