ASTON VILLA 4 Hourihane (22, 68, 85), Green (42) NORWICH CITY 2 Murphy (60), Oliveira (79)

CONOR HOURIHANE netted a hat-trick as Aston Villa answered their critics in style with a 4-2 home triumph over Norwich.

Keinan Davis made a sparkling first-team debut up front, and was involved in Villa’s two first-half goals.

The Canaries hit back with a 60th-minute strike from Josh Murphy, but Hourihane bagged his second eight minutes later and, although Norwich’s Nelson Oliveira’s pegged one back on 79 minutes, Hourihane made sure of Villa’s first league win of the season by completing his hat-trick five minutes from time.

Villa boss Steve Bruce, putting his faith in youngsters to lift the Midlands club out of the doldrums, and Davis quickly stamped his mark on the game with an effort that Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn did well to save.

The Villa youngster impressed throughout the half, crossing for Hourihane to net the opener in the 22nd minute. A chance for Cameron Jerome to reply soon after was wasted by the Norwich striker.

Three minutes before the interval Villa Park erupted when Andre Green increased Villa’s lead with a speculative long-range shot which whistled into the top of the net. Once again it was Davis who started the move.

Norwich made a game of it on the hour with a goal from Murphy, but Villa hit back with Hourihane scoring with a shot deflected into the net by Harrison Reed only for substitute Oliveira to score an easy second goal in the 79th minute.

Hourihane was determined not to be outdone, as he scored his third with a 20 yard drive five minutes from time to ease some of the pressure on his manager Bruce.