Finn Azaz’s first-half strike was enough to secure a 1-0 victory over Norwich and send Southampton into the Championship play-off places for the first time since the opening weekend.
Azaz pounced on a quickly taken throw-in as James Bree lofted the ball, Kyle Larin nodded on and Azaz crashed the finish into the roof of the net at St Mary’s. The Republic of Ireland international celebrated his 10th goal of the season the day after St Patrick’s Day. It was the first goal Norwich had conceded away from Carrow Road since the end of January.
Saints also had goalkeeper Daniel Peretz to thank for the three points and a 13th game unbeaten. The on-loan Bayern Munich stopper produced a season-best seven saves, including a sensational double-stop in the second half to deny Ali Ahmed and Kellen Fisher from point-blank range. Peretz also kept out Anis Ben Slimane and Kenny McLean at key moments and finished with his fifth clean sheet in 12 league appearances — more than Gavin Bazunu and Alex McCarthy combined before his arrival.
The contest began cagey, with Peretz smartly getting down to his right to deny a thumping effort from Slimane, while Norwich keeper Vladan Kovacevic parried a James Bree half-volley that led to an offside chalking on Sam Edozie’s rebound moments earlier. Norwich were close on several occasions: Mathias Kvistgaarden nearly connected with Paris Maghoma’s wicked cross, and late in the match Jack Stephens’ inadvertent touch beat its way off the crossbar in the 98th minute before Peretz made a final stunning save to keep out Ruairi McConville.
Norwich remain nine points adrift of the top six despite winning 11 of their last 14 matches. They have yet to win on the road in this season after conceding first. Substitute Shea Charles almost sealed the game for Southampton, but his low effort was pushed away by Kovacevic.
Managers
Southampton’s Tonda Eckert:
“That was a tough one. There is a reason why they have won 10 of the last 13 games. It is always nice to take step after step but you have to play until the end. There is still a lot of games coming up, things can go so fast in either direction. We have done well to keep our head down and maintain a level of humility. It is very important not to look too far ahead. We have done well not to get carried away with the negatives or positives. That isn’t going to change.”
Norwich’s Philippe Clement:
“I am not a dreamer, that is for the fans. I made that mistake in the first 15 years of my career. It is of no use to look at the rankings. We have no control of what other teams will do. It is about our performances and then we will see where we are in the last two or three games. It is already amazing that so many people talk to me about play-offs when in November the club had nine points. Everyone could see we deserved more from this game. It is football that you lose this type of games and there is a reason their goalkeeper is the man of the match. I am more proud of the team than gutted about the loss. It didn’t happen much that I have told the team I am proud of them.”