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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium
  • Attendance: 31944
  • Referee: Poll, G

Live Commentary

90mins

Graham Poll brings the game to a close with Saints stealing all three points with a last gasp goal in the dying minutes as they continue to battle for Premiership football next season

90mins

Simon Charlton races onto David Bentley's chip, but heads over the crossbar

87mins

Substitute Henri Camara drives a low shot into the corner from 25 yards to restore the Saints' lead in the dying minutes

86mins

At the other end Leon McKenzie forces Antti Niemi into another fingertips save

85mins

Robert Green makes a good save from Kevin Phillips after a mistake from Leon McKenzie

82mins

Mathias Svensson is introduced in place of Dean Ashton for The Canaries

80mins

Antti Niemi makes a point blank save to turn Simon Charlton's close-range header over the bar

79mins

Antti Niemi again saves for Southampton as Ashton heads straight at the home 'keeper

76mins

Olivier Bernard sees yellow for a tackle on David Bentley

75mins

Kevin Phillips shoots from 25 yards but does not trouble Robert Green in the Norwich goal

73mins

Graeme Le Saux is replaced by Henri Camara as Saints push for a winner

72mins

Graeme Le Saux is cautioned for a challenge on David Bentley

70mins

Simon Charlton replaces Darren Huckerby for the visitors

69mins

Kevin Phillips wastes an opportunity as his free header flies the wrong side of the post

68mins

Again, Norwich are allowed in as Antti Niemi makes a good save from Dean Ashton's venomous shot

67mins

Nigel Quashie tries from distance but cannot find the target with his effort

66mins

Darren Huckerby slips behind the Saints defence and delivers a good ball but the danger is cleared before McKenzie is able to pull the trigger

64mins

Again the Southampton defence are caught napping as Dean Ashton charges through and shoots wide of the goal

61mins

Leon McKenzie rolls Dan Higginbotham expertly but his finish is poor and doesn't trouble Antti Niemi in the Saints' goal

60mins

Saints continue to push for another goal with Jamie Redknapp firing over from distance with Youssef Safri sliding in to put him off

56mins

The home team look stronger in the second period with Claus Lundekvam heading wide of the goal

54mins

Thomas Helveg is cautioned for a challenge on the lively Graeme Le Saux

53mins

Again Le Saux combines well with Crouch but Youssef Safri is on hand to clear the danger

50mins

Graeme Le Saux's resulting corner is headed over the bar by the unmarked Peter Crouch

49mins

Nigel Quashie unleashes a left-foot effort which Robert Green does well to save

46mins

The second half is underway

46mins

Paul Telfer and Claus Lundekvam replace Rory Delap and Andreas Jakobsson for the Saints

45mins

An explosive first half is brought to a close with both teams creating and scoring a plethora of goals

45mins

The Canaries draw level once agin with Leon McKenzie fioring home from Dean Ashton's pass

39mins

Peter Crouch knocks the ball down for full-back Graeme Le Saux who fires home an unstoppable left-foot volley to restore the Saints' lead

38mins

Damien Francis tries his luck from the edge of the area but fails to test Antti Niemi with Darren Huckerby in support

37mins

Peter Crouch latches onto Graeme Le Saux's cross but Green is able to save the big forward's header

34mins

Norwich pile on the pressure with Craig Fleming's header deflected over the crossbar

33mins

Niemi makes another good save to deny Leon McKenzie from the resulting corner

33mins

Darren Huckerby tries his luck but Antti Niemi makes an excellent save

32mins

Higginbotham attones for his error blocking Dean Ashton's shot

30mins

Excellent work from Huckerby down the flank results in Dan Higginbotham steering the ball into his own net

29mins

An excellent save from Robert Green denies Couch's low drive

26mins

The home team catch Norwich out as Kevin Phillips heads Jamie Redknapp's cross straight at Robert Green

