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Aston Villa 4 - Norwich 1: Brilliant Benteke double silences Canaries
CHRISTIAN BENTEKE showed a glimpse of why he was one of the summers most sought after players with a superb brace that consigned Chris Hughton to a humiliating defeat.
It had been billed as a game of sub-plots with Paul Lambert and Grant Holt returning facing their old club and Wes Hoolahan playing against the side who made desperate attempts to sign him in January.
The defeat has piled yet more pressure on the already uncertain future of Chris Hughton, who endured a chorus of boo's from restless Norwich fans eager to see the former Tottenham man replaced.
Despite their resounding defeat, it was Hughton's side who got off to a flyer with a third minute goal courtesy of Lambert's wanted man Hoolahan.
Gary Hooper beat a static Villa back four and squared the ball into the path of Hoolahan who calmly stroked the ball home.
Strangely, Hoolahan refused to celebrate against a team who he has never played for, but his actions speak volumes about a possible impending move.
The home side weren't behind for long and replied with an outstanding goal from Benteke.
The Belgian chested down a long ball in the heart of the Norwich defence, and in the same motion hooked a volley into the roof of the net.
The game was completely transformed two minutes later when Benteke netted his second.
Joseph Yobo was responsible for man marking the towering Benteke who overpowered the Nigerian with relative ease to head a corner in from five-yards.
The goals continued to come when Aston Villa did what they do best and broke rapidly to leave the Norwich players stunned.
Gabby Agbonlahor raced away, cut the ball to Andreas Weimann whose inch perfect pass was sweetly curled beyond the outstretched John Ruddy by Leandro Bacuna.
The game was effectively over as a contest after 40 minutes when the Midlands side scored their fourth in an embarrassing fashion after the lackadaisical Sebastien Bassong blasted a Fabian Delph cross into his own net.
Norwich did show some character in the second half by not conceding, however Villa rarely tested them and were content to sit on their advantage to collect all three points.