Norwich City suffered a 1-0 defeat to Southampton at Carrow Road on Wednesday evening as Kuryu Matsuki’s second-half goal proved decisive.
The sides went into the break goalless, with the Canaries creating a number of chances but unable to beat Southampton goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.
Daniel Grimshaw started in place of the concussed Vladan Kovačević, making his first league start of the season.
The home side came close to finding the opener after four minutes as Anis Ben Slimane found Oscar Schwartau on the left and the winger drove into the box before firing narrowly over the top-right corner.
Southampton threatened ten minutes later when James Ward-Prowse stepped up to take a free-kick from the left side of the box, but his effort went wide of Grimshaw’s right post.
Norwich continued to push for the breakthrough, with Mathias Kvistgaarden coming closest when his close-range header was kept out by Peretz.
With ten minutes of the first half remaining, Andre Brooks found Saturday’s goalscorer Jacob Wright in the centre of the box. Wright’s effort was on target but was dealt with by Peretz.
Grimshaw was called into action in the third minute of additional time, producing a superb double save to keep the scores level.
He first denied Manning’s effort from outside the box before reacting quickly to block Samuel Edozie’s right-footed shot after Jack Stephens had headed the ball into his path.
The visitors made two changes at half-time, with Welington and James Bree replacing Ryan Manning and Zach Abbott.
Southampton then broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second half. After Grimshaw had made the initial save, Matsuki converted from close range into the bottom-left corner to give the visitors the lead.
Philippe Clement's side came close to an equaliser when Ruairi McConville found José Córdoba, whose goal-bound header was blocked on the line by former Canary-loanee Lewis Dobbin.
City continued to dig in, in search of a response. Brooks squared the ball to Ben Chrisene, who struck towards goal but narrowly sent the ball wide of the post.
Anthony Musaba was introduced in the 72nd minute and was quickly involved in the action. Three minutes after entering the pitch, he collected the ball on the left and drove into the box before testing Peretz with a low shot.
Norwich continued to push in the closing stages, but City were unable to find an equaliser.
Norwich City: Grimshaw, Stacey, McConville, Córdoba, Chrisene, Mattsson (C), Wright (Field 76), Brooks (Crnac 72), Slimane (Maghoma 61), Schwartau (Musaba 72), Kvistgaarden (Makama 61)
Subs not used: Ansen, Darling, Mahovo, Yongwa
Bookings: Wright (48), Field (77)
Southampton: Peretz, Abbott (Bree 46), Stephens (C), Schlotterbeck, Manning (Welington 46), Ward-Prowse, Downes (Jander 22), Matsuki, Azaz, Edozie (Larin 70), Dobbin (Mubama 82)
Subs not used: Long, Wood, Fellows, Scienza
Goals: Matsuki (54)
Bookings: Manning (15), Abbott (26)
Half-time: 0-0
Full-time: 0-1
Venue: Carrow Road
Referee: Stephen Martin
Attendance: 25,633 (1,184 away)