Southampton 2-1 Norwich: Saints move out of Premier League bottom three

Danny Ings' first-half header was his 10th goal of the season in all competitions for Southampton and his ninth in 10 matches

Southampton beat fellow strugglers Norwich City at St Mary's to move out of the Premier League relegation zone.

The Saints went ahead in the 22nd minute when Danny Ings produced a glancing header from James Ward-Prowse's fine in-swinging free-kick.

Southampton doubled their lead with a close-range finish from Ryan Bertrand after Shane Long's headed flick-on.

Norwich's Teemu Pukki pulled one back from Alexander Tettey's pass but it was not enough as the hosts held on.

The Canaries had two chances to snatch a point in injury-time but substitute Emiliano Buendia's glancing header went wide and Sam Byram shot over when well placed.

Saints moved up from 18th to 17th, although they will drop back into the bottom three if Everton get at least a draw in their away game at leaders Liverpool in the late match.

Analysis and reaction from Wednesday's Premier League matches

Hasenhuttl celebrates a year in charge

Ralph Hasenhuttl has now been in charge of Southampton for 43 matches in all competitions, winning 14, drawing 11 and losing 18

Ralph Hasenhuttl has now been in charge of Southampton for a full year after he replaced the sacked Mark Hughes on 5 December, 2018. Saints were 18th when the Austrian took over, and secured Premier League survival, finishing 16th in 2018-19.

Hasenhuttl secured his 14th win in 43 games in charge in all competitions with a dominant display to continue their recent revival which has seen them pick up seven points in three matches.

Ward-Prowse or Ings had scored all of the Saints' last 10 Premier League goals - a run which started on 20 September - and the pair combined for the opener.

Ward Prowse's delivery from the free-kick was excellent and Ings got in between Kenny McLean and Ben Godfrey to glance a header in past Tim Krul.

The Dutchman did well to tip over Moussa Djenepo's well-struck effort from 25 yards, but it was not long before Norwich conceded again.

Once more, Canaries boss Daniel Farke will be unhappy with his side's defending as Bertrand was left unmarked to finish from close range after Long had flicked on a fine right-wing corner from the impressive Ward-Prowse.

Long, starting a league match for only the second time this season, nearly grabbed his first goal of the campaign but prodded an effort wide from 12 yards in the second half.

Ings was unlucky to not grab his second and Southampton's third when he did well to control Nathan Redmond's pass on his chest and then, under pressure from two City defenders, volleyed just wide.

One concern for Hasenhuttl will be Saints again failed to keep a clean sheet and their tally of 33 goals conceded in 15 matches this season is the highest for any top-flight team.

More to follow.

Line-ups Match Stats Live Text

Line-ups

Southampton

1McCarthy

2Cédric Soares

5Stephens

35Bednarek

21Bertrand

12DjenepoBooked at 59minsSubstituted forRomeuat 72'minutes

16Ward-Prowse

23Højbjerg

22Redmond

9IngsSubstituted forAdamsat 77'minutes

7LongSubstituted forYoshidaat 85'minutes

Substitutes

3Yoshida

10Adams

14Romeu

19Boufal

20Obafemi

28Gunn

38Danso

Norwich

1Krul

2Aarons

6Zimmermann

4Godfrey

3ByramBooked at 62mins

24AmadouSubstituted forStiepermannat 45'minutes

19TrybullSubstituted forTetteyat 45'minutes

14CantwellSubstituted forBuendíaat 83'minutes

23McLean

11Hernández

22Pukki

Substitutes

8Vrancic

12Lewis

17Buendía

18Stiepermann

21Fährmann

27Tettey

32Srbeny

Referee:

Kevin Friend

Attendance:

27,019

Match Stats

Home TeamSouthamptonAway TeamNorwich

Possession

Home40%

Away60%

Shots

Home14

Away10

Shots on Target

Home5

Away3

Corners

Home6

Away1

Fouls

Home12

Away7

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Southampton 2, Norwich City 1.

Full TimePosted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Southampton 2, Norwich City 1.

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt missed. Sam Byram (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt missed. Sam Byram (Norwich City) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Onel Hernández.

Posted at 90'+1'

Attempt missed. Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Max Aarons with a cross.

Posted at 90'

Attempt blocked. Teemu Pukki (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Onel Hernández.

SubstitutionPosted at 85'

Substitution, Southampton. Maya Yoshida replaces Shane Long.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Marco Stiepermann (Norwich City).

Posted at 84'

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 84'

Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Che Adams (Southampton).

SubstitutionPosted at 83'

Substitution, Norwich City. Emiliano Buendía replaces Todd Cantwell.

Posted at 82'

Attempt blocked. Nathan Redmond (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

Posted at 81'

Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton).

Posted at 78'

Offside, Southampton. Shane Long tries a through ball, but Che Adams is caught offside.

SubstitutionPosted at 77'

Substitution, Southampton. Che Adams replaces Danny Ings.

Posted at 76'

Attempt blocked. Onel Hernández (Norwich City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Max Aarons.

Posted at 76'

Christoph Zimmermann (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Shane Long (Southampton).

Posted at 75'

Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Oriol Romeu (Southampton).

Posted at 73'

Foul by Teemu Pukki (Norwich City).

Posted at 73'

Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 72'

Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Ryan Bertrand (Southampton).

SubstitutionPosted at 72'

Substitution, Southampton. Oriol Romeu replaces Moussa Djenepo.

Posted at 69'

Marco Stiepermann (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton).

Posted at 67'

Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).

Posted at 67'

Nathan Redmond (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 67'

Attempt saved. Cédric Soares (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Danny Ings.

Goal!Posted at 65'

Goal! Southampton 2, Norwich City 1. Teemu Pukki (Norwich City) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Alexander Tettey with a through ball.

Posted at 64'

Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Nathan Redmond.

BookingPosted at 62'

Sam Byram (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 60'

Attempt missed. Marco Stiepermann (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Teemu Pukki.

BookingPosted at 59'

Moussa Djenepo (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 59'

Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 59'

Foul by Moussa Djenepo (Southampton).

Posted at 58'

Attempt saved. Sam Byram (Norwich City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marco Stiepermann.

Show more updates

goal

Source: bbc.com