MATCH REPORT: SOUTHAMPTON 2-0 NORWICH

St Mary's Stadium

Premier League

Friday 25th February 2022

Southampton  2 

Norwich  0

 

Southampton stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to six games with a dominant display against bottom of the table Norwich City, thanks to goals from Ché Adams and Oriol Romeu sealing a 2-0 win at St Mary’s. 

The hosts had the lion’s share of possession in a bleak first half in which they didn’t cause their visitors too much stress. Just past the half hour a delightful James Ward-Prowse cross was flicked to the back post by Armando Broja to Mohamed Elyounoussi. However, former Saint Angus Gunn made himself big to deny the Norwegian’s effort. 

Despite this the Saints rallied hard and within three minutes had broken the deadlock. A low ball across the face of goal by Valentino Livramento ricocheted off both Gunn and Max Aarons, before falling to the feet of Adams who was able to scramble the ball home from close range for his seventh goal of the campaign; and his second against Norwich following his goal at Carrow Road in November. This scrappy opener also ensured Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men went in at the break with a deserved lead. 

Similarly to the first half, the second period took time to get going but with just over 20 minutes to play gaps started to open across the Canaries’ backline. First of all, Elyounoussi poked the ball into Stuart Armstrong’s path who saw his shot saved by the feet of Gunn. Within the same move Gunn was again called into action as a deflected cross was volleyed goalward by Kyle Walker-Peters, but Gunn was able to parry the full back’s effort away. 

Late on with time running out Southampton launched a counter attack. Armstrong slipped Elyounoussi in behind who let fly. However Gunn was alert to push behind at his near post. The visitors’ relief was short lived, however, and from the resulting corner the Saints were able to double their lead. A Ward-Prowse corner was cleared as far as the edge of the penalty area, where Romeu was waiting to fire home a ferocious strike that nearly took the net off. This being the Spaniard’s first strike of the season. 

Another win for the inform Saints, who haven't lost at home since September, sees them rise to ninth in the table and only five points off the European places. However things are a lot bleaker for Norwich who picked up a third defeat on the spin, as their wait for a Premier League victory at St Mary’s goes on. 

By Nathan Williams