*Jonathan Kodjia scored against his former club as Aston Villa beat Bristol City to record back-to-back wins for only the third time this season.*

Kodjia, who joined Villa in August in a reported £11m deal, endured a torrid first half, blasting a penalty over the bar after Gary Gardner was fouled.

But the 27-year-old’s superb header put the hosts ahead after the break.

Conor Hourihane tapped home his first Villa goal after Albert Adomah’s shot was blocked to seal victory.

Kodjia, whose every touch was booed by the travelling supporters, was also instrumental in the build-up to Hourihane’s strike, superbly dispossessing Bailey Wright moments earlier.

Aston Villa had not won a game in 2017 prior to Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Derby County, but now move up to 15th in the Championship table, nine points clear of the relegation places.

However, defeat at Villa Park increases the pressure on Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson, with his side only out of the bottom three on goal difference and having lost 11 of their past 14 league matches.

They did twice strike the woodwork against Villa, in the first half through Wright’s header and then at 1-0 down via winger Calum O’Dowda.

Andre Green also hit the post with a brilliant long-range effort for the hosts, who have now kept clean sheets in two successive league matches for the first time since March 2015.