Southampton 2-0 Norwich City: Saints edge closer to European places with win over bottom club

Southampton edged closer to the European places with a comfortable Premier League win over relegation-threatened Norwich at St Mary's.

Che Adams scored the opening goal of the game for the hosts, flicking the ball past Canaries goalkeeper Angus Gunn after Tino Livramento's cross had ricocheted around the six-yard box.

Oriol Romeu's sublime late volley wrapped up the points for Ralph Hasenhuttl's side.

The result sees Southampton move up to ninth in the table, while Norwich remain bottom five points from safety, having played at least one game more than any of the five sides directly above them.

But for some errant finishing — and the performance of Gunn against his former employers — Saints' margin of victory would have been greater.

While they let a one-goal lead slip to lose the reverse fixture between the sides, the hosts rarely looked like relinquishing control on this occasion with the scoreline not a true reflection of their total dominance.

Mohamed Elyounoussi and Kyle Walker-Peters both had powerful efforts saved by Gunn, while Adams headed wide when well placed from a James Ward-Prowse corner.

Norwich had appeared to turn a corner with positive results against Everton, Watford and Crystal Palace.

However, they have now slipped to three consecutive defeats and shipped nine goals in the process.

But unlike their heavier losses to Manchester City and Liverpool, where they acquitted themselves well at times, this was an abject display.

With 30 minutes on the clock Dean Smith's side had barely stepped foot out of their own half as they allowed Southampton to play around them, cross and shoot seemingly at will.

And while Josh Sargent had arguably the best chance in that period, seeing his shot blocked following good play by