Norwich rally to deny Lambert

Paul Lambert was denied victory over
his former club as Michael Turner
rescued a deserved 1-1 draw for
Norwich at 10-man Aston Villa.
Christian Benteke (27) had set the
hosts on their way to a first league win
in five but Villa were finally made to pay
for Joe Bennett's second-half dismissal
and Turner's finish (79) was just
reward for City's subsequent
dominance.
Lambert had played down his
continuing legal dispute with the
Carrow Road club in the build-up but
it was hard to believe that this, for him,
was just another game: this missed
opportunity will grate.
Tension there may have been in his
dugout but it was sure in evidence on
the pitch for both sides - just two wins
between them so far - as the early play
was pockmarked by loose balls and
careless passes.
Benteke looped an early header
towards John Ruddy's goal and Brett
Holman found the target, but Norwich
had the space and the intent to attack a
defence deep and vulnerable-looking.
Ron Vlaar's nudge on Elliott Bennett in
the box might well have had
consequences (17) but the first key
moment came soon after at the other
end when Grant Holt poked into Wes
Hoolahan's path, only for Brad Guzan
to stop the goalbound clip with his left
leg (22).
The opener came then against the run
of play but Villa cannot be picky these
days and when Benteke controlled Joe
Bennett's cross and gently curled
beyond a stranded Ruddy, the relief
was audible.
Norwich had been given a jolt and
might have got another soon after the
restart had Ruddy not pushed a
Benteke header to safety but Joe
Bennett's sending-off (52) - a push on
Elliott Bennett yielding a second yellow
- gave them unexpected impetus.
Guzan pushed away one Hoolahan
shot, then another, before Robert
Snodgrass came on - superfluous
defender Elliott Bennett the man to
make way - to add further attacking
weight and saw a fierce volley well
blocked.
Villa finally deployed Darren Bent at the
expense of their goalscorer but he
remained on the periphery as his
team-mates tried to combat chaos in
their box, Vlaar's block denying
Snodgrass what surely seemed the
equaliser.
Instead parity came from the resulting
corner, Hoolahan affording Turner a
header that drifted tantalisingly
towards the far post and crossed the
line via the goalframe.
This was professional as well as
personal for Lambert - a chance to still
the dissenting voices after Villa's worst
start to a season in more than 25 years
- but he and his side exited to boos,
just one win in 19 now to their names.
Norwich fans gleefully chanted 'there's
only one Chris Hughton' but their new
man too has work to do, their side just
three points off the drop zone.