SAINTS put the disappointment of their Europa League exit behind them, as they thumped Norwich to secure a first Premier League victory of the season.

Ronald Koeman’s men reacted in the best possible way to the shock of being dumped out of Europe by FC Midtjylland, as they cruised to victory over a Canaries side that had to play the majority of the game with ten men.

Saints had been the superior team before Steven Whittaker was dismissed for two yellow cards in quick succession during the first-half and, with a man-advantage, the goals duly followed.

Graziano Pelle netted his fourth of the season to get things underway, striking just before the interval, while Dusan Tadic added two after the break to seal the rout, which moves the club up to tenth in the table.

 

The big news before kick-off was the omission of Victor Wanyama from the squad, amid Tottenham’s interest in the midfielder.

Koeman revealed that the Kenyan, who missed the Europa League game against Midtjylland last Thursday with a stomach infection, was not “mentally and physically good enough to play”.

There were no signs of his teammates struggling on either of those fronts in the early stages, though, as the hosts started well following their switch back to a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Had it not been for a stunning John Ruddy save, they would have gone in front just over a minute into the match, as the Norwich keeper sprung brilliantly to his right to get fingertips to James Ward-Prowse’s 30-yard free-kick, sending a ball that had been destined for the top corner wide of the post.

While Wanyama may have been mentally unable to feature, there was no such problem for Manchester United target Sadio Mane, who started after returning to fitness from a hip injury, and he nearly gave Saints a 13th-minute lead, cutting past Robbie Brady on the corner of the area, only to see Ruddy dive and hold onto his left-footed shot from 18 yards.

Saints were well on top, but their good work was almost undone after 20 minutes, as Norwich missed a glorious chance to take the lead.

Wes Hoolahan drove in a ball from the left towards the back post, where Graham Dorrans helped it back across the six-yard area, putting it on a plate for Cameron Jerome. However, the striker failed to get enough on his header and ended up flicking it just wide of the post, as Saints escaped.

Pelle then went close with a header at the other end, sending his effort from Tadic’s teasing left-wing cross narrowly wide. The striker claimed he was unfairly hauled down by Sebastien Bassong as he went to meet the delivery, but referee Jonathan Moss wasn’t interested in his appeals.

There then followed a crucial three-minute spell in the game, as Norwich defender Whittaker was dismissed for two yellow cards in quick succession.

First, he picked up a needless caution for preventing Matt Targett from taking a quick throw, before he was judged to have pulled down Tadic as the midfielder attempted to run onto a chipped bass behind the Norwich defence from James Ward-Prowse.

Norwich immediately reorganised, as Hoolahan was withdrawn for the defensive strength of Andre Wisdom, and the Canaries looked as though they would see it out until half-time, before Saints struck in the first minute of added time.

James Ward-Prowse did well to win the ball off Jonathan Howson out wide, before picking out Mane down the inside right. He, in turn, slid a pass toward the near-post area for Pelle, who swept home past Ruddy from close range.

Koeman made one change at half-time, bringing off Steven Davis and sending on Jay Rodriguez.

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It took a few minutes for Saints to start threatening again, but, once they did, they started creating opportunities regularly.

Ruddy spared himself embarrassment in the 56th minute, palming away Mane’s fierce, angled shot, after the keeper’s pass out of his area had gone straight to the forward.

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Moments later, Ruddy had to turn away Rodriguez’s shot across goal, after Pelle’s first-time pass had sent him racing away down the inside-right.

Then Pelle came within inches of scoring an absolute beauty, as he hit a thunderous 20-yard strike from Mane’s lay-off, only to see the ball whip into the side netting, with many inside the stadium thinking it had gone in.

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Their eyes weren’t deceiving them in the 64th minute, though, when Tadic struck to put the game beyond doubt, meeting Mane’s low ball across the area with a curling, right-footed strike that flew past Ruddy into the far corner.

Three minutes later, Tadic got another to make it 3-0, reacting quickest to tap in from a yard out, after Ruddy had brilliantly kept out a thumping Pelle header from Cedric Soares’ cross.

Rodriguez then went close to making it 4-0, but his right-foot curler went inches over the bar, as he aimed for the far top corner from the edge of the area.

Mane received a standing ovation when he was withdrawn for Juanmi with just under ten minutes remaining, and the Saints fans will be hoping he is still here to cheer on when the transfer window shuts on Tuesday.

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For 90 minutes, though, those concerns could be put to one side, as supporters were able to savour a day that was reminiscent of so many of the fine afternoons that they witnessed at St Mary’s last season.

SAINTS: Stekelenburg; Cedric (Martina 72), Fonte, Yoshida, Targett; Romeu, S Davis (Rodriguez 45); Ward-Prowse, Mane (Juanmi 81), Tadic; Pelle.

Subs: K Davis, Caulker, Reed, Long.

NORWICH: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Tettey, Dorrans (Johnson 70), Howson; Hoolahan (Wisdom 32); Jerome (Hooper 89).

Subs: Rudd, R Bennett, O'Neil, van Wolfswinkel.

Booked: Whittaker.

Sent-off: Whittaker.

Referee: Jonathan Moss.