Southampton outclasses Norwich City in 2-0 Premier League win

Che Adams and Oriol Romeu scored either side of half-time as Southampton dispatched bottom-of-the-table Norwich City 2-0 in the Premier League on Friday night.

Southampton made Norwich pay for their defensive approach when Adams, who was on his back, gave his side a deserved lead in the 36th minute after pouncing on a loose ball in a goalmouth scramble.

Mohammed Elyounoussi was unfortunate to not have Saints further ahead at the break, but he missed two chances to put the hosts in complete control both from open play and on the scoreboard.

Adams came close to adding to his tally shortly after restart, before Stuart Armstrong and Kyle Walker-Peters each forced saves from former Saints stopper Angus Gunn.

Gunn, who signed for Norwich in the summer on a permanent deal from Saints, was under siege from the kick-off and made nine saves.

Up the other end, Norwich offered little threat to the Saints goal and recorded just one shot on target, which came deep in the second half.

Walker-Peters should’ve done better from the centre of the goal, but his volleyed attempt was straight at Gunn.

Norwich’s best chance to draw level came in the 76th minute when Pierre Lees-Melou’s cross picked out an unmarked Hanley, but the defender couldn’t direct his header from inside the six-yard box goalwards.

Romeu made it 2-0 two minutes from full-time, scoring just his seventh goal for Saints in 240 appearances when the midfield stalwart thrashed a volleyed effort from the edge of the box into the corner.

Southampton moved above Brighton with the win into ninth place in the table on 36 points from 26 games, including 11 from their last five outings.

The Canaries have lost their last three matches on the back of picking up seven points and remain on the bottom of the table on 17 points after 26 games.

Southampton (4-4-2): Forster; Walker-Peters, Salisu, Bednarek, Livramento; Elyounoussi, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, S. Armstrong (Djenepo 90+2); Broja (Stephens 80), Adams (Long 83)

Unused subs: Lewis (GK), Perraud, Diallo, Valery, A. Armstrong, Walcott

Goals: Adams (36), Romeu (88)

Bookings: Salisu (39)

Norwich City (4-1-4-1): Gunn; Williams, Gibson, Hanley, Aarons; Normann (Rupp 72); Rashica (Lees-Melou 72), McLean, Gilmour (Dowell 81), Sargent; Pukki

Unused subs: Krul (GK), Zimmerman, Rowe, Placheta, Giannoulis, Byram

Goals: None

Bookings: Pukki (59)