Here is Paddy’s verdict on Dean Smith’s Norwich, who departed the Premier League in familiar fashion at Aston Villa.

• Tim Krul 6

Superb back pedalling flick to divert Leon Bailey’s rising strike onto his crossbar. Woodwork came to his rescue when Danny Ings’ header thumped his right hand post.

But could only paddle Ings’ late second into his net, after another fine reaction stop to initially halt Jacob Ramsey. Got his angles right to gather from Matty Cash in the first half.

Ollie Watkins’ first half goal may have brushed Sam Byram as it powered into the roof of his net from close range.

• Max Aarons 6

Tough assignment against the highly-rated Philippe Coutinho. Underlined when he was forced back towards his own goal by the Brazilian and then 'rugby tackled' him to the floor to earn a booking.

Offered himself for Kieran Dowell with a long distance burst before rolling in Pierre Lees-Melou, who carved his effort off target. Slashed a swinging, angled hit well wide in the 73rd minute.

Watkins looked to have escaped down his channel but when he dipped back inside Aarons made the block.

• Sam Byram 7

Deployed at centre back and did not look out of place. Sensed danger two minutes in with an important clearing header from a Coutinho cross. Tracked the run of Bailey and timed his tackle to perfection with a sliding challenge.

Unable to get to Watkins soon enough for his goal, but a brilliant block when Ings looked sure to finish in the 50th minute on the angle of the six yard box.

• Grant Hanley (C) 6

Solid and reliable again. Read Coutinho’s slip pass intended for Watkins to make a timely interception inside his own box. One or two long range passes aimed towards Kieran Dowell and Teemu Pukki.

Threw himself at a Dowell free kick in first half stoppage time, which dropped for Brandon Williams to head over the bar.

• Brandon Williams 5

Costly slip when he had got himself goalside of Watkins to track Ings’ long diagonal pass. Same forward robbed him on the edge of his own area in stoppage time, before Emi Buendia and Ramsey combined to eventually tee up Ings.

Left a bit on Bailey in the 12th minute with a trademark crunching challenge. Pulled a low shot at Emi Martinez. Freed Milot Rashica who teed up Pukki.

Smith was adamant he deserved a penalty when he was whacked in the face diving to head Grant Hanley’s knockdown.

• Mathias Normann 5

Woeful in the opening quarter, when he turned the ball over three times to put his side in trouble inside his own half. Sliding block halted Lucas Digne.

But then robbed by John McGinn and later Ramsey, without any damage to his side. Speculative hit as he fell off-balance flew into the Holte End. Chested down a dropping ball from a Dowell free kick in the 66th but skied over from 25 yards.

• Billy Gilmour 6

Singled out by Smith for his display, after a late emergency call up in the warm up when Kenny McLean aggravated his toe injury. Fine block on the edge of his own box in the 19th minute to foil Ramsey. Over-hit his cross with yellow shirts flooding to the near post.

Whipped in a free kick from the right in the 71st minute that dropped for Dowell, but his near post cross was intercepted by Martinez.

• Kieran Dowell 6

Bright in the opening period. Lovely cushioned ball free Aarons. Dangerous inswinging corners, the best of a number fell to Rashica, who tested Martinez.

Clever flick with his heel found Billy Gilmour. First half free kick met by Hanley for Williams’ diving header. Another drifting free kick in the 64th minute just evaded Byram.

Quick-thinking rolled in a free kick for Rashica, that ended with a wayward Normann effort.

• Pierre Lees-Melou 6

Tried to go with the outside of his right foot with time and space on the edge of the Villa penalty area in the 15th minute. Lost out to the combative McGinn on halfway but City had numbers back.

Checked onto his left to receive a roll back from Pukki, but a tame effort at Martinez from 18 yards.

• Milot Rashica 6

Thwarted by an athletic leap from Martinez to claw out his right footed strike. Promising break out ended when McGinn muscled him off the ball. But did get the wrong side of Cash to collect Williams’ ball and slide in Pukki.

Another cut back for Pukki in the 67th minute came to nothing. Stood up a ball from the byline that was only partially cleared to Normann, who slapped over.

• Teemu Pukki 6

Effort and endeavour as standard. Possibly best opening was when Rashica picked him out in the 37th minute in a decent shooting position, but held up by Tyrone Mings.

Elected to pass again when found by Rashica in the 57th minute but Lees-Melou produced a weak effort. Lovely flick around the corner for Josh Sargent sprung a City counter that swiftly fizzled out.

Subs:

• Josh Sargent (for Pierre Lees-Melou, 67) 4

Smith admitted it was a gamble following his ankle injury lay-off but it was a case of needs must with City’s top flight status on the line. Lasted 14 minutes before he was forced to depart himself.

• Jon Rowe (for Milot Rashica, 78) n/a

Immediately into the fray with a burst down the right, but Cash’s challenge saw the ball rebound off the City youngster and over the byline for a goalkick.

• Lukas Rupp (for Josh Sargent, 81) n/a