Villa all but relegated after record eighth straight loss

Villa, who had won at Bournemouth on the opening day of the season only to fail to land another victory in their next 19 league games, continued their pitiful form.

(Reuters)

They succumbed to a goal just before the break from Steve Cook, who flicked home from close range from a corner, and Josh King cashed in after 74 minutes on familiar blundering defensive work from the home side.

Not even a late consolation from Jordan Ayew could save Villa from the home fans' boos at the end yet they were spared certain relegation -- on a mathematical basis at least -- because 17th-placed Norwich City lost at Crystal Palace.

Norwich have 15 points more than Villa, and with a goal difference advantage of 19 over the Midlanders, with five games left.

(Reporting by Ian Chadband, editing by Pritha Sarkar)