Southampton made one change with Samuel Edozie replacing Cameron Bragg, his first start for the club in a league game since April 2024, while Norwich had Ruairi McConville back in their defence after missing two games with a knee injury.
The Canaries – with seven away victories behind them this season – looked the more confident side in the early stages and Anis Ben Slimane fired in a powerful effort which brought a good save from Daniel Peretz.
Saints hit back with James Bree forcing Vladan Kovacevic into action and then having a goal disallowed as Edozie was adjudged offside.
They did not have to wait long to open the scoring, though, as moments later Azaz burst into the box between two defenders after Cyle Larin flicked on a throw-in and kept his composure to lift the ball over Kovacevic to make it 1-0.
Norwich sent on Danish midfielder Pelle Mattsson for the second half but it was skipper McLean, scorer of some spectacular goals this season including a free-kick against Preston on Saturday, who breathed life into the visitors with a dipping shot which Peretz dived to his right to save.
And the Southampton keeper excelled again by blocking Fisher’s follow-up effort with his body after he had failed to hold Ali Ahmed’s initial strike as Norwich continued to press on a ground where they have not won a league game since 2008.
They hit the top of the crossbar in stoppage time when Liam Gibbs’ cross deflected off the boot of defender Jack Stephens and were frustrated again just before the whistle by the impressive Peretz, who kept out McConville’s header as Saints just about hung on.
