It was a very poor spectacle up in Lancashire on Saturday as Southampton played out a 1-1 draw away at Burnley after substitute Manolo Gabbiadini saved the visitors from a second straight Premier League defeat with a 90th minute winner off of the bench.
If a goal had been scored in the first half by either side, we might’ve had more of a game on our hands and that certainly could’ve happened as Burnley winger Aaron Lennon forced a save from McCarthy early on and Dusan Tadic’s effort was cleared off of the line by Ben Mee after Clarets keeper Pope was beaten.
Burnley, winless now in 11 games, have been well known to keep it tight at the back this season, conceding only 25 goals in the Premier League so far this season, and that’s how they played out the majority of the game, especially the first half.
With a resolute Burnley defence and a toothless Southampton attack, little happened in the remainder of the first half besides another save by Burnley keeper Pope who stopped Redmond’s 20 yard striker relatively comfortably.
Little changed as the players returned from the interval as the visitors maintained decent amounts of possession but, like in most situations this season, the players did little with it.
Next: Guido Carrillo needs a proper #10 behind him
As the game got closer to the hour mark, the hosts were starting to push for the opening goal with both Jeff Hendrick and Ashley Barnes going close before the latter did give Burnley the lead after a great save from McCarthy saw little response from the Southampton defence and so the striker had a tap in.
More from Saints Marching
- Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 2: Arrivals
- Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
- It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
- Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
- A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse
Southampton remained to look toothless following the goal and it wasn’t until the involvement of Josh Sims on 75 minutes that they looked more lively.
The young winger was agonizingly close to his first senior goal for the club as his curling shot was tipped onto the post by the fingertips of Burnley keeper Nick Pope.
Eventually, Saints found their equaliser as substitute Sims – involved once again – found new striker Guido Carrillo who headed down for substitute Manolo Gabbiadini to fire on the turn past Pope to give the travelling fans something to be pleased about and to also move Southampton out of the relegation zone.
I think most fans would’ve taken a point away at a Burnley side who are still 7th, who don’t concede many goals and also are a bit of a bogey side for us away from home.
Yes, it wasn’t an inspiring performance but, now with only ten league games to go, we really need to pick up points whilst we have momentum and being out of the relegation zone should be a mental boost for the players ahead of next weekend’s crucial game against Stoke.