Boruc Holts Norwich – Norwich City 0 Southampton 0

Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc made a dramatic injury time penalty save to ensure his team stayed four points above the drop zone with nine games left to play.

After last weekend’s disappointing loss to bottom of the table Q.P.R., The Saints were looking to bounce back with a good result at Carrow Road. Norwich meanwhile, were also looking to make amends after their 4-0 drubbing by Manchester United last time out. Southampton made three changes to their first 11 with Hooiveld, Shaw and Rodriguez coming in for Clyne, Fox and Puncheon. Norwich made only one change, bringing in Kei Kamara for Wes Hoolahan.

Maya Yoshida congratulates Artur Boruc after his injury time penalty save. Credit: @SouthamptonFC

Despite there being rain, snow and sleet coming all at the same time, the opening 10 minutes saw Southampton retain possession well, with Norwich struggling to gain a foothold in the game. Indeed it was Norwich ‘keeper Mark Bunn who had to make the first meaningful save of the afternoon, getting a solid pair of hands in the way of Adam Lallana’s rising shot from just outside the area. Despite Southampton’s ascendency, Norwich did have chances of their own, with Holt and Kamara both failing to get a touch on two promising deliveries from out wide. However, the best chance of the first half did indeed fall to a Southampton player. Gaston Ramirez found himself through on goal only for Mark Bunn to make an outstanding one handed save to deny him his fifth league goal of the season.

After a slow opening five minutes, the second half sprung into action with two chances at both ends of the pitch. The first saw Lallana blast over the bar from close range after good work down the left from Jay Rodriguez, while for the second, Grant Holt got his footwork badly wrong after a pinpoint cross from Wes Hoolahan – luckily for Holt however, the flag was raised on the far side. Rodriguez and Lambert both went close for Southampton in the next 40 minutes, while at the other end Maya Yoshida had to make an impressive last ditch interception to deny Robert Snodgrass while he had the goal at his mercy.

With the match poised to end in a goalless draw – Norwich’s sixth of the season no less – Javier Garrido lobbed a long ball forward which both Grant Holt and Luke Shaw gave chase to. In the ensuing contact, Shaw was adjudged by referee Mark Clattenburg to have felled Holt, much to the anger of the Southampton bench. The Norwich No. 9 managed to picked himself up to take the penalty, only to see the Saints’ keeper make a sprawling save down to his right to deny Norwich all three points – justice in the eyes of the Southampton bench.

Writer’s Comment: The score line is deceptive. This was a decent match with plenty of chances and one which either team could have won. The conditions did however make things difficult, especially for Southampton who found it difficult to play their usual slick passing game in the sleet and snow. The big talking point however was the decision to award Norwich a penalty in injury time. Luke Shaw did make contact but it has to be said that a 6’ 1” Grant Holt went to ground ludicrously easily.

Man Of The Match: Morgan Schneiderlin – The Frenchman has impressed for Southampton since making his summer move from Strasbourg and today was no exception. The defensive midfielder put in his shift defensively and provided a vital link between the back four and attackers.