Josh Sargent heroically announced his Carrow Road return with a well-taken finish to earn Norwich City's 1-1 draw with Southampton.
Adam Armstrong opened the scoring after 71 minutes of visiting pressure, but Sargent struck just seven minutes later to prevent a third consecutive 1-0 loss.
The draw helps stop City’s slide away from the Championship play-off places, but assisted arch-rivals Ipswich Town in their bid to avoid a Saints leapfrogging after their draw with Stoke.
Russell Martin’s side have become known for their patient, possession-based football, and they lived up to their billing. The early sparring was over with quickly, and the visitors established dominance before long.
Ryan Manning was the first to take advantage, stealing in at the back post to half-volley Kyle Walker-Peters’ cross. The former Swansea left-back skied his effort, however, to loud jeers from the Barclay Stand.
The Norwich task was to defend well and counter effectively, which they did in the early stages. Borja Sainz was the obvious candidate and had their first shot of the afternoon, running 45 yards at a retreating defence and firing well wide from distance.
The Spaniard then had an air shot when another counter ended with Gabriel Sara’s cross, before the away team threatened from consecutive set-pieces.
Jan Bednarek had three shots from two corners but couldn’t get a single one on target, while Taylor Hardwood-Bellis’ volley was deflected just over the bar.
Sam McCallum had the ball in the net in the 21st minute thanks to a rapid attack by Jack Stacey, his fine volley ruled out for an offside after Hwang Ui-jo made the first connection.
Southampton’s threat from set-pieces continued as the game wore on, Harwood-Bellis gifted another chance when Manning’s free-kick found him unmarked. The Manchester City loanee made firm contact, but headed straight at grateful former Saint Angus Gunn.
McCallum was involved once more when he volleyed across goal for Hwang, whose finishing troubles continued as he poked wide from the near post.
The game was beginning to resemble a basketball match in its second quarter, and Sainz again had a chance in the 32nd minute when Hwang and Jonathan Rowe combined to release him on the edge of the box. A fine block denied his third attempt to break the deadlock, however, keeping the scores level at a vital time for the south coast side.
Rowe then wanted a penalty when he was brought down by Joe Aribo in the box, but referee Darren England decided there was no foul and gave a goal kick.
Jack Stephens looked sure to break the deadlock when Armstrong’s flick found him unmarked in the box five minutes before the break, with Gunn only able to watch on as his side-footer bounced off the post and away.
Martin brought Scottish striker Che Adams on for centre-back Bednarek at half time in recognition of his side’s attacking struggles, and it nearly paid off six minutes later. Gunn ferociously back-pedalled when the 27-year-old attempted to lob him from 40 yards, relief his primary emotion as he watched it drop into the River End.
Southampton’s dominance continued thereafter with a chance for Aribo to head the opener, but he couldn’t make contact with another fine centre from Manning. Gunn was then forced to paw an Armstrong cross away, before Flynn Downes’ volley bounced just wide.
Sargent’s introduction gave the home crowd some impetus in the 66th minute, even more so when he was nearly sent through by Sara, but Southampton continued to push for a vital winning goal.
Adams lined up another strike from distance in the 70th minute, requiring two attempts from Gunn to gather and hold. And after what felt like hours of pressure, they finally made it 1-0.
It wasn’t the prettiest goal the Hampshire side scored all season, but Armstrong cared little about that when he volleyed over the line from a yard out.
Adams almost scored a similarly instinctive goal when he stuck a foot out briefly afterward, but Norwich survived in time to create the opening they desired.
That came, unsurprisingly, via some magical work from Sara and Rowe, who slid through for Sargent to deftly beat Gavin Bazunu inside the box.
There was a chance for Kenny McLean to make it three points rather than one, and Armstrong missed two great chances for a winner, but both sides were made to settle for a draw.
That’s a result David Wagner will be delighted with after fans had begun to turn on him once again, with a tricky run of fixtures following Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Bristol Rovers in NR1.
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
12. Long (GK)
6. Gibson
8. Gibbs
9. Sargent (on for Hwang, 66)
11. Idah (on for Hanley, 74)
16. Fassnacht
20. Placheta
21. Batth
25. Hernandez (on for Sainz, 83)
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings: Stacey (23), McCallum (27), McLean (90+5)
Goals: Sargent (78)
SOUTHAMPTON:
Substitutes:
13. Lumley (GK)
10. Adams (on for Bednarek, 45)
16. Smallbone (on for Downes, 84)
18. Mara
22. Alcaraz (on for S. Armstrong, 90)
24. Charles (on for Aribo, 84)
26. Fraser (on for Edozie, 27)
27. Amo-Ameyaw
33. Dibling
Manager: Russell Martin
Bookings:
Goals: Armstrong (71)
KEY MOMENTS
4 - Walker-Peters clips across the box and Manning shots on the half-volley, but he skies his effort.
8 - Sainz runs 45 yards with the ball and tries a shot from distance, which flies well wide.
21 - McCallum has the ball in the net but it's ruled out for Hwang's earlier offside.
36 - Rowe goes down in the box under Aribo's challenge, but the referee gives neither a corner or a penalty.
43 - Stephens looks sure to break the deadlock when Armstrong's flick finds him unmarked in the area. He strikes the upright, however, to the hosts' relief.
Half time: Norwich City 0-0 Southampton
51 - Adams has Gunn back-pedalling as he attempts a lob from 40 yards that drops just over the bar.
65 - Downes' volley drops just wide of Gunn's right-hand post.
71 - GOAL SOUTHAMPTON (A. Armstrong): Armstrong bundles the ball into the net after City fail to clear a low cross.
78 - GOAL NORWICH (Sargent): Sara and Rowe exchange clever passes before the later slides Sargent through on goal. He produces a fantastic finish that kisses the post on its way in.
84 - McLean jumps high to meet Sara's free-kick, but can only lift over.
90+1 - Fraser cross finds Armstrong at the back post, but it's just too high for him and he heads over.
90+2 - Armstrong goes through on goal, hut fires straight at Gunn.
Full time: Norwich City 1-1 Southampton
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 7, Stacey 6, Hanley 8, Duffy 7, McLean 7, McCallum 7, Sara 6, Nunez 6, Rowe 7, Sainz 6, Hwang 5. Subs: Sargent 8, Idah 6, Hernandez 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 25%-75%
Shots: 7-21
On target: 2-4
Corners: 1-12
Fouls: 7-8
Added time: 3 mins/7 mins
ATTENDANCE: 26,467 (1,746 Southampton)
REFEREE: Darren England
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