Kuryu Matsuki scored the decisive goal as Southampton finally secured their first away win of the Championship season with a 1-0 victory at Norwich City. The result at Carrow Road lifts Saints to seventh in the table on 16 points, ending a frustrating run of form on the road.
Head coach Tonda Eckert made four changes from the side that won the south coast derby, handing a debut at right-back to Nottingham Forest loanee Zach Abbott. The visitors had to handle more than half the game with ten men after Flynn Downes was forced off with an ankle injury in the 22nd minute, replaced by Caspar Jander for his first appearance of the campaign.
Matsuki makes the difference
After a first half of few clear chances, the breakthrough arrived nine minutes after the restart. Samuel Edozie, found by Finn Azaz on the left, wriggled into the box and saw his cross pushed out by goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw. Jander drilled the loose ball back goalwards and when Grimshaw could only parry, Matsuki was perfectly placed to slot home the rebound from close range.
Eckert was full of praise for his team's resilience after the match. "Tonight we have put in another good performance and on this occasion we have got our reward," he said. "I am very happy for the boys because they worked very hard out there."
Defensive resolve secures the points
Southampton had to defend stoutly to protect their slender lead. Lewis Dobbin, making his first league start since the opening day, made a vital goal-line clearance to deny José Córdoba. Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz was also called into action, making a sprawling save to keep out Anthony Musaba's late effort.
The clean sheet was Southampton's second in a row, following the 1-0 win over Portsmouth, and a welcome boost for a defence that had conceded ten goals in the opening ten games.
With top scorer Cyle Larin, who has seven goals this season, introduced from the bench, Saints saw out the game professionally. The three points are a significant boost ahead of a quick turnaround, with a home fixture against Bolton coming up on Saturday.
This story first appeared at Southampton FC Official Site
Head coach Tonda Eckert confirmed the extent of Flynn Downes's injury after the match. "We have lost Flynn for a period of time with a ligament injury," Eckert told the club's official site. The Saints, who have won their last two games, are seventh in the Championship with 16 points from 10 matches.
The club confirmed on October 15 that the victory at Carrow Road was achieved despite a four-point deduction. Southampton, who have now won their last two matches, sit seventh in the Championship with 16 points from 10 games. Head coach Tonda Eckert also provided a positive update on Flynn Downes, stating that initial thoughts are the midfielder's injury "isn't serious."
The club confirmed on October 15 that the victory at Carrow Road moved Southampton into the Championship play-off places. The win, which lifts Saints to seventh with 16 points from 10 games, was achieved despite a four-point deduction.
