SAINTS ON SONG
‘It was a poor result but we won’t give up’
charged forward and fed Ings, who hit the bar.
The Southampton talisman, who had scored only once in his previous seven league games, restored normal service after 49 minutes with a super shot after an Armstrong assist.
And Ings repaid the favour just five minutes later for the Scot to double the lead with a low strike.
Ward-Prowse had a shot cleared off the line, before another flowing Saints counter-attack involving Ings saw Michael Obafemi feed Redmond to shoot home.
NORWICH (4-4-2): Krul 7; Aarons 6, Klose 5, Godfrey 6, Lewis 6; Buendia 5 (Idah 80), Trybull 5 (Vrancic 62 6), McLean 6, Cantwell 5 (Hernandez 62, 6); Drmic 5 (Martin 87), Pukki 5 (Duda 80).
SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): McCarthy; Valery 6 (WalkerPeters 90), Stephens 7 (Tella 88), Bednarek 6, Bertrand 7; Armstrong 7 (Smallbone 82), Ward-Prowse 7, Hojbjerg 7, Redmond 7; Obafemi 6 (Adams 82), Ings 8 (Boufal 86). Goals: Ings 49, Armstrong 54, Redmond 79. wins from our last nine games. It is a nine-match series. Now we are 1-0 down in that series – but it is not an option to give up. We keep going.
“It is a real setback, a poor result. Our situation gets more and more difficult.
“Goals are defining moments. Our defensive behaviour was not good enough. We were not solid enough and paid the price for having so many offensive players on the pitch.”
And the Norwich boss, right, conceded: “The belief was not there and it was too difficult for us to turn the game around. But we have to get our belief back. I always trust my players. We will be disappointed today and tomorrow but we will keep going.”
Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted that his team, who now have 37 points, need another three to be safe from the drop.
He 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.”
Ings added: “With the strange environment it was about adapting – we did that well and got it spot on. In the first half, when I hit the bar, I thought I was rusty. But I am happy I stuck in there and got the goal.”