Report: Saints clinical to claim three points

Ings and Armstrong were both provider and goal-scorer as Ralph Hasenhüttl's side scored twice in three minutes during the opening stages of the second half.

First it was Ings, who netted his 19th goal of the season, to give Saints the lead and the number nine then turned provider for Armstrong as the Scot guided an effort into the bottom corner just moments later.

The win was complete as Redmond cut away from his marker and shot across goal leaving Krul no chance to ensure Saints claimed their seventh away win of the season.

Saints made three changes from their last outing against Newcastle United back at the beginning of March, with Armstrong and Redmond returning to replace the suspended Moussa Djenepo and Sofiane Boufal, who started on the bench.

Also, Shane Long missed out due to a muscle injury meaning Michael Obafemi partnered Danny Ings in a 4-4-2 formation.

Norwich City started the better of the two sides with Todd Cantwell and Kenny Mclean coming close, but after eight minutes the hosts could have gone ahead. The Canaries hit on the counter-attack resulting in an effort for Josip Drmić but it was deflected over for a corner.

Saints hit with a counter of their own moments later through Redmond and Ward-Prowse, with the combination finding Armstrong on the left whose cross was met by Ings, but Krul got down quickly to deny the striker.

Ings again was in the action after 18 minutes as he dispossessed Ben Godfrey to have a run at goal but the defender made up for his error by blocking the strikers effort to safety.

The away side continued creating chances and on the half-hour-mark, a Ward-Prowse corner manoeuvre found Armstrong alone inside the box, but his effort was straight at Krul.

Saints hit again through the middle of the pitch, this time through Jack Stephens, and found Ings on the left-hand side of the box but his shot flew past Krul and off the top of the bar.

To end the first half, Saints were awarded a free-kick on the left side of the box but Ward-Prowse couldn’t find a corner as Krul safely collected to bring the first half to an end.

The second half, however, would see Saints take their first chance after 50 minutes to go into a deserved lead. Obafemi chested the ball down to Armstrong who found Ings, and this time the number nine coolly slotted into the corner out of the reach of Krul to put Saints in front.

Just four minutes later and it was two as Armstrong and Ings swapped roles. Ings ran at the Norwich defence, laid it off to Armstrong who then cut inside and got a shot away into the corner to double the lead.

Norwich would be given an opportunity before the 60 minute mark to get one back as Teemu Pukki was through on goal, but Jan Bednarek got back to cover. Almost immediately, Saints were up the other end looking for a third as Ward-Prowse got an effort away but was blocked on the line.

Into the final twenty minutes and Armstrong again came close as Redmond found the midfielder who got a shot away quickly but was met by Krul to be pushed away for a corner.

It was soon to be three though in the form of Redmond, as on 78 minutes, Obafemi found the winger who made it look easy to create room and slot in across Krul to make it 3-0 and confirm that the three points were heading back to St Mary’s.

Substitute Will Smallbone and Ryan Bertrand would both have efforts before Nathan Tella came on for his Southampton debut in the final few minutes.

The referee blew the whistle to ensure Saints move up one place to 13th in the Premier League table.

Head to Head Stats

• Possession (%)
  55

  45
• Shots
  9

  22
• Shots on target
  1

  9
• Corners
  9

  7
• Passes Complete
  289

  230