Dean Ashton ended his goal-drought with a stylish hat-trick as Norwich overcame managerless Southampton to record back-to-back victories for only the second time this season.

The powerful striker has endured a nightmare spell in front on goal in recent weeks and failed to score in his previous 10 games.

But he finally reproduced the form which has earned him admiring glances from a clutch of Premiership managers, his treble leaving Saints with just one win from seven games.

Caretaker manager Dave Bassett, who is hoping to secure the job on a permanent basis next week, saw Djamel Belmadi grab a ninth-minute opener.

But Ashton followed his 30th-minute equaliser with another header six minutes after the restart, and then added a fine volley for his hat-trick goal after 66 minutes.

Saints began brightly and after just three minutes Danny Higginbotham hit a terrific 20-yard strike which forced keeper Robert Green to make a fine parried save.

The opportunity should have served as a wake-up call for Norwich but they were caught napping again six minutes later as Southampton opened the scoring.

David Prutton raced down the right flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the box, where Belmadi was on hand to fire home from 12 yards and claim his third goal of the season.

The goal spurred the Canaries into life, though, and two minutes later they came close to drawing level.

Youssef Safri was the architect, producing a wicked cross which Ashton arrived to meet, but the big striker could only plant a wayward header over the bar.

On 20 minutes, Gary Doherty met Darren Huckerby's corner from the left, and his firm 12-yard header forced Saints keeper Antti Niemi into a fine reflex save.

Huckerby and Andy Hughes both hit efforts narrowly wide before the Canaries claimed a deserved leveller on the half-hour mark.

Safri played a quick free-kick to Huckerby and his cross from the left flank found Ashton on hand to nod the ball past Niemi to finally end his goal drought.

Two minutes later, Ashton almost netted again when Niemi caught his header following a cross from Safri.

There was precious little respite for Southampton during the opening half but teenage sensation Theo Walcott served notice of his threat after 40 minutes when he hit a 30-yard strike which warmed Green's hands.

The Canaries were dealt a severe injury blow shortly before the break when Hughes was forced off with a serious injury and replaced by Dickson Etuhu.

But the switch did nothing to upset Norwich's rhythm as they stole ahead six minutes after the break.

The impressive Safri crossed the right flank and Ashton planted a firm header past Niemi for his ninth goal of the season.

Despite Norwich's dominance, Southampton continued to press and Belmadi's powerful 25-yard strike on the hour mark required Adam Drury to make a vital block.

Two minutes later, the pendulum swung back towards Norwich and Ashton as the Canaries frontman looked a certainty to complete his hat-trick after hitting a goalbound shot from 12 yards.

But Niemi was on hand to make a fine save, although he powerless to stop Ashton from netting his third goal of the game after 66 minutes.

Ashton volleyed home another Safri cross from six yards to give him his 10th goal of the season and secure an impressive win for Norwich.

Teams:

Norwich Green, Wright, Fleming, Doherty, Drury, Hughes (Etuhu 43), Safri, Robinson, Huckerby (Charlton 90), Ashton, McVeigh (McKenzie 74).

Subs Not Used: Ward, Henderson.

Goals: Ashton 30, 51, 66.

Southampton Niemi, Cranie, Kenton, Powell, Higginbotham, Belmadi (Ormerod 67), Prutton, Oakley, McCann, Walcott (Best 55), Jones (Fuller 54).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Kosowski.

Booked: Cranie, Powell, Higginbotham.

Goals: Belmadi 9.

Att: 24,836

Ref: T Bates (Staffordshire).