Norwich City 0-3 Southampton – Southampton’s rampant three goal second half all but secures the Saints will still play Premier League football next season as Norwich City look destined for a return to the Championship after a dismal display at Carrow Road.
First half:
The Canaries looked to be up for the occasion despite the lack of crowd in the opening 10 minutes without creating any major chances throughout the first half; however, it was Southampton who come the closest early on when Danny Ings saw his header well saved by Tim Krul.
The Saints took over once they grew in to the game and started to look very threatening once they hit their stride, Scott Armstrong forced a comfortable save out of Tim Krul after a well worked corner and then after a powerful breakout from defence by Jack Stephens his pass to Danny Ings saw the Saints striker hit the crossbar when the Saints striker might well have felt he could have done better.
Second half:
After a rather quiet first half in terms of entertainment and quality, the second half begun with a bang as Southampton star man Danny Ings finish magnificently in to the far corner to give the Saints the all-important breakthrough with his 16thgoal of the Premier League season.
The Saints looked in the mood for more from this moment on and that is exactly what happened when Stuart Armstrong finished with his left foot from outside the box to put the Saints 0-2 to the good and surely out of the Canaries reach.
Norwich City could not afford an off day today with this being one of their most winnable games remaining this campaign but that was exactly what the Canaries were doing with main man Teemu Pukki quiet throughout on a frustrating day summed up when his weak shot inside the box was blocked by Jan Bednarek.
Southampton capped off a fine away performance by making it 3 goals and 3 points when former Norwich City player Nathan Redmond finished wonderfully with his left foot to secure a 0-3 win for the Saints.
Full time
Man of the match:
Danny Ings – The England striker has had a fantastic season and this performance was no different with the English striker putting in a brilliant display in terms of effort and commitment as well as bagging a goal and an assist to his name.
Fascinating facts:
Danny Ings becomes the first Southampton player to score 16 goals in a Premier League season since the 2014/2015 season with still 8 games to play.
Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki remain the only players to have scored more than one goal for Norwich City in the Premier League this season.
Southampton have taken more points on the road (23) then at St Mary’s (14) this season.
Norwich City have now failed to score in 6 out of 10 Premier League games in 2020.
This was Southampton’s first win away to Norwich City in the Premier League since April 1994.
Talking points:
Danny Ings knocking on the door for an England call-up – Danny Ings has scored 16 goals this season in a fantastic campaign so far, Ings may have plenty of competition but he is surely close to a call-up for the three lions.
Norwich City surely relegated now – With Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City all to play away from home it will take a miracle for them to remain in the Premier League next season.
Nathan Redmond comes back to haunt his former club – Nathan Redmond spent three seasons at Norwich City and today the English winger showed his former side what they are missing by scoring the third goal of the game.
Ralph Hasenhuttl deserves credit for the job he has done this season – The Austrian looked on the brink of being sacked after the embarrassing 0-9 defeat at St Mary’s to Leicester City earlier on this season as the Saints sat in the relegation zone the but the Austrian has turned things round massively and now it looks like Southampton will still be a Premier League side next season.
Sam’s match reports 