Southampton are leading Norwich City 1-0 in their Premier League clash at St Mary's, courtesy of Graziano Pelle's strike on the stroke of half time.

Maya Yoshida of Southampton is closed down by Cameron Jerome of Norwich City during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Norwich City at St Mary's Stadium on August 30, 2015 © Getty Images

James Ward-Prowse threatened early on when his free kick in the first minute dipped over the wall and was met by a sprawling stop from John Ruddy.

Just two minutes later the hosts had another dangerous chance, Jose Fonte latching onto a Dusan Tadic corner and sidefooting a volley over the bar.

The action continued to flow as, nine minutes in, Sebastien Bassong managed to get ahead of Pelle during a corner and forcing the Italian to head just wide.

Against the run of play, Norwich came within a whisker of opening the scoring when Graham Dorrans's ball over the top caught the Southampton defence napping, but Cameron Jerome hesitated for too long and meekly headed wide.

Southampton's Italian striker Graziano Pelle (R) tries an unsuccessful overhead shot during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Norwich City at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on August 30, 2015 © Getty Images

The Canaries found themselves down to ten men just after the half-hour mark when Steven Whittaker earned two yellow cards in quick succession, the second for a tug on Tadic's shirt.

Just when it seemed like it would be all square at the break, Sadio Mane expertly squared the ball up for Pelle, who beat Ruddy with a clinical shot into the right side of the net in the second minute of first-half injury time.