Aston Villa 2-0 Bristol City: Jonathan Kodjia goal helps Villa beat his former club

Jonathan Kodjia enjoyed an eventful night against his former side as Aston Villa ran out 2-0 winners over Bristol City at Villa Park.

The Ivorian, who joined Villa from City for a Championship record of £15m in August, hit the bar with a first-half penalty before breaking the deadlock with a fine header in the 54th minute.

Conor Hourihane then scored his first goal for Villa to double their advantage, slotting home from eight yards out after Albert Adomah miscued his effort.

A second straight victory for Villa sees them move up to 15th, while City remain in 21st, only out of the relegation zone on goal difference following Blackburn's 1-0 win at home to Derby.

It was a bright start for the visitors with David Cotterill peppering the Villa box on numerous occasions, but they failed to capitalise on their early pressure.

The first real chance fell for Villa, but Andre Green flashed a shot narrowly wide after bringing down Adomah's cross at the back post.

Shortly after, City were within inches of breaking the deadlock, but Bailey Wright's header cannoned off the crossbar following a great ball in from Cotterill.

The referee then awarded Villa a penalty when Gary Gardner was brought down by goalkeeper Fabian Giefer after latching onto a poor City back-pass.

However, Kodjia saw his spot-kick hit the bar and fly over, much to the delight of the travelling support.

After the break, Villa increased the tempo and Kodjia soon made amends for his penalty miss with a difficult looping header which flew over the helpless Giefer.

City looked for an immediate response, but were denied by the fingertips of Sam Johnstone, who pushed Callum O'Dowda's header onto the crossbar.

Again the woodwork was rattled but this time down the other end, as Green cut inside from the left before unleashing a terrific strike which hit the upright and bounced away to safety.

Villa doubled their lead just before the hour-mark, with Kodjia playing it back for Adomah, whose fluffed shot fell kindly for Hourihane to poke home his first Villa goal since joining from Barnsley in January.

Following a difficult couple of months for Villa, the two-goal lead clearly lifted the tension at Villa Park, and the hosts saw out the remainder of the match comfortably for a second consecutive win.