Norwich 0-3 Southampton: Three key Saints players from the win

Danny Ings

With many players lacking match fitness and sharpness, only one player on the pitch looked like he had never been away. Danny Ings has been the name on many Saints fans lips this season, with his haul of 16 goals now the highest for a Southampton forward in top flight since James Beattie in 2003 (source: BBC Sport).

Ings looked alert from the outset and pressed the Norwich defence relentlessly. Indeed, the high pressing from Ings and his colleagues proved uncomfortable for their opposition, shattering their already fragile confidence by allowing them no time to settle.

Although the Winchester born striker will be disappointed that he failed to score from a first half strike which cannoned off the woodwork, he got his chance to make amends early in the second half. After Armstrong rolled the ball into his path in the 49th minute, Ings found space to shape a curling effort into past Krul.

Ings then turned provider for the Armstrong goal and was also involved into the third goal by releasing Obafemi with a lovely ball. With the race for the Premier League Golden Boot still wide open, Ings remains just three goals short of fellow Englishman Jamie Vardy with eight games still remaining. Most importantly though, Ings has been essential in all but securing another season of top flight football for Southampton, an extraordinary feat given their precarious position in the first half of the campaign.