Norwich boss Alex Neil laments 'gifted' Aston Villa goals

Norwich boss Alex Neil said his side 'gifted' Aston Villa goals as they slipped into the bottom three with a 2-0 defeat at Villa Park.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the chances in the first half but went behind to a Joleon Lescott header on the stroke of half time before Gabriel Agbonlahor doubled Villa's lead six minutes after the break.

Neil's side pressed to get back into the game and had numerous chances blocked and cleared off the line in the second half but the Canaries boss said that pressure counted for nothing and was disappointed with the nature of the Villa goals.  

"We didn't defend our box for a set piece and then we made an error in the second half for the second goal and goals change games," Neil said.

"I think up until that point we had had good chances in the game, we didn't put them in the back of the net but when you gift goals away you make it doubly difficult and unfortunately for us that is what happened.

"You have got to do what matters and what matters is putting the ball in the back of the net. If you don't defend and don't defend well enough then it is going to cost you and ultimately it did cost us."

It was a fifth Premier League loss in a row for Norwich who slipped into the relegation zone after Newcastle's win at home to West Brom.

Neil said both he and the players are keen to end that winless run and start moving up the table.  

"The players know the gravity of the situation but they are the only guys who can get us out of it so it is just about making sure they respond and react," he said.

"We are trying our best and we will get back to work on Monday and hopefully we can start putting better performances in and making a difference in games - that is scoring goals and defending better.

"I'm working extremely hard to try to put things right. It is not easy but all you've got to do is go back in and make sure you try your best and that is exactly what I'll be doing."