A double from Jordan Rhodes gave Norwich City victory over Aston Villa to consign new boss Dean Smith to his first defeat since taking over earlier this month.*

The visitors started brightly and took the lead when captain James Chester headed in from a Conor Hourihane corner.

Rhodes headed the home side level shortly after Villa had lost on-loan striker Tammy Abraham to a head injury.

Tim Klose fired just over as the hosts got on top before Rhodes grabbed his second from a low Marco Stiepermann cross.

The Canaries held on for the win despite having to see out 10 minutes of stoppage time after sub Louis Thompson picked up a late injury.

Villa sub Anwar El Ghazi had an effort cleared off the line with the score at 1-1, but after Rhodes gave the hosts the lead the visitors did not create a chance of note.

Daniel Farke’s side are now up to fourth in the table and are just two points outside the automatic promotion places.

The visitors, who have won just once in their last six matches, travel to QPR on Friday.

*Aston Villa manager Dean Smith told BBC WM:*

“I certainly don’t think we deserved to lose. It was a scrappy game - I thought it was going to be a good football game with two good football teams, but we seemed cancel each other out a little bit.

“That little spell when Albert Adomah and Tammy Abraham came off, they scored from that corner where Tammy is usually very good at heading it away.

“We’ve had a big chance at 1-0 where Tammy’s hit the post. If we score that, I think we win comfortably.”