Report: Armstrong back on target in Norwich draw

Saints patiently probed for openings and eventually got their reward 20 minutes from time, as Kyle Walker-Peters’s low cross was hammered home by Adam Armstrong from point-blank range.

But Norwich, for whom the Saints boss made more than 300 appearances as a player, struck back eight minutes later from their first clear chance of the second period, as substitute Josh Sargent levelled the scores.

Jack Stephens had struck the bar shortly before half time, while Armstrong twice threatened to win it for Saints in stoppage time, but the visitors must be content with extending their unbeaten run to 18 matches – one shy of equalling a club record that has stood since 1921.

Martin made four changes to his side who were victorious over Plymouth at St Mary’s three days prior, reverting to the team that started Boxing Day’s 5-0 triumph against Swansea.

That meant a whole new midfield, as Flynn Downes, Joe Aribo and Stuart Armstrong replaced Shea Charles, Will Smallbone and Carlos Alcaraz, while the return of Stephens at right-back meant a more advanced role for Walker-Peters.

Such was Saints’ dominance from kick-off, it would take eight minutes for the hosts to cross the halfway line with a sense of purpose, as Borja Sainz led a solo charge into visiting territory, but the winger blazed an ambitious long-range shot high and wide.

The Spaniard had another half-chance moments later on the volley, but was unable to connect with a fine left-wing cross.

For Saints, centre-back duo Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jan Bednarek both had sights of goal from corners, before Aribo made an untidy connection from a Ryan Manning cross, as Martin’s side continued to press.

Norwich did maintain a threat, despite having less than 30 per cent of the first-half possession on home soil.

Jack Stephens rattles the crossbar in the first half

The Canaries even had the ball in the net 20 minutes in, as Hwang Ui-jo kept a deep cross alive with a header back into the path of Gabriel Sara, whose volley into the ground bounced up into the far corner, but Gavin Bazunu did not extend himself, with the offside flag already raised.

After the reprieve came a setback, as Samuel Edozie was chopped down on the byline by Jack Stacey, who was booked. After attempting to soldier on, Edozie was forced to limp off, paving the way for Ryan Fraser to take his place before the 30-minute mark.

Saints remained in control of things, but Norwich continued to have their moments. Sam McCallum flashed a ball across goal aimed for Hwang on the six-yard line, who was convinced the final touch came off Harwood-Bellis for a corner, before Sainz saw a shot blocked by Bednarek.

It was rare that Saints could launch a counter of their own, such was their dominance of possession and territory against a deep-lying defence, but Adam Armstrong’s pass sent Fraser into a foot race with fellow Scot Grant Hanley, who was able to rely on his sheer size advantage to ease the winger out of the way, with goalkeeper Angus Gunn caught in no man’s land.

Manning was finding regular crossing positions down the left, fizzing one dangerous low delivery towards the near post before feeding the ball into Adam Armstrong, whose cute backheel invited Stephens to shoot first time from 16 yards. As the skipper opened up his body to side-foot home, he saw his rising strike crash against the face of the crossbar.

Half time would prompt a positional change for Stephens, as Adams was summoned to boost Saints’ attack. Bednarek was the man sacrificed, as Walker-Peters reverted to right-back.

Saints reasserted their dominance after the restart, whilst looking less susceptible on the break.

Adams, who had two in two coming into the game, showcased his confidence with an early effort from long range, spotting Gunn off his line, before he and Aribo both had headed chances from Fraser’s left-wing crosses.

Adam Armstrong celebrates his 70th-minute deadlock-breaker

A slick sequence of intricate passing led to another opportunity just shy of the hour, this time for Walker-Peters, but there was no way through as another yellow shirt got in the way.

Then Downes and Adams tried again from distance, with the midfielder only inches wide in pursuit of his first Saints goal.

Norwich were hanging on and Saints finally had the ball in the net 20 minutes from time. It was all about Walker-Peters down the right, whose nutmeg took him beyond Kenny McLean and low cross squirmed beyond Gunn for the gleeful Armstrong, who hammered it home from virtually on the goal line.

Just as it felt like Saints had done all the hard work, Norwich sprung their first effective counter of the second half.

Jonathan Rowe’s quick one-two bought him space to slide the ball in behind for substitute Sargent, who kept his composure in the face of the onrushing Bazunu and retreating Walker-Peters, rolling a shot between the latter’s legs and in off the far post to level the scores.

Suddenly Norwich sensed they could go one better, as Sainz attacked the near post and went close to finishing a dangerous low cross.

After Alcaraz followed Smallbone and Charles on to the pitch in the closing stages, Adam Armstrong twice went close to winning the game in stoppage time.

First he just could not jump high enough to keep his header down from Fraser’s chipped cross to the far post, before Alcaraz sent him through and the striker stung the palms of Gunn with his left foot, but his shot was too close to the former Saints stopper to truly trouble him, leaving the hosts the happier side with a share of the spoils.

Norwich City: Gunn, Stacey, Hanley (c) (Idah 74), Duffy, McCallum, Nunez, McLean, Sara, Sainz (Hernandez 84), Hwang (Sargent 65), Rowe.

Unused substitutes: Long, Gibson, Batth, Placheta, Gibbs, Fassnacht.

Goals: Sargent (78’).

Yellow cards: Stacey, McCallum, Sara.

Southampton: Bazunu, Stephens (c), Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek (Adams 46), Manning, Downes (Charles 85), Aribo (Smallbone 85), S Armstrong (Alcaraz 90), Walker-Peters, A Armstrong, Edozie (Fraser 27).

Unused substitutes: Lumley, Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw, Mara.

Goals: A Armstrong (70’).

Referee: Darren England.