Ashley Barnes's second-half goal has handed Burnley their first win in four games as they moved out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win at home to Southampton this afternoon.

The result means that the Saints have now scored just one goal in their last four league games, which have all ended in a loss.

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The best chance of a poor first half came in the second minute as a confident Danny Ings looked to continue his rich goalscoring run, but the England Under-21 international sent his shot from 18 yards narrowly wide.

Eighteen-year-old Jake Hesketh then sent a wild shot into the stands on his full Saints debut and was booked shortly after for a late challenge on Tom Heaton.

His debut then ended on a sour note as he was replaced by James Ward-Prowse after failing to shake off an injury.

Neither side showed much in the way of quality in the final third and chances were few and far between as Ryan Bertrand saw his long-range effort fly harmlessly over the bar.

In fact, the next real chance came when Nathaniel Clyne almost inadvertently diverted the ball past Fraser Forster, but the goalkeeper did well to smother the ball among a melee of flying boots.

Kieran Trippier was given the opportunity to break the deadlock in the 35th minute, but the full-back's free kick went straight into the wall.

Southampton's best opportunities seemed to come when they found Dusan Tadic in space, but the winger often found his deliveries cleared by a resolute Burnley defence.

Graziano Pelle, who has scored just once in his last seven matches following a prolific start to life in English football, then sliced a good chance over the bar when the ball rebounded to him on the edge of the box.

Tadic was then handed the chance to put his side a goal ahead from the penalty spot after George Boyd fouled Bertrand, but the Serbian's spot kick was pushed away by Heaton.

Pelle then flashed a shot into the side-netting before he was denied by Forster as the game sprang to life.

With little more than a quarter of an hour remaining Burnley scored the only goal of the game, as Barnes capitalised on Clyne's mistake and arrowed a shot into the back of the net via a slight deflection off Toby Alderweireld.

Southampton twice came close to late levellers, but Clyne's shot grazed the outside of the post and Victor Wanyama nodded over the bar with virtually the last touch of the match.