An inexperienced Norwich City second string gave high-flying Aston Villa a good run for their money before slipping to defeat last night.

The young Canaries, many of whom had featured for the Under-18 side on Saturday, limited the runaway league leaders to a goal in each half as they rose to a tough challenge at Villa Park.

Austrian striker Andreas Weimann, who scored a late winner for the first team against Fulham at the weekend, was in the goals again for the Reserves, scoring twice to send City home empty handed.

He opened the scoring five minutes before the break when he headed home a cross from Courtney Cameron and doubled Villa's advantage with a carbon copy goal midway through the second period.

Keeper Jed Steer later made a brilliant save to prevent Calum Robinson from making it 3-0.

Steer and midfielder Matt Ball were the only professionals on duty for Norwich, who went closest to scoring in the first half when an effort from Jacob Murphy came back off the crossbar.

• Norwich City Reserves: Steer, Brindley, Toffolo, Clunan, Barker, Jones, Hall-Johnson (McGeehan, 87), Florence, Loza, Ball (Josh Murphy, 78), Jacob Murphy. Subs not used: Dobbs, Carroll, McFadden.