Southampton added to Norwich’s relegation issues, as targets from Che Adams and Oriol Romeo ensured that Ralph Hsienhuttl’s facet beat St Marys 2-0.
Southampton dominated the primary 45 minutes, however solely examined Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn within the thirty fourth minute. He one way or the other cleared Mohamed Al Younoussi’s shot from shut vary earlier than Adams headed dwelling a free-kick for James Ward-Prowse simply moments later.
The impasse was finally damaged two minutes later. Jan initially diverted Tino Livramento’s harmful cross off purpose, however the ball rebounded to Adams within the far nook and the Scotland worldwide smashed the ball over the goalkeeper and over the purpose line.
It was half the time to overlook for Norwich and it might have gotten worse in damage time on the finish of the primary half, however Elionosi fired off the far put up after being picked up by Ward Prowse.
The Saints instantly doubled their benefit after the restart when Jan Bednarek smashed a nook from Ward Prowse, however Brandon Williams responded sooner with a header away earlier than Adams might head the ball.
The hosts continued to dominate however have been unable to attain a second purpose as Gunn saved balls to forestall Stuart Armstrong, Ward Prowse and Kyle Walker Peters from retaining the guests within the match.
The rating was the one factor that stored Norwich , however they finally began to check the Southampton protection and Grant Hanley ought to have accomplished a greater job when he headed dwelling a cross from Pierre Les Millau.
Nevertheless, the match grew to become protected of late when Romeo’s shot previous John from the sting of the penalty space sealed Hasenhuttl’s facet with three well-deserved factors.
Al Nasr sees Southampton prolong their unbeaten run at St Mary’s within the Premier League to 10 matches as they advance to ninth within the desk. In the meantime, time is working out for Norwich’s hopes of avoiding relegation. Dean Smith’s facet, who suffered their seventeenth league loss this season, stay backside of the standings and 5 factors from security after enjoying no less than one recreation greater than the 2 surrounding groups above them.
“Saints will search for the desk”
Jimmy Carragher from Sky Sports activities:
“The rating 2-0 doesn’t do Southampton. They’re in a wealthy situation at this second in time and they need to be having fun with it.
“They are going to be pondering they will have a extremely massive finish to the season. They’re solely within the prime half now, 4 factors behind Tottenham. Southampton might be watching them, not behind them.”
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Gary Neville says James Ward-Prowse has improved a lot below Ralph Hsenhuttl that he may very well be England’s World Cup squad and transfer to a much bigger membership.
Sky Sports activities Gary Neville:
“Southampton are doing the very best they will as a staff and as a coach. They’re actually good coaches, and so they have confirmed as soon as once more that they’re a very good staff.
“They are going to fall quick towards some massive groups, however they’re doing all the things they will. They’re a very good group of gamers.”
“These are the toughest features to get”
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Ralph Hessenhuttl was filled with reward for Oriel Romeo’s purpose and efficiency in Southampton’s 2-0 win over Norwich.
Ralph Hessenhuttl stated his Southampton staff needed to work laborious to win.
Inform Sky Sports activitiesWe had a number of possibilities towards an organized opponent, it was a tricky match.
“We have been in a position to adapt our recreation and have completely different behaviours. It slowed them down after which we scored our targets.
“We discovered Angus Jean he was like a magnet at present. We had a number of photographs however he was all the time there and we needed to await a terrific shot from Oriol.
“It is a terrific purpose. We had a number of photographs from that place however not all of them have been on course. Oriol may be very robust, very calm on the ball and he is essential in our recreation. When he begins scoring targets, we will not ask for extra.”
“These are the toughest wins, towards the groups everybody expects you to win. The final two groups coming right here have been in a relegation battle and we gained 2-0 with a clear sheet. Folks suppose it is simple however it’s not.”
Smith: Powerful night time for Norwich
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Norwich supervisor Dean Smith was upset that a number of of his gamers underperformed of their 2-0 defeat to Southampton.
In the meantime, Norwich supervisor Dean Smith stated Sky Sports activities His staff performed far under the extent they confirmed in earlier matches.