24mins

An unnecessary tackle from Craig Fleming results in a booking

23mins

The red and white army are behind the Saints and the home team are responding well , taking control of the game

19mins

Good work from Phillips and Redknapp is rewarded as gangly striker Peter Crouch volleys home Redknapp's cross to turn the tables on Norwich

16mins

Veteran Jamie Redknapp tries his luck with a thirty yard free kick forcing Robert Green into a fingertips save in the Norwich goal

15mins

Norwich are doing all the pressing with McKenzie and Ashton tearing the home defence to shreds every time they get the ball

11mins

The visitors continue to press creating a number of chances with McKenzie this time unable to turn the ball goalwards

8mins

The explosive start continues as Dean Ashton thunders a shot against the upright

7mins

The Saints strike back immediately with Matthew Oakley finishing well after good work from Nigel Quashie

3mins

David Bentley turns Leon McKenzie's pass into the net as the Saints' defence stands and watches

1mins

The Canaries start brightly with Leon McKenzie heading David Bentley's free kick just wide of the target

0mins

The game is underway with both teams in desperate need of three points as they try to secure top flight football for next season

Match Report

Henri Camara came off the substitutes bench to snatch a winner with two minutes remaining which might yet keep Southampton in the Premiership and send Norwich down.

Norwich can count themselves unlucky after contributing fully to a fascinating match full of goals, goalmouth incidents and high-class goalkeeping from Robert Green and Antti Niemi.

Each side now has two matches in which to save themselves from the dreaded drop, but each must fancy their chances if they can reproduce the stunning attacking moves seen in this seven-goal thriller.

But the defensive frailties of the Premiership's worst goals against columns were just as evident and there were some heart-stopping moments for both sets of supporters in the best match seen at St Mary's this season.

It was Southampton's sixth win of the season in their 36th match, while for Norwich the tally of goals conceded in league games rose to an astronomical 71 after letting in four more to Saints.

Norwich started brightly enough with a goal in the third minute as David Bentley bundled in a centre from the left by Leon McKenzie.

But Southampton were level in the seventh minute when Matthew Oakley exploited a huge gap down the right to beat Green with a low right-foot shot.

Dean Ashton hit a Southampton post two minutes later before Saints went ahead in the 20th minute. Rory Delap centred from the right and Peter Crouch got in front of Thomas Helveg to steer in his 15th goal of the season.

Green made an outstanding low save to keep out a shot from Crouch in the 29th before Norwich were level two minutes later thanks to an own goal from Danny Higginbotham.

Darren Huckerby got down the left and his low centre into the goalmouth was turned over his own line by Higginbotham at full stretch.

Niemi made two superb saves from Huckerby and Bentley before Graeme Le Saux scored his first goal for Southampton in the 39th minute.

Crouch and Kevin Phillips combined for Le Saux to celebrate his 400th game in the top flight with a low left-foot shot from the edge of the area.

But still Norwich were not beaten and with the last kick of the first half McKenzie got in front of Andreas Jakobsson to nudge a gentle shot wide of the unprotected Niemi.

Green was busy again in the second half with a top-class save from Nigel Quashie and Crouch somehow headed over from six yards when it looked easier to score.

As the tension mounted Niemi made a great save from Ashton and another, of world-class quality, on his line to prevent substitute Simon Charlton scoring against his old club.

There were two minutes remaining when Camara found a bit of room on the edge of the area to beat the gallant Green with a low right-foot shot.

Camara was booked for taking off his shirt, referee Graeme Poll picking up the garment from the ground and making a note of his name while celebrations continued by the corner flag.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Antti Niemi (Southampton) – Made a string of superb saves to ensure Saints kept alive their hopes of staying in the Premiership. Ironically in a game of seven goals, the two keepers were outstanding with Robert Green also in fine form.

Southampton

Norwich City

Corners

68

Fouls

1814

Goal attempts

1614

Shots off target

76

Offsides

15

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