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Jonny Howson put Norwich ahead with his third goal of the season

Norwich lifted themselves away from the Premier League relegation zone with a nervy win that leaves rock-bottom Aston Villa further adrift of safety.

In a game devoid of quality, Jonny Howson's crisp strike at the far post separated the sides for over an hour.

Villa rarely looked like scoring, with Jordan Ayew heading their best chance straight at home keeper Declan Rudd.

Norwich ensured they moved three points clear of the bottom three when Dieumerci Mbokani powerfully headed in.

Ayew's 20-yard free-kick stretched Rudd in injury time, but Villa did not do enough to avoid falling 11 points from safety with 19 games remaining.

Relive Norwich's win against Aston Villa

Follow the post-match reaction, plus Man Utd v Chelsea, here

Relieved Canaries ease pressure

Norwich's sense of relief was palpable when Mbokani sealed victory in a match that Canaries manager Alex Neil had described as a "must win".

The Canaries had only won one of their previous six matches - the shock 2-1 success at Manchester United - and started the afternoon just a point above the relegation zone.

It was far from a fluent attacking performance by Neil's side, who only managed four shots on target throughout.

But they showed steel and patience to end Villa's resistance.

Neil will also be pleased at his side's defensive organisation, albeit against a toothless Villa team, as they kept only a second clean sheet of the season.

Jonny Howson's finish for Norwich's opening goal was the one moment of real quality. Neat build-up play involving Wes Hoolahan (14) and Nathan Redmond (22) teed up the former Leeds midfielder

Any encouragement for Villa?

In short, no. The Birmingham club, who have not been out of the top flight since 1988, rarely looked like ending a club-record run of 17 matches without a league win.

Villa went into the game on the back of successive draws against Newcastle and West Ham United, but realistically needed all three points against Norwich, who occupied 17th place at kick-off, to begin bridging an already formidable gap.

Norwich deserved win - Villa boss Garde

Despite showing some early signs of promise, the Premier League's lowest scorers mustered only three shots on target - they have scored 15 goals in 18 top-flight matches this season, with Jordan Ayew contributing a third of that total.

And had the Ghana international directed his 16th-minute header either side of Rudd - after finding space inside the home penalty area - the game would have had a different look.

However, Villa rarely looked like rescuing even a point once Howson met Nathan Redmond's clipped cross for the opener.

Even manager Remi Garde, who has not won in eight attempts since replacing Tim Sherwood, admitted afterwards his team did not deserve to leave with a point.

Neither Norwich (left) nor Villa (right) offered much threat in the opposing penalty area, as illustrated by the teams' respective heatmaps

Man of the match - Dieumerci Mbokani

Norwich striker Dieumerci Mbokani impressed in a physical battle with Villa defender Ciaran Clark, capping his performance with a goal. The DR Congo international received a standing ovation from the Norwich fans when he was replaced moments after scoring.

Manager reaction

Norwich manager Alex Neil: "I think getting the three points is the priority, but it was great to back that up with a clean sheet.

"Once we got the first goal, we settled down and it allowed us to be compact and try to catch Villa on the counter attack. Thankfully we got a second goal, which killed the game off.

Neil praises 'cool' Norwich players

"I am delighted for the players - they have worked extremely hard this year. We know we could have done better in the 19 games, so hopefully we will do better in the next 19. If we can do that, we will be fine."

Aston Villa boss Remi Garde: "I would like to say we deserved a point but at the end I think Norwich deserved the win. Nothing more to say.

"We did not play as well as we did in the last two games. We tried to do our best, of course, but did not create many chances. If you don't score in a game, you don't deserve to win.

"I will be the last man not to believe we can still win games. It is my job to make the players believe we will win the next one. I know it has been a long time for them to win, me as well, but we have the quality to win games.

"Sometimes in football you have to cope with this kind of situation. January will be important."

Stats of the day

Norwich have won as many Premier League games in their last three as they did in their previous 14 combined - two

Wes Hoolahan has now provided more assists for Norwich City in the Premier League than any other player (17)

The Canaries have scored in all but two of their 28 league meetings with Aston Villa at home

Only Sunderland (six in 2005-06) and Derby (seven in 2007-08) have had fewer points at the halfway stage than Villa this season

Since winning away at Bournemouth on the opening day, Villa have picked up just two points in nine Premier League away games

Villa have now gone nine games without a Premier League clean sheet away from home, keeping just one clean sheet in their last 18 Premier League games overall

What's next?

Villa are back on the road - again going to one of their closest relegation rivals. Garde's team travel to second-bottom Sunderland on Saturday, 2 January.

Norwich will be aiming to move further away from the relegation zone when they host Southampton on the same day.