EPL – Player Ratings – Southampton 3 Norwich City 0

Southampton managed to grab their first win of the 2015/2016 Premier League season with a convincing 3-0 win over Norwich City at St. Mary’s Stadium.

Steven Whittaker’s red card proved the catalyst for the match with all three goals coming after his 31st minute exit. Graziano Pellè opened the scoring in first half stoppage time prodding the ball in neatly at the near post.

Dusan Tadić scored twice in the space of three minutes for the Saints. The second half saw a returning to form from a Southampton side well below expectations so far this term. With the pressures of European competition no longer upon them, the quality of Saints’ side may begin to beam brightly in the Premier League.

Southampton

Maarten Stekelenburg – 6.0: The Canaries provided little threat before the red card and after it attacking play was virtually non-existent. Very little to do.

Matt Targett – 6.5: Kept the troublesome Nathan Redmond quiet. Still yet to offer much in an attacking sense.

José Fonte – 6.0: Quiet time at the back but dealt with all he had to tidily.

Maya Yoshida – 6.5: Ventured forward on a couple of occasions with the opposition down to 10 and looked somewhat dangerous in a few instances.

Cédric Soares – 7.0: Given a lot of space and used it well on a few occasions. Put in a good cross that resulted in the third goal.

Steven Davis – 6.0: Did little wrong throughout the first half but it ultimately made way to allow for more attacking play.

Oriol Romeu – 6.5: Kept his play understandably simple with Norwich a man down, cleaned up well in front of the defence.

Sadio Mané – 8.0: Creative and exciting, Mané performed terrifically, opening up a compacted Canaries defence. Received a deserved standing ovation when substituted in the closing stages.

James Ward-Prowse – 6.5: Had a bullet free kick saved in the game’s opening stages and sent a few dangerous looking balls into the box but ultimately nothing telling.

Dusan Tadić – 8.0: His brace sent the game beyond all doubt in the second period. First goal very tidy and the second showing good, quick reactions.

Graziano Pellè – 7.5: Neatly poked the ball into the net from a tight angle and looked dangerous for much of the game.

Substitutes

Jay Rodriguez – 7.0: Added some attacking flair after his half-time introduction. Substituted on for Steven Davis.

Cuco Martina – 6.0: Did little wrong after coming on though game was already won. Substituted on for Cédric in the 73rd minute.

Juanmi – N/A: Substituted on for Sadio Mané in the 81st minute.

Norwich City

John Ruddy – 6.5: Could hardly be held at fault for any of the goals and did manage to pull off a few decent saves.

Robbie Brady – 5.0: Failed to quickly close down crosses and his own at the other end of the pitch were relatively poor.

Sebastien Bassong – 6.0: Fared much better than his central defensive partner in dealing with the movement of Pellè, almost always outmuscling the Italian.

Russel Martin – 5.0: Couldn’t comfortably deal with Pellè’s movement or physicality, demonstrated in the first goal.

Steven Whitaker – 3.0: Really let his team down with two unnecessary fouls resulting in him receiving his marching orders.

Graham Dorrans – 5.5: Did well to create what was Norwich’s best chance of the game for Jerome but struggled to create anything when his side went down to 10.

Alexander Tettey – 6.0: Reasonable performance in midfield without anything noteworthy.

Johnny Howson – 5.0: Effort undoubtable but offered very little.

Nathan Redmond – 6.0: Failed to have any major impact on proceedings despite his lively play in recent weeks.

Wes Hoolahan – 5.0: Substituted after Whittaker’s dismissal to restructure the defence but hadn’t done much in his time on the park.

Cameron Jerome – 5.0: Isolated up front and missed the only real chance he had before the red card.

Substitutes

Andre Wisdom – 6.0: Defended well after coming on though perhaps a little slow with second goal. Substituted on for Wes Hoolahan in the 32nd minute.

Bradley Johnson – N/A: – Result was in stone by the time Johnson was introduced. Substituted on for Graham Dorrans in the 70th minute.

Gary Hooper – N/A: Substituted on for Cameron Jerome in the 89th minute.