Norwich 1 - 0 Southampton

Norwich 1 - 0 Southampton

Norwich’s Alex Tettey punishes Southampton and Victor Wanyama

Home team scorers
Alexander Tettey 76


Alex Tettey fires in the left-footed shot that gave his side a valuable 1-0 win over Ronald Koeman’s Southampton.

A late arrival by Sadio Mané and an early departure for Victor Wanyama contributed to Southampton’s downfall here before Alex Tettey confirmed it with a fine winning goal in the 76th minute. Ronald Koeman’s side had just been reduced to 10 players by the sending off of Wanyama for a second reckless tackle. Southampton had started without Mané, who was dropped for turning up late to a team meeting prior to the game.

Expensive watches are all the rage among Premier League footballers but Mané does not appear to use one: the Senegalese forward is a repeat offender on the tardiness front, having been omitted last February after arriving late for a game against Liverpool. “We have rules in the team,” said Koeman before kick-off here, insisting that basic standards were not something he was willing to sacrifice as Southampton sought to end a run of three away defeats in a row. What Mané’s behaviour means for his future remains to be seen, as Manchester United are among his admirers and may test the strength of the relationship between the player and Southampton during this month’s transfer window. Wanyama has also been linked with a move away.

In addition to indiscipline, Southampton were undone here by wayward finishing. Even without Mané and their injured top scorer Graziano Pellè, they created enough chances to capitalise on a strong start. Shane Long constantly pestered the home defence with his movement and strength but his finishing must have infuriated Koeman. The Irishman’s first effort was good, his header flying just over the bar after he outjumped the goalkeeper, Declan Rudd. But his next miss was less forgivable, as he took too many touches after receiving a superb pass from Cuco Martina and thereby enabled Rudd to smother the shot. Rudd tipped a header by Long over the bar from the resultant corner.

Southampton’s corners were a recurring threat, as Ryan Bertrand and Mané’s replacement, James Ward-Prowse, supplied high-class deliveries. Twice in the first half Virgil van Dijk headed wide from close range after meeting corners. At least Jordy Clasie forced Rudd to make a fine save to stop a curling shot from 25 yards in the 42nd minute.

Norwich also had chances in the first period after a stuttering start, the first two coming courtesy of Southampton. Jonny Howson hit a bobbling shot wide from 12 yards after dispossessing José Fonte in the Southampton box.

Then, in 21st minute, Van Dijk coughed up the ball to allow Wes Hoolahan to lead a counterattack, which ended with Howson trying to set up a tap-in for Russell Martin at he back post but misdirecting his pass. Howson provided a far better cross just before the break – Dieumerci Mbokani stretched to meet it but poked the ball just wide from eight yards.

Koeman resisted the temptation to curtail Mané’s punishment at half-time, but that temptation must have grown stronger as the second period unfolded because the quality of play deteriorated, both sides struggling to cobble together any moves of consequence.

Norwich manager Alex Neil was the first to try a change of approach, replacing Redmond with Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe around the hour. That move soon paid off, but not before Tadic provided another example of Southampton’s finishing problems, failing to even hit the target after being sent running clear on goal.

Moments later Odjidja-Ofoe was felled by Wanyama, who had already been booked for a crunching late tackle on Redmond. The Kenyan had to be dismissed, and Odjidja-Ofoe soon helped inflict harsher punishment. The midfielder produced a lovely run to tee up Tettey, who put on a free finishing lesson for the visitors, cracking a perfect shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Now it was time for Mané to redeem himself. But Norwich were not about to let a precious three points slip.

Guardian