Southampton smelt blood in the water despite the score still being 0-0 at half-time at Carrow Road, goal-scorer Stuart Armstrong has revealed after his team’s commanding win over Norwich City.

The Saints scored two goals in five minutes early in the second half with, Armstrong teeing up Danny Ings for the first and then finishing well from the edge of the box himself for the second, with former City winger Nathan Redmond finishing the job in the 79th minute.

“It was a difficult start, a bit slow at times, a few mistakes,” the Scot said of the Saints’ performance. “But I think we eased into the game. Gradually we built up into the first half and I felt towards the end of the first half we were building momentum and creating chances.

“Danny (Ings) hit one off the bar and there was a good feeling going into the second half. It was all about coming here and getting off to a good start, hopefully with three points and that’s what we have managed to do.”

The win all but sealed survival for the visitors, bringing an end to a run of four defeats in five games prior to the Premier League’s three-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our perseverance was good,” Armstrong added. “We didn’t start fantastic but it’s the first game back after a strange spell out which is always going to be the case.

“I think we just kept at it and the longer the game went on the better we got. So that’s pleasing and I hope that continues throughout the next few games.”

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It was a fourth goal in seven league matches for the former Celtic and Dundee United winger but the 28-year-old admitted it was surreal to return to top-flight action without any supporters allowed in stadiums.

Speaking to Southampton’s official website, he continued: “A goal means a lot for me personally and for the team so I was really pleased with it. It’s strange, you are used to noise and fans and it’s sad not to have them but it’s very good to have football back.

“The atmosphere is nothing as you have seen but it still felt like an away game coming to a difficult place against a good team and we’re very happy with our performance.”