Report: Azaz strikes as Saints see off Norwich

The Canaries arrived on the south coast transformed since the appointment of head coach Philippe Clement, who had led them from relegation candidates to play-off potentials, though this defeat to end a four-game winning streak may hamper those ambitions.

Azaz did the damage with a sweetly-taken goal in the 24th minute, bursting into the box to read Cyle Larin’s flick-on and finish in fine fashion, finding the roof of the Norwich net from a tight angle.

That came just after the Irishman had been flagged offside – despite not touching the ball – as Samuel Edozie was denied a goal on his first Saints start since August 2024.

Norwich improved in the second half but could not find a way past Daniel Peretz in the Saints goal, as flying saves denied Kenny McLean, Kellen Fisher and Ruairi McConville, while Jack Stephens scooped the ball on to his own crossbar in the 98th minute of an agonising finale, but the hosts held firm to rise into the top six.

Edozie’s recall was Tonda Eckert’s only change from Saturday’s statement victory at league leaders Coventry, as Cameron Bragg dropped to the bench, but there was still no place in the squad for injured duo Leo Scienza and Ross Stewart.

Edozie was straight into the thick of the action, intercepting a pass inside his own half and racing away from Anis Ben Slimane before he was barged down by Paris Maghoma for a clear foul.

Then the winger took a stray high boot from Fisher, as he was welcomed back to the Championship by a painful blow that went unpunished.

Daniel Peretz punches clear a Norwich corner

No team has picked up more Championship points in 2026 than Norwich, who arrived at St Mary’s with 30 from their 13 league games since the turn of the year, and the visitors showed their intent when Slimane stung the palms of Peretz with a fierce drive towards the near post in the 13th minute.

When the keeper picked himself back up off the turf, he was quickly called upon to punch clear the resulting corner.

Saints’ first notable attack saw James Bree cut the ball back for Azaz, whose shot was blocked, while Edozie was causing problems again when Jack Stacey appeared to throw him to the ground as Azaz’s cross from the right sailed beyond the falling pair.

Edozie thought he had a dream return to the starting line-up when he wheeled away to celebrate midway through the first half, only for Azaz to be flagged offside in the build-up.

It was a passage of play that started with a ferocious volley from Bree parried by goalkeeper Vladan Kovačević, who quickly regathered himself to repel Caspar Jander’s follow-up before Edozie fired home the rebound.

How involved Azaz, who didn’t touch the ball, was in the action was open to interpretation, but any controversy was quickly forgotten when the Irishman opened the scoring himself a matter of seconds later.

When Bree’s throw-in was flicked on by Larin, Azaz timed his run to perfection to take the ball brilliantly in his stride, darting between two defenders and lifting the ball beautifully over the advancing Kovačević from a narrow angle.

Saints had taken charge by now, but the Canaries reminded their hosts what they were capable of with a slick move when Maghoma exchanged passes with Slimane to burst into the box, only for the winger’s cross to fly beyond the onrushing Mathias Kvistgaarden at the far post.

Edozie, meanwhile, was everywhere, helping out his defence at one end before he was scythed down by Stacey at the other, who joined teammate Slimane in the book, before Fisher took out Kuryu Matsuki for another obvious yellow card, as Norwich made it clear they were not about to wilt away.

Saints celebrate Finn Azaz's 24th-minute opener

After Flynn Downes was booked for holding back half-time substitute Pelle Mattsson, he was soon racing deep into the Norwich half after some fine work from Azaz to flick the ball over his man and play him in.

Downes did well to hold off his marker and feed the ever-willing Edozie, before the ball ran loose for Larin, but his touch narrowed the angle, allowing Kovačević to make a smothering save.

Norwich responded with a snapshot from Slimane well held by Peretz, before the stopper was sent sprawling to his left to turn aside McLean’s drive from distance.

Eckert’s first change was to sacrifice the cautioned Downes and bring on Bragg 20 minutes into the second period with the visitors increasing in threat.

City might have equalised before the substitute even had a chance to touch the ball, as Peretz parried Ali Ahmed’s shot only as far as Fisher, before spreading himself superbly to deny the youngster on the rebound.

Two more substitutes arrived in the shape of Shea Charles and Tom Fellows as the clock ticked past the 70-minute mark, with Jander and Edozie, who performed admirably but was tiring, making way.

Charles nearly had his first St Mary’s goal with a neat piece of football that saw the midfielder trade passes with Ryan Manning and place a low shot towards the bottom corner that Kovačević expertly pushed wide at full stretch.

With seven added minutes signalled, Norwich piled on the pressure, and Stephens endured a heart-in-mouth when his sliding clearance looped up and over Peretz, bouncing off the crossbar on its way over, before Peretz stooped to keep out McConville’s last-gasp header.

Southampton: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens (c), Manning, Downes (Bragg 65), Jander (Charles 74), Matsuki (Wood 89), Azaz, Edozie (Fellows 74), Larin.

Subs not used: Jones, Quarshie, Romeu, Archer, Oyekunle.

Goals: Azaz (24’).

Booked: Downes.

Norwich City: Kovačević, Stacey (Gibbs 73), McConville, Córdoba, Fisher, Field (Mattsson 46), McLean, Maghoma (Wright 87), Slimane (Forson 87), Ahmed, Kvistgaarden (Mundle-Smith 60).

Subs not used: Moulden, Medić, Darling, Springett.

Booked: Slimane, Stacey, Fisher, Mattsson.

Attendance: 26,605.

Referee: Lewis Smith.