Advertisement

Southampton See Off 10-Man Norwich For First Win

Southampton See Off 10-Man Norwich For First Win

Southampton earned their first three points of the Premier League season after beating 10-man Norwich 3-0 at St Mary's on Sunday.

Graziano Pelle gave Saints the lead in first-half injury time with a good finish at the near post, after Norwich had seen Steven Whittaker sent off for two bookings within four minutes.

Dusan Tadic netted his first of two goals in the 64th minute from Sadio Mane's cut back, grabbing Saints' third three minutes later from close range after Pelle's header was parried out.

The result marks Alex Neil's first away league defeat as manager of Norwich, a run that had lasted 12 games, and gives Ronald Koeman's side a much-needed boost after being knocked out of the Europa League in midweek.

Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama was again left out of the squad, with Koeman insisting he was "not mentally and physically good enough to play", with Sky sources reporting last week that was he wanted to leave the south coast club.

John Ruddy made a fine save from James Ward-Prowse's free-kick in the first minute, while at the other end Norwich striker Cameron Jerome nodded a close-range effort just wide on the stretch.

But the visitors were reduced to 10 men with just 30 minutes gone after Whittaker picked up two quick-fire yellow cards.

First, the Scottish defender prevented Matt Targett from taking a quick throw in, before holding Tadic back as the midfielder attempted to run onto a through ball.

Norwich looked to have held on until the break, but Pelle slotted home at the near post 10 yards out from Mane's slipped through ball, despite a hint of offside.

Southampton came out in the second half firing, and forced two quick-fire saves from Ruddy. First, Mane stung the hands of the Norwich stopper from 12 yards, before half-time substitute Jay Rodriguez did the same from a volley from 20 yards.

Pelle went close to a second on the hour mark, hitting the side netting with a fierce effort from the edge of the box, but Saints got their second and third in the space of three minutes.

Tadic, impressive on the left wing for the hosts, was found at the back post by man of the match Mane, firing past Ruddy from 12 yards for 2-0.

Then, with 67 minutes on the clock, the Serbian made it 3-0, tapping in from close range after Pelle's header from a Cedric Soares cross was well saved by Ruddy.

Koeman's side pushed for a fourth, but Rodriguez's volley wide was as close as it got as Norwich were condemned to their second league defeat of the campaign.