CLASSY INGS CLIPS CANARIES’ WINGS
Danny helps super Saints surge towards safety
ONE game down, eight to go. But still the five wins Daniel Farke wants for safety required, a challenge that became a significantly bigger one for rock-bottom Norwich.
Farke may believe in miracles but even his enduring optimism took a hit after this collapse.
His upbeat outlook is admirable and perhaps one of Norwich’s greatest strengths. But it was not matched by the quality he had at his disposal, the Canaries shortage at both ends painfully exposed by the eventually ruthless visitors.
Norwich were not helped by a defensive injury crisis which led to Timm Klose being recalled for a first start since last January 2019 after knee problems. He would not have enjoyed his return.
Meanwhile, Norwich’s failure to take advantage of an encouraging start and their wastefulness during the second half was in stark contrast to a devastating Southampton spell after the restart.
They carved through Norwich at will and scored twice in five minutes to kill off the game.
Southampton ended with three and could easily have doubled their tally. Their four-hour coach journey back to the south coast, with flying not an option due to airport closures, would have been a lot more bearable after this.
Three months off has done little to dull the goalscoring instincts of Danny Ings who scored the first and his 19th of the season before setting up Stuart Armstrong.
Nathan Redmond rubbed salt in his former club’s wounds when he slammed in the third.
This might have been one of the games Farke had earmarked for three points when he set his side the target of five wins from their remaining games. The final result was ominous, particularly with trips to Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City on the horizon.
Farke said: ‘It’s a setback without any doubt. After every poor result and setback the situation is getting more difficult. But we would not dance on the table after a win so it is not like us to give up after a loss. It is no option for us to give up. We keep going.’
With the odds stacked against Norwich gambles are now required and Farke’s deployment of two strikers — Teemu Pukki and Josip Drmic — for the first time this season reflected their need.
Initially Norwich’s greater need was evident, with Ings producing a last-ditch intervention with Todd Cantwell poised to convert Emi Buendia’s free-kick and Kenny McLean grazed the side-netting.
Then Drmic failed to provide the finish a slick breakaway deserved, prompting an audible F-word frustration from one of the few people allowed in the South Stand.
That first ten minutes was as good as it got for the home side.
Urged on by a bellowing Hasenhuttl, Southampton exploited Norwich’s sloppiness and at times non-existent central midfield, and enjoyed the freedom their generous hosts allowed them. Ings robbed Ben Godfrey on the halfway line before the Norwich defender got back in time to make amends for his error.
Later in the half Jack Stephens dispossessed Cantwell in identical fashion before striding forward unchallenged and teeing up Ings, whose shot clipped the bar.
In between, a training ground corner routine between new Saints captain James Ward-Prowse — wantaway Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s replacement — and Armstrong almost worked to perfection.
After the break Hasenhuttl’s message got through. His players’ fitness levels and quality were a stark constrast to the hosts.
It was third time lucky for Ings four minutes after the break.
Norwich failed to clear a throw-in, Michael Obafemi and Armstrong kept the attack alive and Ings beat Krul brilliantly from 20 yards.
Five minutes later Norwich lost possession in midfield once again allowing Ings to run at their exposed backline before returning the favour by teeing up Armstrong to fire left-footed past Krul.
Jan Bednarek produced two brilliant blocks to frustrate Pukki but Norwich continued to look vulnerable at the other end. And when Redmond danced around Godfrey to fire in Southampton’s third, not long after Max Aarons denied Ward-Prowse with a goalline clearance, it was little surprise.
Hasenhuttl, whose side are up to 37 points, said: ‘We always speak about 40 points so we need the last three. If we play like we played today then I think this consistency will help us to climb.’ NORWICH (4-4-2): Krul 6.5; Aarons 6, Godfrey 5, Klose 6, Lewis 6; Buendia 5.5 (Idah 80min), Trybull 5 (Vrancic 62, 5.5), McLean 5, Cantwell 6 (Hernandez 62, 6); Pukki 5.5 (Duda 80), Drmic 5 (Martin 89).
Subs not used: McGovern, Rupp, Leitner,
Tettey.
Booked: Aarons. Manager: Daniel Farke 5. SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-2-2): McCarthy 6; Valery 7 (Walker-Peters 90), Stephens 7, Bednarek 8, Bertrand 7.5; Hojbjerg 7, Ward-Prowse 6; Armstrong 7.5 (Smallbone 82), Redmond 8 (Boufal 89); INGS 8.5 (Tella 88), Obafemi 7.5 (Adams 82). Subs not used: Gunn, Danso, Vestergaard,
Romeu.
Scorers: Ings 49, Armstrong 54, Redmond 79. Booked: Ings. Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl 8. Referee: Kevin Friend 6.5.