SCHOOLMASTER David Elleray taught Villa a lesson - but it was Norwich who came away with top marks.

Referee Elleray sent off Villa defender Derek Mountfield in the 50th minute for a professional foul on Dale Gordon.

By then Jo Venglos's side was trailing to lan Crook's fourth-minute 30-yard thunderbolt.

Mountfield's dismissal smashed Villa's resistance.

And Ruel Fox tied up a rewarding day for the Canaries when he left the defence flat-footed to fire in from the edge of the box in 71 minutes.

Norwich manager Dave Stringer said:

"That was our best performance of the season and Tim Sherwood had his best game for the club.

"He has already played for the England Under-21 side and must be taking the eye.

"lan Crook should be in the England reckoning. He played in the company of Gordon Cowans and David Platt today and there's no reason why he shouldn't be performing regularly at that level.

"And Ruel Fox is as good as anyone around at giving defenders a torrid time."

Villa looked in desperate need of their new £500,000 Czech sweeper Ivo Stas.

But the watching Stas must have wondered what he's let himself in for as Villa's defensive weaknesses were cruelly exposed.