Albert Adomah netted a goal in each half as Aston Villa defeated the Blues 2-0 at Villa Park. Adomah put the home side in front on 36 during an evenly-balanced first half, then added the second in the 66th minute with both goals largely the result of poor defending from Town.

Boss Mick McCarthy made four changes from the team which drew 2-2 with Sheffield Wednesday in midweek with Jonas Knudsen, who was back from his one-match ban, Freddie Sears, Dominic Iorfa and Grant Ward all returning to the XI.

Myles Kenlock, Jordan Spence and Bersant Celina dropped to the bench while David McGoldrick is out for a month due to the gash to the groin he suffered against the Owls.

Despite the changes of personnel, the Blues continued with their 4-2-3-1 system with Ward and Sears taking up the roles either side of Waghorn behind lone out-and-out striker Joe Garner. Callum Connolly continued alongside Cole Skuse in the deeper midfield positions.

Emyr Huws was again on the bench, having made his first appearance of the season as a sub on Wednesday, as was Teddy Bishop for the first time during 2017/18 after recovering from the groin operation he underwent in August.

The home side included ex-Town midfielder Conor Hourihane and striker Keinan Davis, who had a trial with the Blues academy in November 2015 when a Biggleswade Town player prior to joining Villa a month later.

Steve Bruce made one change to the team which beat Sunderland 2-1 on Tuesday with Mile Jedinak replacing Christopher Samba at the heart of the defence.

The game got off to a quiet start with neither side threatening until the ninth minute when Alan Hutton flicked a header across the face and well wide from a Robert Snodgrass freekick on the left.

Town had the ball in the net in the 15th minute from the first corner of the match. Waghorn whipped the ball over from the right and Villa keeper Sam Johnstone dropped the ball as Garner jumped into him.

The former Preston striker slammed into the roof of the net but referee Tony Harrington indicated a freekick to the home side on the edge of the box for a foul on the keeper.

Villa immediately threatened at the other end, Davis hitting a low shot which Bartosz Bialkowski claimed low down with little fanfare, the striker having looked offside when the ball was played through to him.

On 24 Jedinak headed a corner from the left goalwards which Connolly nodded away from danger.

Two minutes later Iorfa made a powerful and pacy run from deep to the edge of the area where the ball was stabbed away from him to Ward, who hit a shot on the turn not too far over Johnstone’s goal.

As the keeper prepared to take the resultant goalkick, Jedinak, who had been treated for what appeared to be a shoulder injury earlier on after an aerial challenge with Garner, was replaced by Samba.

Connolly underwent treatment for what looked a nasty clash of heads with Josh Onomah on 28 but the on-loan Everton man was fine to continue.

The Blues created their best opening of the period up to then on the half hour when Knudsen picked up a loose ball on the left and sent over a deep cross which reached Ward beyond the far post. The former Spurs man opted to turn back into the area and was unable to find a team-mate when he should have shot.

Most of the game was by now being played in the Villa half with Garner giving the home backline constant problems, but on 33 the Midlanders came close to opening the scoring. Adomah found space to cross from the left and Davis flicked a header just beyond the far post.

Despite the Blues having had a decent spell, Villa took the lead in the 36th minute. Chambers sent the ball high into the air a few yards outside the area as he cleared a shot after a corner hd bene half-cleared.

Glenn Whelan headed the ball back in once again and somehow it was allowed to reach Adomah on the left of the area.

Skuse slid in to try to make a final challenge but was unable to get a touch on the ball and the Ghanaian turned his 10th goal of the season past Bialkowski. From a Town perspective the goal was as soft as they come.

The Blues were close to an equaliser within a minute. Waghorn sent over a corner from the right but Webster’s header flew over.

Adomah shot over following a Villa break on 41, then moments before the whistle, with Villa finishing the half strongly, Hourihane hit a weak effort through to Bialkowski.

The goal was a bit harsh on the Blues, who had matched the home side up to that point of the game.

But as so often this season Town were left rueing conceding a soft goal with Whelan under no pressure as he headed back into the box - two Town players had broken forward from the edge of the box expecting the clearance to put the Blues on the attack - while there were several chances to dispossess Adomah once it had reached him.

Town’s best chance had been Webster’s header following the goal, although Ward ought to have made more of his earlier opportunity.

The Blues should have been on terms five minutes after the restart. Waghorn sent over another dangerous corner from the right, Chambers flicked on and Garner diverted it over from six yards out, the ball perhaps hitting the strike before he had seen it, much to his frustration.

Connolly picked up the game’s first yellow card in the 56th minute for pulling back Onomah on halfway, then Adomah hit a low shot which Bialkowski saved down to his right with Villa beginning to dominate the half.

Just after the hour Town switched Sears and Ward for Huws and Celina ahead of another dangerously whipped in Waghorn corner from the right which the Midlanders cleared from the edge of their six-yard box.

Huws took up the role in the centre of the three behind Garner with Waghorn moving to the right and Celina on the left. Soon after coming on the Welshman was painfully hit in the face by a well-struck Samba clearance.

