HANLEY EYES FAST RETURN
Norwich skipper Grant hanley couldn’t hide his devastation as the Premier League execution warrant was signed.
hanley was clearly choked as he said: “it hurts, of course it does. walking off the pitch you don’t really let your mind wander anywhere else, then the news filters through that you’re down.
“So it’s really raw and hard to put into words — the emotion. i’m devastated, but for a while it’s been like every game was a must-win.
“it starts to look more likely but when the day actually comes that it’s officially done, it’s really difficult.”
it seemed particularly cruel coming on the ground where canaries boss Dean Smith, a lifelong Villa fan, watched from the terraces as a kid.
Reception
Sacked by Villa in November, Smith got a fantastic reception and send off by the home fans which would have been scant consolation.
hanley hopes Norwich’s experience of bouncing straight back from the championship counts for something.
“i think it’s important everyone looks in the mirror and is honest with themselves.
Ask themselves the question if they could have done any more. Life goes on and we need to come back better and stronger. A lot of our lads have been there and done it at championship level and have bounced back straight away so there’s confidence in the group to show that experience and do it again.”
The raw emotion of what unfolded was overwhelming but not a lot else. Even Villa hero of the hour Danny ings was a little non-plussed.
ings made Villa’s opener with his first touch and then scored the second but said: “overall this season for me has been a little underwhelming.
“it’s been very up and down. There have been things with niggles i have had. it has been a strange season.”
Impact
The striker has scored six times in 26 appearances but what a dramatic impact he made.
Sub ings had just stepped onto the pitch when he fizzed a 40-yard long ball for ollie watkins to score.
He then sealed victory with a stoppage-time goal to give Villa their first win in six games. ings added: “with the first goal, i just put my head up! Sometimes i get a bit giddy when i have the ball in my own half. i saw ol make a move and i am always trying to pick him out, but he still had a lot to do.”
Smith had never been relegated as a manager, admitting: “it was a record i was proud of, but it happens. i think we knew when we had only two points after 10 games that it was going to be tough to stay up.”