SAINTS were forced to settle for a point to begin 2024 as they drew 1-1 with Norwich City in a New Year's Day clash. 

Adam Armstrong opened the scoring with his 13th of the season, and first since a brace against Cardiff City in December, deep into the second half.

However, USA international Josh Sargent pulled his side level just eight minutes later to turn the atmsophere at Carrow Road.

Manager Russell Martin was returning to Carrow Road to face the side with whom he wore the armband and made 309 appearances as a player. 

It was the first time the two sides had met on New Year's Day since Chris Sutton scored the only goal in the game for the Canaries at the Dell in 1994. 

Saints were looking to extend their unbeaten run to 18 league matches - just one shy of the all-time club record more than 100 years old.

Martin made four changes to his starting XI from the team that beat Plymouth Argyle on Friday, reverting to the same team that started the 5-0 win over Swansea City.

Saints threatened early on from corner kicks but the imposing Jan Bednarek could not make a telling connection with any of Ryan Manning's dangerous deliveries. 

It was the hosts who thought they opened through a Sam McCallum volley but Ui Jo Hwang was ruled marginally offside as he beat Taylor Harwood-Bellis to a header.

Norwich's strongest asset was their counter-attacks and they defended firmly with a minimum of five men in their backline at all times. 

They could have been reduced to 10 players when former AFC Bournemouth full-back Jack Stacey was booked for a studs-up challenge that saw Sam Edozie substituted. 

Southampton's tricky winger, who had three goals in his last five appearances, tried to carry on but sat down to force the stoppage and change 27 minutes into the contest. 

Saints went close when captain Jack Stephens, who did not look entirely comfortable at right-back, thumped the crossbar after a clever Adam Armstrong flicked set-up.

Martin made his second change during the break, with Bednarek replaced by Che Adams - the Pole felt a niggle after Friday's win over Plymouth and it could be related.

Saints retained almost total control with Gavin Bazunu only needed for the first time following the restart in the 69th minute, beating Sargent to a through ball.

Walker-Peters had a shot blocked and Aribo headed wide as the visitors probed but no obvious way through former Saint Angus Gunn emerged. 

Adams attempted to beat Gunn from range on two occasions, much to the frustration of Ryan Fraser, but it was his buddy who opened the scoring.

A Armstrong had a tap-in from two yards out in the 70th minute after Grant Hanley hacked at a dangerous Walker-Peters cross in the six-yard box.

Under pressure, Norwich boss David Wagner responded by going four at the back and introducing another striker - and his team conspired to quickly end Southampton's joy.

Sargent latched onto a slipped pass by Jonathan Rowe and finished low to Bazunu's right to level the scores minutes later.

The atmosphere changed and Bazunu had to prevent a second at his near-post before Kenny McLean headed over a free chance from a set-piece.

A Armstrong also headed over as Saints entered seven minutes of added time, before firing a second chance into the hands of Gunn. 

Norwich City: Gunn; Stacey, Hanley (Idah, 73), Sainz (Hernandez, 84), McCallum, Sara, McLean, Duffy, Nunez, Rowe, Hwang (Sargent, 66).

Unused subs: Long, Gibson, Gibbs, Fassnacht, Placheta, Batth.

Booked: Stacey, McCallum, Sara.

Saints: Bazunu; Stephens, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek (Adams, h-t), Manning; Downes (Charles, 83), Aribo (Smallbone, 83), S Armstrong (Alcaraz, 90); Walker-Peters, Edozie (Fraser, 27), A Armstrong.

Unused subs: Lumley, Mara, Amo-Ameyaw, Dibling.

Referee: Darren England.