Southampton march on with 2-0 Burnley win but Forster is carried off
Southampton 2 - 0 Burnley
Shane Long 37
Jason Shackell 58 o.g. Shane Long puts Southampton 1-0 up against Burnley in the Premier League match at St Mary's stadium
Kelvin Davis has waited 14 months since his last Southampton appearance, but called upon as an early replacement for the injured Fraser Forster – who will now almost certainly be forced to withdraw from Roy Hodgson’s England squad – the 38-year-old made a contribution that could yet prove significant to the outcome of his side’s season.
Forster was stretchered off with his left leg in a splint after slipping awkwardly making a routine, 10th-minute clearance under pressure from Sam Vokes. The keeper has been outstanding this season and his departure was clearly a setback for a Southampton side anxious to register only their second win in six games and revive their fading hopes of forcing their way into the top four.
Davis, though, proved a more than capable replacement, apparently unaffected by his lack of match action and producing a number of fine saves – full-length stops from Vokes and Danny Ings were particularly eye-catching – to deflate Burnley and lay the foundation for a victory secured through Shane Long’s first-half effort and Jason Shackell’s unfortunate 58th minute own-goal.
Anything less than victory would have been an enormous blow to Ronald Koeman’s side. Instead, they will look forward to their remaining games with renewed confidence.
Having named just two keepers in his senior squad for Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Lithuania and the friendly with Italy the following Tuesday, Hodgson must now decide on a replacement if Jack Butland remains on under-21 duty. Tom Heaton will be in contention and the Burnley keeper did nothing to harm his chances, emulating Davis’s efforts to keep his side in the game before Southampton’s quality ultimately proved telling.
The win moved Koeman’s side to within three points of Manchester United who lie fourth, ahead of their meeting with Liverpool. Koeman has maintained his belief that his team can sustain their challenge for a place in next season’s Champions League, setting his side the target of five wins in their final nine fixtures ahead of this game.
Last Sunday’s draw at Chelsea suggested the manager’s confidence had transmitted itself to his players and this was by no means a straight-forward win against a side given fresh hope of avoiding relegation by their impressive victory over Manchester City seven days previously.
Had Sean Dyche’s team managed to find a way past Davis when they enjoyed a period of first-half ascendency, the visitors may have been able to add to those unexpected three points. As it was, they offered enough signs to suggest they will enjoy more productive days between now and the end of the campaign.
Forster’s injury offered Burnley the opportunity to regroup after a bright start by Southampton and Dyche’s side grew in conviction as the first half progressed with Davis introducing himself in the 23rd minute when he denied Vokes’ powerful half-volley after the forward had been set up by Ings.
Moments later, George Boyd had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down by referee Roger East after going to ground following a challenge by Jose Fonte, reinforcing the view the visitors were capable of building on their heroics of last weekend.
Having appeared to be in the ascendancy, however, the visitors found themselves behind in the 37th minute. Dyche’s side had only themselves to blame for failing to clear a weak header from Sadio Mané, but they were entitled to feel hard done to when Nathaniel Clyne’s shot found its way to Long via a defender’s boot and a Graziano Pellè miskick. Long took full advantage, finishing from close range. Pelle’s role in the goal summed up his recent run of form. The Italian is without a league goal since December and, handed the chance to end that drought when Fonte’s nod down presented the forward with a clear sight of goal shortly before the break, Pelle shot wildly against the bar.
It was then back to Davis, with the veteran called upon to protect his side’s lead with an excellent reaction save to deny Ings, before tipping over a Vokes header and Burnley were never again able to launch a period of sustained pressure on the Southampton goal.
Efforts from Steve Davis and Long, early in the second half, suggested the home side were anxious to avoid a repeat of the nervy first period and they established a comfort zone when Ryan Bertrand’s drilled cross was diverted past Heaton off Shackell’s knee.
Guardian