SAINTS were made to pay for a host of missed chances as Ched Evans' strike secured a Norwich victory at St Mary's tonight.

Saints striker Grzegorz Rasiak found the post in the opening stages before midfielder Rudi Skacel was also denied by the woodwork from a 25-yard free-kick.

But the Canaries broke the deadlock on the brink of half-time when the on-loan Manchester City striker found the net.

Rasiak was again denied by the post before Stern John failed to convert a penalty, leaving the Canaries to take full points.

Midfielder Adam Hammill and defender Darren Powell dropped out of the managerless Saints' starting line-up with John and Skacel receiving recalls.

Norwich were unchanged beyond attacker Darren Huckerby's return to the bench following a hip problem.

The hosts came close to breaking the deadlock after just seven minutes when Rasiak hit the Canaries' woodwork from inside the area before Saints midfielder Andrew Surman fired wide from the edge of the area.

Veteran Dion Dublin forced Kelvin Davis into action with a 25-yard strike and then with a header from Mark Fotheringham's corner.

Norwich boss Glenn Roeder was forced into an early substitution when Fotheringham sustained an injury leaving Matthew Pattison to take his place in midfield.

Saints hit the woodwork again in the 27th minute when Pattison fouled Jason Euell and Skacel was denied by the bar from the resulting free-kick.

But it was the Canaries who took the lead in the 45th minute when Lee Croft set up Evans to fire home his fourth goal of the season from the edge of the area.

Norwich started brightly but were again saved by the post as Rasiak attempted to beat Norwich keeper David Marshall in the 49th minute from inside the area.

The Polish striker rose above the Canaries' defence shortly after but his header was this time saved by Marshall before Bradley Wright-Phillips fired wide for the Saints.

Saints dominated with a host of corners but the visiting defence managed to deal with the pressure comfortably.

Roeder then made use of his attacking options, bringing on leading scorer Jamie Cureton for Evans while loanee Stephen O'Halloran and Hammill came on for the hosts just after the hour mark.

Saints had the ideal chance to finally find the net when Gary Doherty handled in the box but John failed to hit the target from the spot in the 70th minute.

Skacel and Jason Euell both failed to beat Marshall before Huckerby made his return for the Canaries in place of Mo Camara.

Surman failed to keep a couple of efforts down as the home team failed to break down the Canaries.