Southampton edged closer to the European places with a comfortable Premier League win over relegation-threatened Norwich at St Mary’s.
Che Adams scored the opening goal of the game for the hosts, flicking the ball past Canaries goalkeeper Angus Gunn after Tino Livramento’s cross had ricocheted around the six-yard box.
Oriol Romeu’s sublime late volley wrapped up the points for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.
The result sees Southampton move up to ninth in the table, while Norwich remain bottom five points from safety, having played at least one game more than any of the five sides directly above them.
But for some errant finishing – and the performance of Gunn against his former employers – Saints’ margin of victory would have been greater.
While they let a one-goal lead slip to lose the reverse fixture between the sides, the hosts rarely looked like relinquishing control on this occasion with the scoreline not a true reflection of their total dominance.
Mohamed Elyounoussi and Kyle Walker-Peters both had powerful efforts saved by Gunn, while Adams headed wide when well placed from a James Ward-Prowse corner.
Abject Norwich slip to another defeat
Norwich had appeared to turn a corner with positive results against Everton, Watford and Crystal Palace.
However, they have now slipped to three consecutive defeats and shipped nine goals in the process.
But unlike their heavier losses to Manchester City and Liverpool, where they acquitted themselves well at times, this was an abject display.
With 30 minutes on the clock Dean Smith’s side had barely stepped foot out of their own half as they allowed Southampton to play around them, cross and shoot seemingly at will.
And while Josh Sargent had arguably the best chance in that period, seeing his shot blocked following good play by Teemu Pukki, they had to wait until the 73rd minute before Grant Hanley finally registered an effort on target.
By then Southampton’s pressure had told with Adams’ 36th-minute opener – and the Canaries could have few complaints when Romeu lashed in from 18 yards with two minutes remaining.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Southampton
-
Squad number5Player nameStephens -
Squad number7Player nameLong -
Squad number19Player nameDjenepo
Norwich City
-
Squad number28Player nameGunn
-
Squad number2Player nameAarons
-
Squad number5Player nameHanley
-
Squad number4Player nameGibson
-
Squad number21Player nameWilliams
-
Squad number16Player nameNormann
-
Squad number24Player nameSargent
-
Squad number8Player nameGilmour
-
Squad number23Player nameMcLean
-
Squad number17Player nameRashica
-
Squad number22Player namePukki
-
Squad number7Player nameRupp
-
Squad number10Player nameDowell
-
Squad number20Player nameLees-Melou
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 4-4-2
- 44Forster
- 21Livramento
- 35Bednarek
- 22SalisuBooked at 39mins
- 2Walker-Peters
- 17S ArmstrongSubstituted forDjenepoat 90+2′minutes
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 6Romeu
- 24Elyounoussi
- 10AdamsSubstituted forLongat 83′minutes
- 18BrojaSubstituted forStephensat 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Stephens
- 7Long
- 9A Armstrong
- 15Perraud
- 19Djenepo
- 27Diallo
- 32Walcott
- 41Lewis
- 43Valery
Norwich
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 28Gunn
- 2Aarons
- 5Hanley
- 4Gibson
- 21WilliamsBooked at 90mins
- 16NormannSubstituted forRuppat 72′minutes
- 24Sargent
- 8GilmourSubstituted forDowellat 81′minutes
- 23McLean
- 17RashicaSubstituted forLees-Melouat 72′minutes
- 22PukkiBooked at 59mins
Substitutes
- 1Krul
- 3Byram
- 6Zimmermann
- 7Rupp
- 10Dowell
- 11Placheta
- 20Lees-Melou
- 30Giannoulis
- 46Rowe
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
- Attendance:
- 31,182
Live Text
-
Match ends, Southampton 2, Norwich City 0.
-
Second Half ends, Southampton 2, Norwich City 0.
-
Substitution, Southampton. Moussa Djenepo replaces Stuart Armstrong.
-
Brandon Williams (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
-
Foul by Brandon Williams (Norwich City).
-
Goal! Southampton 2, Norwich City 0. Oriol Romeu (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the high centre of the goal following a corner.
-
Attempt saved. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
-
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Angus Gunn.
-
Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Southampton).
-
Brandon Williams (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Attempt missed. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
-
Substitution, Southampton. Shane Long replaces Che Adams.
-
Che Adams (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Foul by Kenny McLean (Norwich City).
-
Attempt missed. Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right.
-
Substitution, Norwich City. Kieran Dowell replaces Billy Gilmour.
-
Substitution, Southampton. Jack Stephens replaces Armando Broja.
-
Attempt blocked. Mohammed Salisu (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
-
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Grant Hanley.
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
