Southampton 2 Norwich 0: Che Adams strike and Oriol Romeu beauty see off Premier League basement boys

CHE ADAMS used to be streakier than a slice of bacon when it came to scoring in the Premier League.

The forward took 29 games to break his duck in the top flight and then it would be a case of feast or famine in front of goal for him.

Southampton cruised past relegation-threatened Norwich on Friday night

Che Adams scored while sitting on the turf in the first half

But this season, after a slow start, the former non-league man has become far more consistent – just like his team.

His opener here was his was his third goal in four games, his eighth overall this term, as Southampton extended their impressive run to just one defeat in their last 12 matches.

Oriol Romeu’s late rocket made sure of the win which moved basement boys Norwich a step closer to the exit door.

Dean Smith’s men remain five points from safety but crucially they have now played 26 games – one more than Watford, two more than Newcastle and three more than Everton and Burnley.

St Mary’s played host to Smith’s last game in charge of Aston Villa back in November.

A limp 1-0 defeat racked up five losses in a row for affable former Brentford chief and he was toast, soon to be replaced by Steven Gerrard.

But Smith was not the only Norwich employee making his return to a ground which held painful memories from the last time he was here.

Angus Gunn’s last Premier League game at St Mary’s was the infamous 0-9 defeat to Leicester in October 2018.

That Premier League record-breaking home defeat was the beginning of the end for the young goalkeeper in a Saints shirt.

He eventually moved back to Norwich, his previous loan side and the club where his dad Bryan earned legendary status, in the summer for around £2.5m.

Any nerves Gunn Jnr may have had should have been allayed 16 minutes in as he confidently held Armando Broja’s tame shot before repelling Kyle Walker-Peter’s drive.

The Canaries stopper then put in a top stop to keep the scores level, keeping out Moi Elyounoussi at the far post.

Adams should have put the hosts ahead earlier when James Ward-Prowse, making his 350th Saints appearance, picked him out with a corner but the Scotland striker flashed his free header wide.

Oriol Romeu added a brilliant second goal

Minutes later, Adams made up for it with Gunn once again experiencing some misfortune on the St Mary’s turf.

Explosive full-back Tino Livramento had somehow squeezed his way into the right side of the box and looked to pick out Adams, lurking two yards out at the far post.

Gunn did well to reach the delivery but his intervention hit Max Aarons, the ball landed at the feet of Adams who missed with his first effort but then cleverly scooped it over Gunn and in.

One should have been two just before the half-time whistle when Stuart Armstrong teed up Elyounoussi, but the Norwegian, seemingly lacking his shooting boots, fired wide.

You would be hard-pressed to see a sweeter strike than the one Armstrong himself produced in the fourth-round FA Cup win over Coventry earlier this month.

But this time when the Scot attempted a pearler from distance just after the break, his aim was askew.

Romeu celebrates his thunderbolt which sealed three points

Armstrong chances his arm again on 66 minutes with a far more accurate blast but Gunn showed good hands to hold it.

Gunn bettered that firm stop by somehow repelling Walker-Peters’ volley from around the penalty spot as Saints pushed to finish the game off.

It was a save that would have made his old man proud as he watched on from the stands.

Saints were playing a dangerous game with their wastefulness and almost paid for it when Grant Hanley headed wide with 13 minutes to go.

Ralph Hasenhuttl sensed it and threw on an extra defender in Jack Stephens for the ineffectual Broja.

And the Austrian finally saw his side wrap up the win when Romeu walloped a volley home from just inside the area for one of the defensive midfielders rare strikes.

Norwich were never likely to get much out of a three-game run that included Manchester City, Liverpool and away to in-form Southampton.

But three straight defeats, however expected, has left them favourites for the drop.

And given the games in hand for their relegation rivals, picking up points from their next two fixtures against Leeds and Smith’s old side Brentford is looking vital if they are to somehow save themselves.