Sargent equaliser earns Norwich draw at Southampton

2 years ago 37

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Josh Sargent (left) celebrates his goal for Norwich

Josh Sargent scored an equaliser for Norwich that held Southampton to a frustrating 1-1 draw despite still stretching their unbeaten run to 18 games.

The hosts finally found the net after 70 minutes in a match with few chances at either end, when Kyle Walker-Peters broke down the right and left Adam Armstrong with a simple tap-in from a few yards out.

But Sargent brought the Canaries level eight minutes later on his first start since August, slotting the ball into the net from a Jonathan Rowe cross.

The draw leaves Southampton still three points behind Ipswich in third, while Norwich stay 13th.

While Saints continued their impressive run, boss Russell Martin will be questioning how his side failed to take all three points after completely controlling the match, creating almost all the attacking opportunities and seeing Norwich only manage two shots on target across the 90 minutes.

For all their possession, Saints failed to make it count, particularly during the first half, and it was not until the 25th minute that they troubled Angus Gunn when Taylor Hardwood-Bellis' header went straight at the Canaries keeper.

But they came close to taking the lead right before the break, when Armstrong back-heeled the ball to Stephens only for his strike to rattle the crossbar.

Norwich did get the ball in the net during the opening half through Sam McCallum although the whistle had already long gone for offside in the build up.

Martin - who captained the Canaries during his playing career - tweaked Southampton's formation during the break and brought on Che Adams in a bid to inject more of an attacking threat.

And they went in front when Walker-Peters drove past his marker to reach the byline and pulled the ball back , leaving Armstrong with an easy finish into the net from close range.

David Wagner responded by making two changes of his own, taking off a defender for more presence up front and it paid off instantly as Jonathan Rowe played in Sargent, who curled the ball around Gavin Bazunu to score his fourth of the campaign.

Buoyed by the equaliser, Norwich came close to the winner late on through a header from Rowe but both sides had to settle for a point.

Line-ups

Norwich

Formation 5-4-1

28Gunn
3StaceyBooked at 23mins
5HanleySubstituted forIdahat 74'minutes
24Duffy
23McLeanBooked at 90mins
15McCallumBooked at 27mins
27Rowe
26Núñez
17Gomes SaraBooked at 54mins
7SainzSubstituted forHernándezat 84'minutesBooked at 87mins
31Hwang Ui-joSubstituted forSargentat 66'minutes

Substitutes

6Gibson
8Gibbs
9Sargent
11Idah
12Long
16Fassnacht
20Placheta
21Batth
25Hernández

Southampton

Formation 3-4-2-1

31Bazunu
5Stephens
21Harwood-Bellis
35BednarekSubstituted forAdamsat 45'minutes
7AriboSubstituted forSmallboneat 85'minutes
4DownesSubstituted forCharlesat 85'minutes
17S ArmstrongSubstituted forAlcarazat 90'minutes
3Manning
2Walker-Peters
23EdozieSubstituted forFraserat 27'minutes
9A Armstrong

Substitutes

10Adams
13Lumley
16Smallbone
18Mara
22Alcaraz
24Charles
26Fraser
27Amo-Ameyaw
33Dibling

Referee:Darren England

Attendance:26,467

Live Text

Match ends, Norwich City 1, Southampton 1.
Second Half ends, Norwich City 1, Southampton 1.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Jack Stacey.
Kenny McLean (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ryan Fraser (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kenny McLean (Norwich City).
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Shea Charles.
Attempt saved. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Carlos Alcaraz.
Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ryan Fraser with a cross.
Substitution, Southampton. Carlos Alcaraz replaces Stuart Armstrong.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Sam McCallum.
Onel Hernández (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).
Attempt missed. Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Sam McCallum with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton).
Onel Hernández (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution, Southampton. Shea Charles replaces Flynn Downes.
Substitution, Southampton. Will Smallbone replaces Joe Aribo.
Substitution, Norwich City. Onel Hernández replaces Borja Sainz.