Six minutes after the changes, before the subs had had a chance to make an impact, Villa doubled their lead.

Snodgrass played a ball in behind Iorfa for Adomah that the right-back ought to have cut out but he was only able to help it on into the path of the ex-Boro man, who took it into the area and slipped home his second goal of the afternoon and his 11th of the season off the inside of Bialkowski’s right post.

Iorfa’s afternoon got worse on 70 when he pulled up after a burst forward down the right with a hamstring injury.

Two minutes later, Huws was booked for what looked a strong but fair tackle on Hutton, who somewhat overreacted to the challenge.

Celina almost conjured up a goal for the Blues a minute later, deftly playing the ball over the Villa backline for Waghorn but Johnstone quickly came off his line to claim. On 76 Bishop came on for Iorfa, who had already made his way down the tunnel, with Connolly moving to right-back.

Huws headed over from a Waghorn freekick on the left on 80, before Villa swapped Neil Taylor for Ahmed Elmohamady. In the 86th minute Davis was replaced by Jack Grealish and neither side threatened again before the whistle.

As so often in the Championship the first goal was the game’s key moment. Up until the Blues gifted Adomah his first of the afternoon there had been little in the match.

Aside from the Webster header immediately after the first goal and Garner’s opportunity the Blues hadn’t really looked like getting on terms and the Blues need the changes when they came.

However, the afternoon’s second soft goal came before Huws and Celina were able to make an impact and all but sealed what in the end was a deserved Villa win.

The result sees Town drop a place to 10th, now six points from the play-offs ahead of Tuesday's tough trip to Derby, who are sixth and won 3-0 at Middlesbrough this afternoon.

Aston Villa: Johnstone, Taylor (Elmohamady 81), Chester (c), Whelan, Snodgrass, Hourihane, Jedinak (Samba 26), Onomah, Hutton, Adomah, Davis (Grealish 86). Unused: Steer, De Laet, Lansbury, Grealish, O’Hare.

Town: Bialkowski, Iorfa (Bishop 76), Chambers (c), Webster, Knudsen, Skuse, Connolly, Ward (Celina 61), Sears (Huws 61), Waghorn, Garner. Unused: Gerken, Spence, Bru, Kenlock. Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland). Att: 30,427.

Photo: Action Images

Gcon added 21:21 - Nov 25 Oh here we go. That vocal handful of 'supporters' on here finally get the loss they so relish. Those of a more upbeat persuasion (such as those that attend games and get to see what an improved squad we are) should take cover whilst they enjoy their little run around the paddock. Enjoy yourselves.
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itfchorry added 21:30 - Nov 25 Wouldn't call us a handful Gcon - Recent poll - 80% want McCarthy Out
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1RWR added 22:47 - Nov 25 I would like MM out as much as the next person, but I'd happily give him some slack if he played a few younger, hungrier players rather than the 'safe' players he seems to pick the majority of the time. Emmanuel & Kenlock, for me, are the future of the club. One is out on loan the other 'second fiddle'. Downes & Nydam likewise are the future but rarely enjoy a run of games....why? I think the squad is good enough for a top 8 finish & hopefully with a different manager we may see better times ahead. Like it or not, that's my view.

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runaround added 01:27 - Nov 26 Not surprised that we lost or the manner in which we did it. Have only seen the goals once but both looked awful defensively. Sky couldn't work out why our goal was ruled out but I cannot comment as haven't seen incident. We are better this season going forward but defensively we seem worse than last season! So Tuesday we have our much anticipated game in hand, following that we will know where we are and what direction we are going, pretty certainly mid table and season already feels as though there is little left to play for & everyone is waiting to see what happens manager wise in May.

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BrettenhamBlue added 03:25 - Nov 26 This season is starting to look startingly similar to last. After 18 games we had 24 points this time last year. This year 26.
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clint_eastwood added 03:37 - Nov 26 Iorfa was awful but one positive difference about him compare to Chambers, Webster & Knudsen...he actually ran with the ball instead of hoofing it!
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BrettenhamBlue added 04:32 - Nov 26 Clint Eastwood Iorfa was ok first 8/9 mins. After that, far from ok.
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blue75 added 06:15 - Nov 26 Didn't go to the game or listen but I think 42% procession, 6 shots none on target and 58% pass completion says a lot about how we played. Such a shame after the bit of entertainment we got Wednesday night!!
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:49 - Nov 26 Assorted thoughts on this match in no particular order: Villa would be a hard game for anyone in this division. We did well first half with our up-and-at-em approach. If the goal had been allowed, things might have been different. Second half we looked toothless, but at least we tried. Still too much hoofball. Sometimes, it's like, "you didn't manage this time, here, have another try." Knudsen comes in for unfair criticism. He's a decent player in the team on merit and not because he's a "favourite." Can't understand why Celina and Huws didn't start unless the latter is still considered not ready for 90 minutes (probably the case, actually). But surely a fit footballer can play two games in a week? Great away support. As our current ITFC Sweden badge says, "ITFC: a decade of hardship, a lifetime of workship." One day, maybe, we'll have some real excitement back. Until then, we just have to tough it out. COYB!

