Aston Villa travelled to manager Paul Lambert's former club Norwich City tonight for a Capital One Cup quarter-final clash.
It proved to be a successful return for the Scot, whose side scored three times in the last ten minutes to secure qualification to the last four.
Substitute Andreas Weimann netted a brace to add to strikes from Brett Holman and Christian Benteke as the visitors recorded a convincing 4-1 victory at Carrow Road.
Below, you can follow how Lambert inflicted defeat on his old employers and moved Villa a step closer to a first Wembley visit since 2000.
Evening all! As is now customary, both managers have made several changes from their Premier League lineups for tonight's clash.
The biggest piece of team news comes from the Villa camp, who include record signing Darren Bent in their XI for the first time since October 20.
His selection will only fuel the speculation that Bent's omission from recent Premier League sides is due to the rumours that Villa will owe Sunderland a further £3m should he play in the English top flight twice more for the West Midlands' outfit. Reportedly!
The England international striker, who signed for Villa for an initial £24m in January of 2011, partners Christian Benteke up front for Paul Lambert's side this evening.
Lambert has made four changes in total, with Shay Given returning to the XI after a lengthy absence from the side.
Fabian Delph and Karim El Ahmadi are also handed starts as Villa switch back to 4-4-2. Brad Guzan, Barry Bannan, Ashley Westwood and Gabriel Agbonlahor are those who drop out.
Here is the Villa team in full then...
VILLA: Given; Lowton, Clark, Baker, Lichaj; Holman, El Ahmadi, Delph, Herd; Bent, Benteke
SUBS: Guzan, N’Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Albrighton, Bannan, Weimann, Williams
Charles N'Zogbia is a newsworthy inclusion on the Villa bench. The French winger has missed the last six weeks of action with a knee problem.
And now onto the hosts. Remember, many of these names will have played under Lambert or even been brought to Carrow Road by the former Celtic midfielder.
Hughton makes one less change than his predecessor - opting for a trio of changes to the side that produced a superb display at Swansea City this weekend to extend their unbeaten Premier League run to nine matches.
There are two changes in the Canaries defence, with Leon Barnett and Marc Tierney replacing Javier Garrido and Steven Whittaker - who scored his maiden Norwich goal in the Liberty Stadium victory.
Hughton's only other alteration comes at the opposite end of the pitch, with Steve Morison replacing Wes Hoolahan. The onus will be on the Welshman to provide support for lone striker Grant Holt.
Sebastien Bassong is included in the City XI despite the recent revelations that he has been the subject of racist abuse from opposition fans in the past few weeks. The former Spurs man has not let it affect his game though - he has netted three times in his last four outings!
Here is the Norwich team in full then...
NORWICH: Bunn; R Martin, Bassong, Barnett, Tierney; Pilkington, Johnson, Howson, Snodgrass; Morison; Holt
SUBS: Rudd, Turner, Jackson, E Bennett, Garrido, Francomb, D Fox
Lambert spent three years at Carrow Road, earning consecutive promotions to the Premier League in the process. He then masterminded Norwich's survival in the top flight last season.
However, he is very much the enemy tonight after leaving East Anglia in less than amicable fashion. His resignation was originally rejected by the Norwich board, but Lambert eventually forced his way out of the club in order to secure the Villa Park hotseat.
The Scot hasn't helped himself with his comments prior to tonight's match - claiming that Norwich need to get over their "obsession" with him and focus on life under Hughton - which is incidentally, going swimmingly.
The Canaries have not lost in nine league matches and sit 12th in the Premier League with 22 points from their opening 16 matches, which is probably a higher total than most Norwich fans would have expected at this point in the season.
Under five minutes until kickoff now...
We are underway at Carrow Road...
Lambert actually received a welcoming reception from those fans who used to chant his name. There were a few boos, but not enough to drown out the majority of the Norwich faithful who were cheering their former manager.
OFF THE POST! Grant Holt is proving a nuisance as ever and he nearly opens the scoring for the Canaries when his effort strikes the woodwork!
CHANCE! At the other end, Darren Bent comes close! After latching onto a Brett Holman pass, the £24m-man attempts to slide the ball under Mark Bunn but the Canaries stopper makes a good block.
Concern here for Holt, who loses his footing on the right flank and goes down clutching his ankle. The Norwich medical staff rush on to give their talisman treatment.
