Hello and welcome to live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Southampton and Burnley at St Mary's Stadium, here on Sports Mole.
The hosts come into this match sitting in sixth place in the Premier League table, six points behind Manchester United in the Champions League spots.
Burnley, meanwhile, travel to the south coast having dispatched of champions Manchester City last Saturday, curtesy of George Boyd's excellent second half strike.
When these two sides met in December, Burnley ran out 1-0 winners.
Please note that kickoff is at 3pm.
Good afternoon and welcome to live text coverage of the Premier League match between Southampton and Burnley here on Sports Mole.
Southampton will be keen to build on the point they picked up away to league leaders Chelsea last time out, while Sean Dyche's Burnley will want to pick up where they left off in beating champions Manchester City last Saturday evening. Three points would be huge for them this afternoon, with the team still in the thick of the relegation battle with just two months of the season remaining.
The lineups have been announced, so let's take a look...
Southampton: Forster; Clyne, Bertrand, Alderweireld, Fonte; Schneiderlin, S Davis, Tadic, Mane; Pelle, Long. Subs: K Davis, Yoshida, Gardos, Wanyama, Djuricic, Ward-Prowse, Elia.
Burnley: Heaton; Trippier, Shackell, Duff, Mee; Boyd, Arfield, Jones, Barnes; Vokes, Ings. Subs: Gilks, Wallace, Kightly, Jutkiewicz, Sordell, Keane, Reid.
One change for the Saints then, with Italian forward Graziano Pelle returning the starting eleven in place of midfielder Victor Wanyama. It means that Ronald Koeman's side will likely lineup in a 4-4-2 formation today, with Pelle partnering Shane Long up front. Koeman opted to drop Pelle for his team's game at Chelsea last weekend - the striker having been unable to find the back of the net as yet in 2015.
January arrival Filip Djuricic and fellow midfielder James Ward-Prowse will take their places alongside Wanyama on the bench, while Eljero Elia also returns the squad after a short injury layoff.
For Burnley, striker Sam Vokes starts for the second game in a row alongside Danny Ings in an unchanged lineup. The Welsh forward was recalled for international duty during the week - a clear sign that he is reaching peak fitness after his long injury problem.
Vokes' inclusion means Ashley Barnes will again shift out to the left, while Michael Duff keeps his place in the backline.
Both Matt Taylor and Fredrik Ulvestad came through 90 minutes for the club's development side this week, but today's game comes too soon for either man to take a place amongst the substitutes.
The Saints were well worth their point against Chelsea last Sunday after a first half in which they created a number of very good opportunities. Dusan Tadic's penalty levelled the match, but Sadio Mane and Long both squandered chances, finding Blues stopper Thibaut Courtois in fine form. While Jose Mourinho's men had the upper hand after the break, Koeman's team deserved to travel home with something from the game.
As for Burnley, their tails will surely be up after taking the scalp of Manchester City on their own patch. George Boyd's left-footed half volley was enough for them to claim the win, and they now sit just a point back from Sunderland in 17th.
Dyche will know only too well that his team's form away from Turf Moor is poor though, with just one victory all season to their names. Today represents another tough match for Burnley, but they did manage a draw at Chelsea themselves just last month.
When these two met in December, Barnes' strike was the difference as Burnley took the three points. A late rally almost saw the Saints level, but Dyche's men held on and got their win. A repeat today would really put pressure on Dick Advocaat's Sunderland, who aren't in action until later this evening away to West Ham United.
The lads here at Sports Mole previewed this one earlier in the week, and here's what they had to say.
PREDICTION! So Matt thinks Burnley are able to get a point from this one, though I'm not so sure and I'm going to side with Pascal and go for a home win. I'm also backing Pelle to get back amongst the goals today, and I think that Koeman's men will dispatch the Clarets with relative ease in a 2-0 victory.
We're just a few minutes away from kickoff here then, and both sides are out on the pitch. Southampton of course are kitted out in their traditional red and white stripes, while the away side lineup in all black.
KICK OFF: Here we go then, and the Saints get us underway.
Early foul by Mane, whose raised boot isn't to referee Roger East's taste.
Clyne swings a ball into Pelle's direction, though Mee heads clear. Tadic should be on the edge to follow it up, but instead he's languishing ten yards away from the action.
Bertrand skins Trippier down Southampton's left and Duff clears the ball for a corner. When the resulting set piece comes in, it finds Schneiderlin on the edge of the area - his wild attempt sailing into the crowd.
The home side are unsurprisingly the ones showing the attacking ambition in the early stages, with them keen to get down that left side as often as possible. Already, Tadic and Schneiderlin are keen to find the forwards quickly too.
