Bottom club Norwich City endured a miserable return to Premier League action when they were well beaten by Southampton at Carrow Road on Friday.
Saints attacker Danny Ings curled in his 16th goal of the season shortly after half-time, before Stuart Armstrong doubled their lead five minutes later. Nathan Redmond sealed a comprehensive win for Southampton with 11 minutes remaining.
Norwich now have eight matches to claw back a six-point deficit on 17th-placed Watford above the relegation zone.
The Saints move up into 13th place, and have opened up a 10-point gap on the bottom three.
After a goalless first half, Southampton needed just four minutes of the second period to deservedly pull ahead.
Norwich failed to deal with a throw-in on the left and Armstrong prodded the ball to Ings, who sent a lovely shot past goalkeeper Tim Krul into the top right-hand corner.
The roles reversed in the 54th minute as Saints extended their advantage. Ings played into Armstrong and the Scotland international showed good control and composure before firing a low shot past Krul from the edge of the box.
It was 3-0 in the 79th minute when Nathan Redmond found the bottom corner with a low left foot shot after good work from Ings and Michael Obafemi.
