Sourced from Daily Echo article
Burnley 1-0 Southampton: Saints suffer fourth straight Premier League loss
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Saints are without a Premier League point for almost a month after a 1-0 defeat at Burnley condemned them to a fourth straight top flight loss.
Claude Puel’s side last tasted victory in the league when they beat Bournemouth on December 18, but have since slumped into a horrible run of form despite their EFL Cup heroics against Liverpool.
It was a familiar story at Burnley as a lack of cutting edge meant they were unable to capitalise on their periods of dominance before they conceded an unfortunate goal as Joey Barton’s deflected free kick beat Fraser Forster and meant they returned from Turf Moor empty handed.
Saints had the first sniff after four minutes as Ryan Bertrand fed in a low cross from the left. Shane Long just got in front of Stephen Ward to flick it towards goal, but the Burnley defender was in close enough attention to block.
Dusan Tadic whipped in a dangerous cross from the other side just minutes later, with Nathan Redmond in the area trying to guide a header on target, but again Burnley were able to deflect it behind.
Burnley first managed any pressure on the Saints backline on 13 minutes, but it fizzled out as Ben Mee looped a header wide from Steven Defour’s corner.
The game settled into a pattern that made it more of a war of attrition than a thrilling footballing spectacle.
It was always likely to be that way with Burnley making the most of what they have with an uncompromising style that made them hard to break down but also meant they were not going to take undue risks pushing forward.
Saints knew they had to respond by matching the work rate and being tough to break down. They were also not afraid to play the ball in behind early with Long trying to turn the defence as a willing runner.
Maya Yoshida became the first player in the book on 24 minutes for a handball on the halfway line which prevent Andre Gray from the chance of a quick break.
Saints were asking a question of referee Paul Tierney when Oriol Romeu went down holding his face after being caught by the flailing arm of Ashley Barnes but he awarded a free kick and nothing more.
Mee tried his luck with a shot on the turn as a headed clearance dropped to him just outside the area on the half hour mark. It was well struck but went wide.
Tadic had the best chance up until that point four minutes later as he had time and space to measure his shot as the ball reached him at the far post. He fired low across goal hoping for the bottom corner but directed it wide.
The Serbian had the chance for another effort from a similar position, but this time on the volley, on 39 minutes. His clearly struck effort might looked to have been creeping narrowly beyond the far corner but Mee was beyond keeper Tom Heaton and able to clear to make sure.
Tadic had a shot blocked after James Ward-Prowse’s header which was easy for Heaton as Saints just started to increase the pressure before half time.
However, they weren’t able to make it pay and a fairly flat first period ended with the game goalless.
The first meaningful action of the second half saw Dean Marney booked for a foul on Tadic.
Jeff Hendrick tried to make something happen for Burnley with a shot from 25 yards but it never came close to troubling Fraser Forster.
The Saints keeper did have to make his first save of the game on 55 minutes as Steven Defour whipped a central free kick from 25 yards on target but it was a relatively comfortable stop for Forster.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg drove in a shot from the edge of the box as Saints pressed forward but Mee was again on hand on intercept it.
Redmond had half a chance as he was found with a left wing cross but it took a slightly awkward bounce in front of him and he steered his shot from just inside the area wide of the target.
Dean Marney forced Forster into a slightly more pressing save on 64 minutes with a drilled low effort from 20 yards but the Saints stopper got down smartly to his right to make the stop.
There were few arguments when Romeu went in the book after scything down Defour as he tried to break forward.
Saints a first change on 67 minutes with Jay Rodriguez replacing Tadic. The former Burnley man went through the middle with Redmond and Long playing slightly withdrawn roles either side of him.
Long had a decent chance coming in from the left to meet a right wing cross by Cedric Soares but he could only head into the side netting.
Burnley made a double switch with Joey Barton and Sam Vokes coming on for Marney and Defour.
Saints created a bit of panic in the Clarets backline from a free kick but in the end it was hacked clear.
There was a horrible moment for Saints on 78 minutes as they fell behind.
Referee Tierney awarded Burnley a central free kick 25 yards out for what he saw as a foul by Romeu on Boyd.
Barton stepped up just minutes after coming on and drilled in a low shot that took a significant deflection off of the wall to leave Forster wrong footed and give Burnley the lead.
Puel responded immediately with Josh Sims coming on for Redmond.
Bertrand tried to bring his side back into it with an effort from distance but Heaton got his body behind it to save.
Burnley made a defensive change with three minutes remaining as they looked to hold on with James Tarkowski replacing Gray.
Virgil van Dijk got his head on an inswinging corner from Ward-Prowse but could only direct it straight at Heaton.
The Burnley stopper made a superb double save late on, firstly to deny Rodriguez with a low shot from outside the area and then to recover quickly to just keep out the follow-up from Sims at the near post and that proved to be enough to secure the win.
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