Lee Barnard struck his first and second goals for Saints in a deserved 2-0 win at Carrow Road.

Two earlier games this season between these sides resulted in 2-2 draws at St. Mary's, but this match took a bit of time to warm up before Saints inflicted the damage on the Canaries for their first away success in the league this calendar year.

Barnard, the January transfer addition from Southend United celebrated his eighteenth goal of the campaign in the first half as he followed in with a header from Rickie Lambert's well struck free-kick. His second came inside the last quarter of an hour's play as he collected fellow new recruit Jason Puncheon's pass to wrap up the win.

In-between his strikes, Norwich had Darel Russell sent off for a high challenge on Morgan Schneiderlin, but Saints had controlled large portions of the match even before the dismissal of the Canaries midfielder.

Norwich: Forster, Nelson (McNamee 68), R. Martin, Doherty, Rose, Lappin (Hughes 83), Smith, Russell, Hoolahan, C. Martin, Holt. Subs (not used): Rudd, Gill, Spillane, McVeigh, Johnson.

Saints: Davis, Otsemobor, Jaidi, Fonte, Harding, Hammond, Puncheon, Schneiderlin (Antonio 90), Lallana, Barnard, Lambert. Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Thomas, Wotton, Holmes, Seaborne, Papa Waigo.

Referee: Mr. R. Booth

Attendance: 25,103

City got things underway on a bright, mild day in Norfolk defending the Barclay End inside a packed out Carrow Road.

A competitive start to the game in all areas of the pitch made for few clear chances early on, with little to get the pulses racing in front of goal, but Saints appeared comfortable in possession throughout.

Jason Puncheon blasted inches wide from distance as the former Plymouth man showed that he was unafraid to test the water as he also stepped up for corner taking duty on either side.

The closest the hosts came in the opening exchanges was from Simon Lappin's free-kick which evaded everyone inside the Kelvin Davis' area, and then Saints started to gather momentum going forward.

Morgan Schneiderlin arrowed a low shot from Lambert's pass into the arms of 'keeper Fraser Forster, before Lambert got his first sight of goal blasted as he blasted over from Hammond's pass across the box.

In the twentieth minute, Dan Harding's cross in from the left saw Barnard attempt to force the ball home, but the ball then spilled out to Puncheon, who hit a fierce low strike narrowly wide of the target.

Barnard was then put in by Schneiderlin, but the striker saw his looping effort land on top of the net and then followed it up with a header from Puncheon's cross which the City stopper had to keep out with both hands.

Saints' dominance told just past the half hour mark when Rickie Lambert was brought down around 30 yards from goal by a strong challenge as he tried to lay the ball on to Hammond.

Lambert lined up the free-kick and was cruelly denied his 26th goal of the campaign as his shot crashed off the crossbar, but fortunately it landed in the path of strike partner Lee Barnard who forced home a header from inside the six yard box as he got his first goal for the Club on 32 minutes.

Barnard went close to doubling his tally five minutes after his first, as he connected to Schneiderlin's cross from the right, but the former Southend man couldn't quite force the ball on target.

Radhi Jaidi picked up the first booking of the game on 44 minutes for a handball, as Norwich made a late burst towards goal at the end of the half, but Saints remained in control going into the interval.

Half Time: Norwich 0-1 Saints

A lively start to the second period could have seen a goal from either side in the opening three minutes of the half as first, Norwich were denied by a firm one handed save by Davis from Nelson's powerful drive, which the Saints 'keeper kept out with a fantastic reflex save.

The visitors instantly went up the other end and nearly got their second as Barnard set Puncheon through the middle. The wide man got one on one with Forster but was denied by the outstretched arm of the Newcastle loanee 'keeper as the recent addition tried to go past the shot stopper.

On 51 Davis produced a save of even higher quality than his earlier one at the start of the half. Backpedalling from an earlier break, he got a hand to Korey Smith's powerful effort from 30 yards which he managed to push on to the crossbar, before the ball was cleared to safety by José Fonte.

Not long after Schneiderlin had required treatment for a knock, the Saints physio was back on the pitch as Dean Hammond and Korey Smith challenged for the ball, which temporarily grounded the Saints skipper, but he was deemed OK to carry on.

A flash point came on 63 minutes as the hosts were reduced to ten men. Darel Russell's high foot on Schneiderlin saw the Frenchman require the attention of the medical staff again which saw the Canaries midfielder dismissed by referee Russell Booth.

Paul Lambert withdrew defender Michael Nelson for Anthony McNamee in a bid to keep the Canaries' attacking balance, but Saints maintained their own pressure with Lallana going close to making it two in the 75th minute with a strong shot that clattered the right post, as he collected Jon Otsemobor's pass after a strong run from the Liverpudlian full back had ravaged the City backline.

Lallana was denied by the same upright moments later as he collected Lambert's knock back and drilled a low shot from the left which looked destined to find the back of the net smacked back off the post and into Forster's grasp.

Saints finally doubled their advantage on 77 minutes as Barnard celebrated his second of the game which owed much to Jason Puncheon's run and cross which picked out the front man from the right hand side. Barnard stroked home from ten yards out with the net virtually unguarded as Puncheon's ball across the area wreaked havoc.

Stephen Hughes replaced Lappin for the hosts as play entered the last ten minutes, during which time Saints picked up a further three bookings.

First, Hammond was cautioned for a tap on McNamee as the substitute ventured forward then Davis and Harding followed suit for fairly innocuous looking scuffles.

Grant Holt headed over on 85 but City continued to be frustrated in their attempts to win their twelfth successive game on home soil.

Six minutes of stoppage time were added on, a period which saw Chris Martin twice go close before also going into the book with Morgan Schneiderlin then replaced by Michail Antonio.

Full Time: Norwich 0-2 Saints