Southampton 3 v 1 Burnley (FA Premier League)
The Clarets arrived on the south for another game in front of the Sky Sports camera’s at the St Mary’s stadium, as Sean Dyche’s men took on Southampton and two former strikers in Charlie Austin and Jay Rodriguez.
It was Southampton who started the stronger of the two teams and Tom Heaton had to make an unbelievable save from Charlie Austin on five minutes. Targett’s excellent cross from the left was headed down firmly by Austin on the six-yard line and Heaten showed brilliant reactions to plunge to his left and then outstanding strength of wrist to get the ball round the post. “Save of the Season”
Burnley’s first real effort of the half came on twenty minutes as Sam Vokes hit a volley from the edge of the area from a Ward cross but his effort went wide of Forsters post.
On thirty-one minutes, Southampton turned a back pass into a great attack on the Burnley goal, as Forster’s long kick up field beat left-back Ward and put Tadic through on goal, but Heaton stood tall and made another excellent save.
Burnley should have been awarded a penalty as Gudmundsson tried to run through a group of Southampton defenders and was sent flying by Van Dijk. I don’t think he had the ball under control but I’m not sure that matters.
Southampton went close in the final minute of the half, when Redmond twists Ward one way and then the other before hitting a shot goal. Heaton can’t hold it and it went towards the far post where the stretching Austin put the ball wide to make it 0-0 at half-time.
Burnley thad the first real effort of the second half, when Heaton’s long free-kick bounces dangerously in the Southampton area and Vokes is in the process of shooting on the turn when Austin comes on the blindside to make a vital interception and concede a corner.
Southampton took the lead on fifty-two minutes when a Tadic corner to the back post was headed back across the six yared box and former Burnley striker Charlie Austin tapped the ball past Tom Heaton from two yards, to make it 1-0.
The Saints extended their lead on the hour when another Tadic corner was this time headed clear by the Clarets defence to the edge of the area, but Nathan Redmond’s first time shot left Heaton no chance low to his left to make it 2-0.
Southampton have another effort at goal as George Boyd slips inside the area, which allowed Davis to get a shot at goal, but his effort was well blocked by Ben Mee.
Charlie Austin added his second and Southampton’s third on Sixty-six minutes from the penatly spot, after McQueen was tripped in the area by Johan Gudmundsson, which made it 3-0 to Southampton.
On seventy-two minutes, Sam Vokes pulled one back for the clarets from the penalty spot after tadic had stopped Ben Mee getting onto the end of a Michael Kightly corner.
The Saints should have extended their on eighty-four minutes , after a lung-busting run from Davis found Martina on the right of the box. However his cross was diverted back to Davis, who drilled a low shot just wide of the far post.
Southampton should have extended their lead on eighty-seven minutes, when following yet another Tadic corner fonte out jumped the Burnley defence only to see his header go just wide of Heaton’s left-hand post.
On eighty-nine minutes, the ball found Ward-Prowse’s and his deliberate curling shot was well saved by Tom Heaton as he tipped the ball around the post for another corner.
A minute later, following an excellent run down the saints left by McQueen his cross found former Clarets Jay Rodriguez unmarked at the back post six yards out by his right footed effort was saved by Tom Heaton, to make the full time score 3-1.
Speaking after the game manager Sean Dyche said, “We know they are a good side on a great run of results, its very difficult when you come away to these places.
I am stunned by the decisions in the first-half in fact i would say amazed that the penalty wasn’t given for the foul on Gudmundsson. However I was even more amazed at the one that was given as there was very little contact on Ben Mee.
Despite the decision, I must make it clear Southampton are a really good side and they shifted the ball around well and got in between the lines. However they made it a really tough afternoon for us.
We know we have things to address away from home and we know we need to be more brave on the ball. However it thought young Aiden O’Neill has had half a Premier League game and I am really pleased as he did very well.
Match Details
Southampton – Forster, Martina, Fonte, Van Dijk, Targett, Romeu, Clasie, Davis, Tadic, Austin, Redmond (Subs) Yoshida, Long, Rodriguez, McCarthy, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, McQueen
Burnley – Heaton, Lowton, Ward, Keane, Mee, Gudmundsson, Marney, Defour, Hendrick, Boyd, Vokes (Subs) Robinson, Arfield, Bamford, Flanagan, Kightly, O’Neill, Tarkowski
Goals – (Southampton) Austin (52,66p) Redmond (60) (Burnley) Vokes (72p)
Attendance – 29,040
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