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therein61 added 07:44 - Nov 26 Skuse gets injured and we play well Skuse comes back and we get a fortunate 2 points from 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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itfcbam added 08:28 - Nov 26 Quick question. If any manager every season bar one (which they perform equal to) higher than they should given the level of resourse they are given have they failed? Or are they awful at their job? I bet if you did that in your job and were constantly slated saying your rubbish, etc you would be hacked off thinking it's unjust wouldn't you? Yes I do think we should change at the end of the season however there are far more managers in this time who have finished far lower than they should have done, we haven't. I just hope that MM replacement is more of a greater conjurer of making something out of very little. Sadly we have been massively overtaken financially by parachute payments etc. and think many on here have massively unrealistic expectations about the actual size of our once great club. Those days are long gone. There are positives, look at the amount of talent coming through the system, but I suppose that has nothing to do with MM, however if there was none I suppose that would be down to him! I just feel with some on here he couldn't win regardless of what actually he does achieve. People moan about entertainment yet we are 1 of the top scorers? Remember over the last 5 years out net spent is actually negative yet some on here are expecting us to be above some that are spending 10m+ on a single player!!

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dirtydingusmagee added 08:59 - Nov 26 nothing has changed, the beer prices are still the same .
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BlueMachines added 09:37 - Nov 26 Itfcbam. You think MM has done a great job. I don't believe he gets the best out of what's available to him. He does well on a shoestring but not well enough for me.
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RoyalAscotBlue added 09:41 - Nov 26 Why on earth are people talking about the game in hand? We play it on Tuesday night, it's a Sky Super 6 game and 82% of people think that we will lose, only 6% think that we will win. 3 points in the bag for some of the people on here though, may as well just change the league table now!
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Rensham added 10:33 - Nov 26 Fantastic idea Royal, that puts us 7th.
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itfcbam added 10:58 - Nov 26 Blue machine. I think he has done well with what he has available. I think we need perspective on where we are at which I do feel often gets forgotten. Yes I would like more but have to be realistic about things as well. I also think at the end of the season should be the end of his time because the club is becoming more toxic and the negativity at times on here is rediculous. There are definitely some on here who seem to thrive when we lose, how on earth is that of benefit. My point is though when you look at where we have finished each season he hasn't underachieved given what he has been given to work with and therefore doesn't deserve all the cr@p he gets on here. As I said before let's hope the next manager is at least as good, if not better. If they are only average though we could be in serious trouble

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Swn98 added 11:58 - Nov 26 ITFCHORREY i am worried ? about minus marks.
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richard added 12:25 - Nov 26 the club needs a root and branch sort out.It needs our ghost of an owner to sell A foreign owner might be interested with our past history.Someone who unites the club.The Villa owner travelled half way round the world to see his team and acknowledge the fans yesterday
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runningout added 12:38 - Nov 26 not sure you'd see Villa owner if they weren't at top end. Our failures are not related to who owns a club, it's group of players and their mindset
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midastouch added 14:08 - Nov 26 What's up with Iorfa? Every time I've seen him play so far he's looked pretty Iorfawful! Was hoping for more. Hopefully he'll come good in the 2nd half of the season but big improvement needed for him to become a reliable regular this campaign.
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ChrisFelix added 16:41 - Nov 26 We have got the players to make the top 6. But not those or the system Mccarthy continues to play. I continue to be ???? by his team selection & substitutions
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wayway added 16:58 - Nov 26 Did some drip post on here, let's have a young, progressive, forward thinking German manager like the one up the A140? Or how about the one at Huddesfield
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blockb_steward added 17:25 - Nov 26 Nothing unexpected here...always going to be a big ask, Villa will be there or there about come the end of the season
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blueboy1981 added 19:49 - Nov 26 Gcon - up to spurting more of the usual bilge - what more can one expect from him / her ? - NOTHING.
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blueboy1981 added 20:08 - Nov 26 Let's be real about all this people. I , for one of many, am not at all happy with the current state of affairs with our Club - I never expected to see Portman Road so empty as it is currently. It just cannot continue - however, the truth of the matter is this, as I see it :- The Club is serving Marcus Evans purpose of Ownership - the ambition / desire for his Club to be in the Premiership is just NOT there. The acceptance level of success / ambition is mid table Championship (should be obvious to all by now) - consequently McCarthy is doing a fantastic job in the eyes of the Owner, attaining that level on a shoe string budget. The worry at some point for Evans, has to be the empty stands - or will it ... ??? Talk will always be cheap, and whatever Milne is instructed to say in terms of Club objective, ambition, or whatever - my belief is that under the current Ownership / Management the Club is serving it's purpose, and nothing will change - other than through a change of both the above mentioned. Quite simply - the REAL ITFC SUPPORTERS - want our real, and proud Club back, and the Stands will pack out yet again. As we all once knew, and want desperately to see again.

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