Norwich reacted cheekily to Southampton and their boss Tonda Eckert on social media, saying the Canaries’ winner was a “clear handball”.
A second-half brace from Jovon Makama gave the Canaries a crucial three points, back-to-back home wins, moving them within two points of safety (still in the relegation zone) and ending Southampton’s strong run (their second defeat in eight games).
However, the winning goal was controversial and the decision not to rule him out for handball left Southampton fuming.
Southampton had their chances though, Adam Armstrong missing a penalty in the first half, then Ryan Manning equalised.
The hand of Jov pic.twitter.com/uTjPPrCSTk
– Talk Norwich City (@TalkNorwichCity) December 13, 2025
@southamptonfc♬ Original sound – I Green Screen Things
https://t.co/h3Q7ZFxTgO pic.twitter.com/ui4z4T52Ki
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) December 13, 2025
According to Pink Un, Makama said: “A goal is a goal. It went in and I ran away and celebrated. So I can’t remember exactly how it went in. I think it (VAR) can stay away for now.”
“From the first day I came here, this was something I wanted to work on. Normally I never scored a lot of these goals, but I came here and I want to score goals. I want to have my presence in and around the penalty area. I should be good at that.”
“So I tried to be alert in and around the penalty area and ready to jump when the ball drops and I think the second goal was a good example of that.”
“It’s a good feeling that it’s all paying off and to go out there and get the three points for the boys is such a good feeling.”
Opportunity taken pic.twitter.com/YeOOGc52LK
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) December 13, 2025
I have to hand it to him… pic.twitter.com/yFcCvw1Fvj
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) December 13, 2025
Muzzle https://t.co/DWCnvNHV5k pic.twitter.com/sihVYPLn7C
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) December 13, 2025
Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert said Norwich’s winning goal was “pretty clear handball” and if VAR had done it the goal would have been ruled out, but he also didn’t want him to have to double up as a referee in the league.
He said, according to the Daily Echo: “I watched it on a very small screen on my phone, but on this replay it seems like a pretty clear handball.
“It’s always a big discussion, the VAR. If I started with this topic, the answer would be a little longer. I’m not a fan of decisions like this taking a long time.
“I think there are some decisions, especially when it comes to offside. If that’s a quick decision, I think it could actually help the game.
“But I’m also a big fan of referees making decisions and unfortunately that decision didn’t go in our favor today. Maybe it will be true in another game.”
Eckert praised Norwich for taking control of the game, with Southampton remaining scoreless after Makama’s second goal.
“I agree that we didn’t manage to create much towards the end of the game. I also think Norwich did very well today.” he said.
“Exchanging every single situation with a foul or simply putting the ball in the corner. There’s nothing to blame them for, it’s part of the game.”
“In these moments we definitely have to do better in the future, we should follow a game more in order to achieve more in the end.”
Philippe Clement said, according to Eastern Daily Press: “These are crucial moments. And funnily enough, we talked to the staff in the morning about Vlad and how one of his qualities is saving penalties. He’s really explosive. I might not talk about that in the future. Vlad has a lot of quality and he showed that again.”
On Leo Scienza’s free kick and the reaction to Ryan Manning’s equalizer: “It’s a massive moment in the game because when you’re behind Southampton you’re really good on the ball, with a lot of composure and Premier League experience. But it really was a team effort. I think for every player who was on the pitch you can take one or two moments or more from this game that were crucial to the win.”
“That resilience has been a key point that I’ve talked about almost every day for the last three weeks. I told them before this game.”
“Also, I want to stop talking about it once I feel like it’s in the group now so I don’t have to push that button. I can push other buttons for the team.”
“It’s also great to see the reaction from the fans, when the team does that, instead of shaking and sinking, the team can now move on.”
“We know that there is never a linear development with the team. But this was the best game for me so far, against a really good opponent who is really strong on the ball, but we kept them away from our goal.”
“Tactically it was a really good game for me, very disciplined, doing the right things together, which made it difficult for Southampton.
“Defensively, tactically well and also offensively, creating some really good opportunities and I think there is still a lot to do to gain more composure in and around the opposition penalty area, but with two really good goals and there could have been more.”
Philippe’s thoughts on the big three points pic.twitter.com/0QgaoVVLrr
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) December 13, 2025
Here’s how Twitter users reacted after Norwich gave Southampton a cheeky reply, saying the Canaries’ winner was “clear handball”…
@canarieschatt: This will upset some people
@Schmoo1408: Admitting that you and your player are cheaters… #awesome
@secondtierpod: Good shit here.
@ChrisCollis19: Is that it? A professional football club that encourages and rewards cheating? Of course, anyone in his situation would score the goal, but people would keep quiet about it. These things eventually come back to bite you
@mwmiller3471: And people in the Southampton forum still think it’s better not to have VAR, even if it would be beneficial today.
@ncfc_gav: Accidental handball was always legal – even if it was the last touch of a goal situation. God knows what the official rules are now, but in the PL with VAR it is now called a foul, regardless of intent. There are many examples of this from the present and past, so nothing new here
@jjt2114: I hate Norwich but fair play admin
@AndJohnson4all: I drink shithousery like a good whiskey!!! Good admin!!!!
@cdog10ncfc: Even the admin is part of the revival… I’m happy to see that
@MillwallDan85: I love this kind of football banter. Good job, Norwich administrator. (Don’t do it to us when you beat us at The Den, please)
@sleedec28: OK, that’s actually pretty funny. You were much better today, that’s football. Undoubtedly they will move up the table as the season progresses. We have to do a lot better in the game against Coventry!!