It appeared to be a nasty twist for Holt, but he seems to have shaken it off. Meanwhile Pilkington and Morison link up well but a poor return pass from the latter allows Villa to clear.
Nervous moments for Shay Given as Morison charges down his hoof up field, but there is no Canaries player alert to pick up the stray ball with the Villa stopper stranded.
SHOT! Fabian Delph is looking to impress tonight and has started the contest in lively fashion. He tries a shot from distance but Leon Barnett stretches out a leg to divert it behind. Villa can manufacture nothing from the resultant corner, though.
GOAL! Norwich 1-0 Aston Villa (Steve Morison)
GOAL! Morison has not made many Norwich starts this campaign but he has made the most of a rare opportunity tonight by bagging the opener. The Welshman collects the ball on the edge of the penalty area before calmly slotting it past Given into the bottom corner.
GOAL! Norwich 1-1 Aston Villa (Brett Holman)
GOAL! Norwich's lead lasts all of 60 seconds as Christian Benteke knocks a long ball down into the feet of Brett Holman, who thumps a half-volley past Mark Bunn and into the net.
CHANCE! It was Matthew Lowton whose 60-yard pass initiated Villa's opener and he now attempts to put them ahead with a low effort which is gathered by Bunn.
SHOT! Another chance for Villa, who have responded in the best possible fashion since falling behind. Bent is obviously keen to get on the scoresheet and tries to bend an effort around Bunn, but the Canaries stopper gathers easily.
Howson shows lovely feet to turn away from Holman and attempts to release Pilkington with an ambitious through ball. The pass penetrates the Villa defence but is slightly overhit and rolls harmlessly out of play.
SHOT! Delph again tries his luck from distance but is this time wayward with his strike, which finishes several yards wide of Bunn's post.
This match has a real cup-tie feel to it. Although it has been mostly Villa since their equaliser, Norwich have engineered a couple of promising breaks and could have been in had their final ball been more accurate. Real end-to-end stuff!
Nice interplay on the City left between Tierney and Morison, who aims for strike-partner Holt with his cross. Chris Herd manages to leap and head the ball clear before the Canaries skipper can attack the delivery.
SUBSTITUTION: Darren Bent's return to the Villa starting XI lasts just over half-an-hour. I did not see him pick up an injury, but he limps off the pitch and heads straight down the tunnel. Andreas Weimann is on in his place.
Holt is in the wars again and this time takes Herd to the floor with him as the two collide on the left wing. Neither require treatment, though.
We are going through a very scrappy period here at Carrow Road. After a very fast-paced and action-packed start, there has been a lull in quality over this last 10 minutes. Maybe some half-time words of wisdom will do the trick as we are now just five minutes from the break.
SHOT! Holman has travelled well with the ball this evening and he drives forward again for Villa, before firing a left-footed shot which is palmed away by Bunn and then cleared by Sebastien Bassong.
SAVE! Shay Given is called into action after a swift Norwich counter attack, which eventually leads to Howson playing in Morison. Like Holman, the Welshman cannot add to his earlier effort as Given positions himself well to make a smart near-post save.
HALF-TIME: Norwich 1-1 Villa
Norwich started very brightly, but since Villa's equaliser it has been one-way traffic in favour of the visitors.
The Villans have recorded nine shots so far, eight of which have been on target. Meanwhile, both of the Canaries' efforts called Given into action.
Norwich have taken three of the game's five corners and committed five of the game's seven fouls.
Villa have shaded possession so far - with 52 percent.
The action has resumed at Carrow Road, with neither side making changes at the break.
CHANCE! Robert Snodgrass, who had a quiet first period for the hosts, crosses beautifully into the centre of the box, but Morison can only direct his header over the crossbar.
SHOT! Another half chance for Morison, who has probably been the pick of the 23 players on show thus far tonight. On this occasion though he cannot find the net as his chipped effort drops yards over Given's goal.
BALL IN THE NET! TWICE! Oh, things are hotting up again! We have had a disallowed goal at each end. Christian Benteke is ruled offside after calmly stroking the ball past Bunn, while Morison was also denied by the assistant's flag moments earlier after converting his third opportunity in the space of four minutes.
SHOT! Holman is eyeing up a second goal and connects well with a long-range drive which flies narrowly off target.
