Mark Bunn has earned an extended chance to impress and a fifth clean sheet against the Saints - in 20 appearances for the Canaries this campaign - is a superb return.

Mark Bunn’s main problem in the darker moments of Norwich City’s season appears to be that he is not John Ruddy.

City’s back-up keeper has been unfavourably compared to a man whose consistent displays earned him a deserved elevation to the England senior set-up and but for a cruel hand injury would have seen him included in Roy Hodgson’s plans for last summer’s European Championship finals. Injury has again intervened to the detriment of his club career with a serious thigh problem wrecking his second season in the top flight.

Bunn has earned an extended chance to impress and a fifth clean sheet against the Saints – in 20 appearances for the Canaries this campaign – is a superb return.

Bunn’s agility kept Southampton at bay when the visitors’ fluid movement routinely found a path through City’s rearguard.

A near post block denied Adam Lallana, before two minutes later his anticipation and athleticism denied the Saints’ midfielder with a tip over from the edge of his area.

He arguably bettered that stop when confronted by the overlapping Gaston Ramirez in the 28th minute as he extended his full frame to parry an attempted chip.

The 28-year-old was also secure from range – Rodriguez’s thumping hit on the hour mark was blocked and Bunn deserved a measure of good fortune when Rickie Lambert skied the rebound.