Southampton capitulated spectacularly to a direct and industrious Burnley, in wet and windy conditions at Turf Moor.
Southampton went into the match with a newly found optimism, following a seemingly successful transfer window and close season. With Kevin Danso due to join the squad this week and Djenepo kept on the bench, it was just Che Adams who made his full debut for Saints.
Despite the first half yielding no goals, Burnley upped the ante in the second half and scored three quick-fire goals to sink any hopes of an opening day victory for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men. In a match where Southampton will have hoped to earn a point, they did surprisingly little to convince that this season will be any different to the last two dismal campaigns.
In truth, Southampton looked short of ideas in the middle of the park, as Oriol Romeu was preferred to an unwell Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. A brace from Ashley Barnes, coupled with a well-taken finish from Gudmundsson on the 75th minute, will have given Hasenhuttl plenty to be concerned about.