Match ends, Southampton 2, Burnley 0.
SouthamptonSouthampton2BurnleyBurnley0
- Southampton keep pressure on Premier League top four
- Goalkeeper Fraser Forster injures knee and shoulder
- Striker Shane Long scores third league goal of season
- Burnley remain in the relegation zone
Southampton boosted their hopes of securing a Champions League place with victory over struggling Burnley.
Home goalkeeper Fraser Forster - called up to the England squad this week - was taken off on a stretcher early on with injuries to his knee and shoulder.
Shane Long stroked in the opener for the home side from close range, before Graziano Pelle rattled the crossbar.
Substitute keeper Kelvin Davis made saves from Sam Vokes and Danny Ings, before Jason Shackell's own goal.
The Saints were expected to struggle this season after a summer of upheaval at St Mary's, but manager Ronald Koeman has galvanised the side, leading them to an impressive campaign.
With eight games left, they remain in contention to finish in the top four and are likely to better last season's eighth-place Premier League finish.
They are currently sixth, with the two sides immediately above them - Liverpool and Manchester United - meeting at Anfield on Sunday.
Both sides at St Mary's looked intent on bringing the ball down to play neat football - and, despite being in relegation trouble, the Clarets often troubled the Southampton backline.
Vokes and Ings were a dangerous presence throughout, but were thwarted by 38-year-old Davis who came on after Forster was injured clearing the ball.
Striker Long diverted home Nathaniel Clyne's driven shot to open the scoring eight minutes before half-time.
Burnley captain Shackell then inadvertently knocked the ball into his own net from Ryan Bertrand's cross after 58 minutes to make it 2-0.
Southampton have the league's tightest defence, having only 21 goals in 30 games, and they held firm to keep the pressure on the sides above them.
Burnley's undoing this season has been their form away from Turf Moor - they have now up just eight points in 15 games on their travels.
Unable to follow up last weekend's superb victory over champions Manchester City, they remain 18th in the table, with 19th-placed QPR at home to Everton on Sunday.
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman:
"Kelvin Davis is a very experienced goalkeeper.
"He was looking very comfortable and confident and made two great saves. The Danny Ings shot was a great save at a very important moment.
"It is difficult because it was a long time ago that he played. The positive thing is that he is an experienced goalkeeper.
"He wasn't nervous to come in, he looked comfortable and that is important for the defenders and the team organisation."
Burnley boss Sean Dyche:
"I thought we had four key chances, certainly three, and we didn't take them.
"They were good saves from the keeper but I played with Kelvin a long time ago and they are saves a keeper of his calibre was expected to make.
"I was disappointed in the finishing because at half-time you're scratching your head at how we are 1-0 down."
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23ForsterSubstituted forDavisat 14'minutes
- 2Clyne
- 6José Fonte
- 17Alderweireld
- 21Bertrand
- 8Davis
- 4Schneiderlin
- 7Long
- 10Mané
- 11TadicSubstituted forWanyamaat 45'minutes
- 19Pellè
Substitutes
- 1Davis
- 3Yoshida
- 5Gardos
- 12Wanyama
- 15Djuricic
- 16Ward-Prowse
- 22Elia
Burnley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Heaton
- 2Trippier
- 4Duff
- 5Shackell
- 6Mee
- 21Boyd
- 37Arfield
- 14Jones
- 30BarnesSubstituted forWallaceat 82'minutes
- 9VokesSubstituted forJutkiewiczat 74'minutes
- 10IngsSubstituted forSordellat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Wallace
- 11Kightly
- 17Sordell
- 18Reid
- 19Jutkiewicz
- 22Gilks
- 25Keane
- Referee:
- Roger East
- Attendance:
- 30,864
Match Stats
Home TeamSouthamptonAway TeamBurnley
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home10
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southampton 2, Burnley 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ross Wallace (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Post update
Foul by Toby Alderweireld (Southampton).
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Lukas Jutkiewicz (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Offside, Southampton. Shane Long tries a through ball, but Graziano Pellè is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lukas Jutkiewicz (Burnley) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ross Wallace.
Substitution
Substitution, Burnley. Marvin Sordell replaces Danny Ings.
Post update
Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Michael Duff (Burnley).
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Attempt blocked. Ross Wallace (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Arfield.
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Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lukas Jutkiewicz (Burnley).
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Attempt missed. Graziano Pellè (Southampton) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Shane Long with a cross.
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Graziano Pellè (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Michael Duff (Burnley).
Substitution
Substitution, Burnley. Ross Wallace replaces Ashley Barnes.
Post update
Attempt missed. Scott Arfield (Burnley) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by George Boyd.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jason Shackell (Burnley) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kieran Trippier with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Foul by Jose Fonte (Southampton).
