Southampton were once again their own worst enemy this afternoon as they recorded their second away defeat in a week. A disastrous 11 minutes saw the Saints being 3-0 down, with the first half being dominated by the Clarets. The second half was a different story with the Saints coming out looking a different side and showed tremendous spirit. Goals from Rudi Skacel and Andrew Surman made it an exciting and tense end at Turf Moor.
The Saints, similarly to Palace away on Monday night, started as if they were still in the changing room. It only took two minutes for the home side to stamp their authority on the game when Martin Paterson rattled Kelvin Davis` bar after brushing past Rudi Skacel.
Just two minutes later Burnley did make it 1-0 when Chris Perry diverted Wade Elliott`s strike past Kelvin Davis with an unfortunate deflection.
Things went from bad to worse two minutes later when Burnley made it 2-0. A corner was delivered and arguably Southampton`s player of season, Kelvin Davis spilled the ball only to see the Icelandic Joey Gudjonsson head home from one yard.
The Saints could not get the ball out of their half, with the home side pinning them back, and the acoustics of Turf Moor was blowing the ball towards the goal mouth. On 11 minutes, Joey Gudjonsson made his afternoon better with a measured strike, securing Burnley`s 3 goals in 7 minutes.
Burnley continued to dominate, and it was only until the 30th minute when the Saints got their first corner. Manager Jan Poortvliet made a tactical decision nine minutes before half time and Morgan Schneiderlin was replaced by defender Alex Pearce.
Referee Phil Dowd brought the eventful first half to a close, and the Saints look dejected with their heads down. The Southampton youngsters are lucky to go in only three goals down.
The Saints came out looking a completely different side. The youngsters must have had an earful from manager Jan Poortvliet in the changing room.
Four minutes after the re-start, Andrew Surman`s beautiful 20 yard strike started the Southampton comeback. This installed confidence within the young side, and the South coast side started to play their sharp football in difficult conditions.
With half an hour to go, the Saints make a real game of it when 22 year old Andrew Surman, drove into the Burnley box and slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner. The tide was turning at Turf Moor and the memories of Deepdale were being pictured by the Southampton supporters.
The Saints came close with efforts from David McGoldrick and Bradley Wright-Phillips. At the other end, Kelvin Davis continued his good form of late, spectacularly denying Stephen Thompson on 76 minutes.
Jan Poortvliet can take pride in his young side, after they showed tremendous spirit, standing toe to toe with a powerful Burnley side. After a horrendous first half, the Saints re-grouped and gave it a real go, showing great pride, and were unlucky not to equalize – if only Wright-Phillips could have got his feet sorted out to fire home with three minutes to go.
Burnley hung on and remain in fourth position, while Saints are in a real relegation dog fight and remain just four points off 22nd place.
Burnley team:
Jensen, Alexander, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Elliott, Gudjonsson, McCann, Eagles (Mahon 90), Paterson (Akinbiyi 90), Blake (Thompson 64).
Subs Not Used: Penny, MacDonald.
Saints team:
Davis, James (Robertson 84), Perry, Cork, Skacel, Surman, Schneiderlin (Pearce 35), Lallana, Euell, McGoldrick, Wright-Phillips.
Subs Not Used: Forecast, Wotton, Gasmi.