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Post by Football News on Dec 13, 2014 17:08:08 GMT
Burnley 1-0 Southampton
Ashley Barnes 73'This has been a season of unusual occurrences for Southampton. Sitting second in the league, as they did a few weeks ago, was strange enough. Missing a penalty is virtually unprecedented but, after 29 successive top-flight spot-kicks were converted, Dusan Tadic missed from 12 yards. And, to borrow from cliche, Southampton certainly did pay a penalty. Ashley Barnes struck to condemn Ronald Koeman’s side to a fourth successive defeat and elevate a buoyant Burnley out of the relegation zone. Until recently, Burnley victories had a rarity value too, but this was their third in six games. Relentless running is starting to bring a reward and their pressing game led directly to the winner. The effervescent Danny Ings charged down Nathaniel Clyne’s clearance, the ball broke to Barnes and, with Fraser Forster unaccountably diving the wrong way, the striker’s shot found the back of the net. If one goalkeeper was found wanting, another joined the select band to stop Southampton penalties in the Premier League. Mark Crossley is its most famous member, denying Matt Le Tissier his 100% record in 1993. Such are the standards that Le Tissier, James Beattie and Rickie Lambert have set, however, that a spot-kick feels a guarantee of a goal for Saints. Not this time, however, as Tom Heaton denied Tadic in the moment the momentum swung Burnley’s way. Nevertheless, they were deserving winners. While Clyne grazed the post with a ferocious late shot, Burnley performed with the greater cohesion from the off. They are growing into the division. There is an organic element to Southampton, too. Their willingness to trust in youth has been a constant. Koeman showed a similar boldness to his predecessors by granting the 18-year-old Jake Hesketh a first start in his injury-hit midfield. If the newcomer, who idolises Andrés Iniesta, showed composure on the ball, his most notable contribution could be attributed to youthful exuberance. Some in the Turf Moor crowd called for a red card when Hesketh slid in on Heaton as the goalkeeper collected Sadio Mané’s deflected cross. The referee, Mark Clattenburg, compromised by cautioning the teenager. Hesketh himself was hurt in a shuddering collision with Michael Keane, limiting his full bow to an eventful half-hour that contained illustrations of his promise. The initial goal threat, however, was on one of the few players to have slipped through Southampton’s grasp. Ings was released as a schoolboy and took the circuitous route to the Premier League via Dorchester and Bournemouth. The Burnley top scorer wriggled away from the Southampton centre-backs before unleashing a shot that beat the diving Forster and thudded into the advertising hoardings. It formed part of the usual bright Burnley start, which almost brought a goal in unlikely circumstances. Clyne tried to chest Kieran Trippier’s cross back to Forster, did not cushion it enough and drew a sharp save from his goalkeeper, who then had to prevent Barnes from converting the rebound. Thereafter, Burnley’s right-sided combination of Trippier and George Boyd proved particularly menacing. Southampton had been muted until Tadic teed up Mané, who spooned a shot over. Then Ryan Bertrand, who had been subjected to one of his tougher games for Southampton by Boyd, engineered a role reversal. He was jinking past Burnley’s record signing when Boyd’s outstretched leg brought him down. Heaton came to Burnley’s rescue, tipping Tadic’s spot-kick past the post. It was an historic moment and the turning point. Guardian
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