Ten-man Aston Villa saw their Premier League 2 play-off ambitions suffer a setback as they were undone 4-1 by Norwich City following a hat-trick from Errol Mundle-Smith.
Daniel Ogwuru headed the Canaries into a 12th-minute lead at Bodymoor Heath, yet Rory Wilson levelled for the Young Lions almost immediately.
A lively PL2 clash saw chances come at either end, with Villa dominating early in the second half as Wilson’s strike rebounded off a post.
But Norwich took control just after the hour mark as Mundle-Smith found the net from six yards, before Lamare Bogarde was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
Mundle-Smith then added a third in the 79th minute and completed his treble late on, converting from a rebound after Lander Emery had saved his initial penalty.
It leaves 19th-placed Villa two points outside the top 16 and a spot in the play-offs heading into Monday’s final PL2 match of the season against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The visitors opened the scoring when an unmarked Ogwuru rose to head in Gabe Forsyth’s cross from eight yards.
But Villa responded positively and Kadan Young fired over a clear-cut opportunity after Wilson had cut back Todd Alcock’s corner.
However, the hosts were level just a minute later as the two Villa forwards combined again, Young beating his marker down the right and sending across a low ball for Wilson to finish from 12 yards.
Goalkeeper Emery made a fine save to deny Mundle-Smith when clean through, while Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba fired over Triston Rowe’s cross from close range as chances continued to come at both ends.
And Villa were indebted to Emery for another stop to deny Mundle-Smith before the break as both sides went into half-time on level terms.
Kobei Moore rounded City ‘keeper Daniel Barden early the second half but saw his shot blocked by Charlie Wilson.
Jimoh -Aloba was then thwarted by Barden before Wilson saw his low strike rebound off the far post from the subsequent corner, as the Young Lions started to turn the screw.
But the complexion of the clash changed completely within four second-half minutes.
The Canaries took the lead with their first opening of the second period as Mundle-Smith’s finish from Elliot Myles’ cross found the net.
And the hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 68th minute when Bogarde received a second yellow card after bringing down Finley Welch on the edge of the area.
Villa continued to press forward but the visitors struck the decisive blow as Mundle-Smith was left with a simple finish following a defensive mix-up attempting to deal with Forsyth’s long free-kick over the top.
And matters went from bad to worse a minute from time as Moore was penalised for shirt pulling in the area, leaving Mundle-Smith to complete his hat-trick from the rebound after Emery had parried his spot-kick.
