Half-Time Report: Graziano Pelle opens Southampton scoring on stroke of half time

Southampton are leading Norwich City 1-0 in their Premier League clash at St Mary's, courtesy of Graziano Pelle's strike on the stroke of half time.

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James Ward-Prowse threatened early on when his free kick in the first minute dipped over the wall and was met by a sprawling stop from John Ruddy.

Just two minutes later the hosts had another dangerous chance, Jose Fonte latching onto a Dusan Tadic corner and sidefooting a volley over the bar.

The action continued to flow as, nine minutes in, Sebastien Bassong managed to get ahead of Pelle during a corner and forcing the Italian to head just wide.

Against the run of play, Norwich came within a whisker of opening the scoring when Graham Dorrans's ball over the top caught the Southampton defence napping, but Cameron Jerome hesitated for too long and meekly headed wide.

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The Canaries found themselves down to ten men just after the half-hour mark when Steven Whittaker earned two yellow cards in quick succession, the second for a tug on Tadic's shirt.

Just when it seemed like it would be all square at the break, Sadio Mane expertly squared the ball up for Pelle, who beat Ruddy with a clinical shot into the right side of the net in the second minute of first-half injury time.