CLOSE! For the second time tonight, Given gets himself into trouble with the ball at his feet. Holt applies pressure and charges down the Villa keeper's clearance, but can only send his resultant effort into the side netting from a tight angle.
SHOT! Eric Lichaj would possibly be the most unlikely goalscorer on the pitch, but that doesn't stop him from trying! The Villa full-back makes a positive run to the edge of the box before sending a swerving shot towards goal which is diverted behind by Russell Martin.
SAVE! Snodgrass scored a free kick to secure Norwich the points against Swansea at the weekend, and he fancies his chances from another set piece here. He strikes it well but it is a simple save for Given, who moves a few feet to his left to catch the bending strike.
This is more like it! We suffered through a very sloppy end to the second half but the action is now replicating the first 20 minutes of the contest - fast and exciting. I sense a goal is coming!
BLOCK! Lichaj keeps popping up in the attacking third for Villa and registers another attempt on goal here. This time it is Leon Barnett who is on hand to foil the American with a brave block.
SUBSTITUTION: Lambert makes his second change of the evening by bringing Charles N'Zogbia on for his first appearance in over six weeks. Surprisingly, it is Brett Holman who makes way.
It is Karim El Ahmadi's turn to take a shot from distance, but it is not on its way to troubling Bunn when Howson makes the interception and clears.
The Egyptian midfielder has not really been involved in the game and I am surprised Lambert did not opt to substitute him rather than Holman. Although N'Zogbia is an attacking player, and a very good one on his day, sacrificing a striker at this stage is a tad defensive.
SAVE! Superb reflex stop from Given to deny a close-range Holt header. The Irishman has had his shaky moments this evening, but that was undoubtedly the save of the match.
GOAL! Norwich 1-2 Aston Villa (Andreas Weimann)
GOAL! Who am I to question Paul Lambert's tactics? The visiting boss will be secretly smug after seeing his two substitutes combine to put Villa ahead with just ten minutes left. N'Zogbia picks the ball up in the left channel and creates a yard of space before crossing to Weimann, who turns the ball home from 10 yards to put his side within touching distance of the semi-finals.
SUBSTITUTION: Hughton responds immediately by throwing Simeon Jackson on for Steve Morison in attack. Can his changes have the same impact those of Lambert's did?
If you cast your minds back to the last round, it was Jackson who scored a 87th-minute winner for the Canaries as they edged past Spurs to reach the last eight. The home fans will be hoping for Deja Vu here.
GOAL! Norwich 1-3 Villa (Andreas Weimann)
GOAL! But that is looking highly unlikely now because Weimann has all but booked Villa's place in the last four with his second and the visitor's third of the evening. Benteke squares a pass for the Austrian to roll in from the middle of the box and cue shouts of: "there's only one Paul Lambert" from the travelling fans.
SUBSTITUTION: Last throw of the dice from Hughton as he swaps Jonny Howson for Elliott Bennett, more out of hope that expectation.
GOAL! Norwich 1-4 Aston Villa (Christian Benteke)
GOAL! The away supporters have even more reason to sing now as Benteke extends Villa's winning margin. Lichaj plays the ball inside to the Belgian, who turns and strikes a right-footed shot across Bunn and into the bottom corner. Icing on the cake.
We are entering stoppage time, of which there will be three minutes...
SAVE! Given makes his second high-class stop of the match by diving to his right to palm away a Leon Barnett header.
FULL-TIME: Norwich 1-4 Aston Villa - Villa are through to the Capital One Cup semi-finals!
FULL-TIME: A ruthless display of second-half finishing has seen Villa triumph in this entertaining contest and progress to the semi-finals of the League Cup. It was a deserved victory for Paul Lambert's side against his former club, who largely treated him warmly on his first return to Carrow Road.
Here, you can read Sports Mole's full-time report on the contest, courtesy of my colleague Sian Cowper.
Alternatively, you can continue enjoying the live action by joining Pascal Lemesre for extra-time, and potentially penalty-shootout, coverage of Bradford vs. Arsenal. A late Thomas Vermaelen strike saved the Gunners from an embarrassing normal-time defeat at Valley Parade.
That is it from me for tonight. Thanks for following the match with Sports Mole this evening. Be sure to join us for live coverage of tomorrow's semi-final matches! Over and out...
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