“It was a tricky night time. Within the first half we missed the ball cheaply. We did not play in addition to we might. If you get 6/10s all around the subject, you are not going to win a recreation within the Premier League.
“We needed to set up our midfielders and full-backs as a result of that they had a number of the ball in our half. We went twice up entrance to alter it. Subs made an influence. Southampton are a high-pressure staff and their numbers are dropping we knew we have been going to have some pleasure within the second half.
“It was a disappointment tonight as a result of so many gamers performed under the extent they did. It is disappointing. Southampton is an excellent staff that took over Man Metropolis lately and solely misplaced as soon as at dwelling this season. They performed very well tonight.
“In the mean time we’re solely targeted on our subsequent match. We do not know the place the league desk might be in 5 – 6 matches.”
Norwich is second finest and time is working out
Sky Sports activities’ Dan Lengthy evaluation:
Apart from a number of weeks of relaxation, Norwich suffered a severe case of deja vu upon his return to the Premier League. There may be by no means a single defeat. Just a few occasions in a row, that time period, they solely exited the drop zone as soon as.
Approaching a visit to Southampton Friday night time soccer After heavy defeats towards Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool, it was instantly obvious that there was a niche within the line at St Mary’s, and with many our bodies returning to the protection when below strain, Smith’s clergy halted their hosts. For lengthy durations, this was important in the event that they have been to attempt to salvage some much-needed factors for the touchdown junk they discovered themselves in.
However they confirmed Southampton a number of respect at occasions all through the match and have been the second finest staff in lots of divisions, not least in assault, with striker Teemu Pukki touching the ball solely 4 occasions within the first half. They not often appeared so as to add to their depressing tally of seven targets scored away from dwelling in 2023/22.
By the point the second half began that they had already scored, with Che Adams hitting the ball over the road from shut vary, and it could have been greater than two if Ralph Hasenhuttl’s facet had been extra correct and fast. Not a lot of their 27 makes an attempt fired straight at former Saints goalkeeper Angus Jean.
With 26 video games performed and solely 17 factors to their title up to now, it is no shock that the Canaries made it to the underside of the desk and 5 out of the protection zone. And with so many groups round them having a number of matches readily available, Norwich has reached the purpose the place each Premier League recreation must be handled as if it have been a cup ultimate.
Opta stats: Wealthy Saints proceed to kind…
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After their 2-0 win over Norwich, Che Adams stated laborious work is now paying off for Southampton and the striker says the Saints now must preserve going.
- Solely Liverpool (6) and Wolves (5) gained extra Premier League matches in 2023 than Southampton (4).
- Throughout the highest 4 leagues in England this season, Liverpool (0) is the one staff to have misplaced fewer dwelling defeats than Southampton (1, on par with Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion), with the Saints now unbeaten 10 in a row at dwelling (W5 D5). ).
- Solely as soon as earlier than had Norwich scored fewer factors after 26 video games in a primary division season than the 17 factors they collected this season, by 16 factors at this level in 1973-74 (3 factors for a win), after they have been relegated on the finish of the season. Final
- Norwich has a -40 purpose distinction after 26 video games this season (15 for, 55 towards); On solely seven earlier events in Premier League historical past had a staff scored a worse purpose distinction after 26 video games (the final being a derby with -42 in 2007-08).
Man of the Match – Oriol Romeu
Sky Sports activities” Jimmy Carragher: “Earlier than scoring the purpose, I used to be arguing who was the person of the match between Oriol Romeo and Stuart Armstrong.
“Aim made the deal for Armstrong, who was wonderful, however Romeo actually did a terrific job.
“I like watching him play. He brings calmness and composure, and you’ll see that within the strike as nicely. He is related to the ball very properly.”
Sky Sports activities” Gary Neville: “I assumed Romeo was the very best participant on the pitch.”
What then?
Southampton hosts West Ham within the fifth spherical of the FA Cup on Wednesday at 7.30 pm, earlier than returning to the Premier League match subsequent Saturday at Aston Villa. Match begins at 3 pm.
Norwich will go to Liverpool within the fifth spherical of the FA Cup on Wednesday at 8.15 pm, earlier than internet hosting Brentford subsequent Saturday within the English Premier League at three within the night.