INJURY! Fraser Forster is down on the deck, holding his arm up and looking in a bad way. This is a strange one, because as the keeper kicks the ball clear, his ankle is tapped by Sam Vokes, and although it doesn't look too sinister, he's clearly in pain.
Straight away, Forster knew he was in trouble. I think his foot gets jarred in the turf and although their was very slight contact from Vokes, it wasn't in any way his fault. The stretcher is on and Forster is going to be replaced.
SUBSTITUTION: Club captain Kelvin Davis comes on in Forster's place, and the departing keeper goes off to great applause.
Half a chance for Pelle, who looks rusty as the ball reaches him. Bertrand and Long combine well, and the striker plays the Italian in. When it looks as if he should hit it first time, he cuts back into trouble and Burnley are able to clear.
Forster isn't the only reliable keeper to have been forced off in the Premier League already today, with Hugo Lloris apparently being replaced early at White Hart Lane for Tottenham against Leicester.
Great defending from Southampton when Ings looks like he's going to get a shot at goal. He's played in by a nice ball from the left, but it results in Alderweireld ushering him away from a dangerous position.
Despite Ings looking dangerous just now, the Saints do look comfortable so far. As you'd expect, they're the ones knocking the ball around, they just loo a little blunt in the final third as yet.
Ings takes the ball nicely from a Scott Arfield pass but skews an effort well wide of Davis' upright.
SAVE! Vokes goes so close to giving the away side a lead! It's an excellent reaction stop from Davis, who palms the ball wide after Vokes had made strong contact from a Boyd knockdown.
Burnley should definitely have a penalty here. Arfield finds Boyd, who feints to shoot, turns inside and is promptly hacked down by Fonte. It should be a spot kick, in my opinion, so the Saints have got away with one there.
Perhaps contact isn't as heavy as I'd have thought but Boyd is certainly touched by Fonte. Shortly after, Ings goes down in the box under Fonte's tackle again, though this time a penalty would've been incredibly harsh.
BLOCK! Up the other end, Mane whips the ball into the box which Boyd can only clear as far as Schneiderlin. The Frenchman shoots, but Shackell gets his body in the way to deflect the ball for a corner.
Burnley are very much in this game today, and I've really enjoyed their willingness to go forward as quickly as possible. Dyche certainly hasn't come to St Mary's with a "settle for a point" mentality, which is great to see.
For Southampton, Mane definitely looks as if he's going to be the one to make something happen. However, as yet, they're struggling to create what I'd call anything clear-cut.
The Saints sling the ball into the box and Pelle and Mee battle for it. The ball sails over them both, who appear keener to wrestle than they do actually attack it.
GOAL FOR SOUTHAMPTON - SHANE LONG!
The home side open the scoring, via the left boot of Shane Long at the back post. After Mane had a header blocked, the ball worked it's way to Nathaniel Clyne. The right back drills the ball into the area, Pelle swings for it and misses, and eventually it reaches Long. The Irishman shows great composure, lifting the ball past Heaton and into the net.
It's perhaps a little harsh on Burnley, who've looked positive and, as I've made clear, should've had a penalty earlier on.
CHANCE! Southampton go close again, with Pelle rattling the crossbar after Heaton had blocked a goalbound header from a free kick. With the hosts ruing their luck that their lead isn't doubled, Burnley break and Ings forces a brilliant stop from Davis. Great game this now.
Watching those chances back again, Pelle really should score his one. Up the other end, Ings' combination play with Arfield was superb, and the save from Davis is really excellent.
CLOSE! Another near miss, this time from the home side. Clyne drills another ball into the box from a distance, though this time he is shooting. It takes two deflections, and Heaton is happy to see it dribble just wide of his post.
SAVE! Excellent tipped save from Heaton, whose diverts Steven Davis' header over the top. Tadic's ball was a great one, Davis got his header away before being clattered by his own man Pelle, and somehow Heaton's fully stretched arm keeps the score at 1-0.
SAVE! This is incredible now, as Kelvin Davis is forced to make another save of his own. Barnes heads the ball across goal to set up Vokes and his own header is aimed at goal. It's close, but it's straight at Davis really. Still, it needed to be stopped.
The half closes out with Arfield having a tame effort deflected wide.
HALF TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 BURNLEY
Well, what a brilliant half of football that was - I'm grateful to get my breath back! The two sides have mustered 17 shots between them, and what we've found today is two keepers in great form. Both Tom Heaton and Kelvin Davis have made impressive stops, though frankly I'm not sure how it's only 1-0.
Forster being forced off with an injury looked like a negative thing for the Saints, but in all honesty, the England keeper could not have played much better than Davis so far.
At the other end, Pelle has struggled with the bits and pieces that have reached him. First, he took one too many touches in the box, before swinging and missing the ball which eventually found Long to score the opener. Finally, his effort which hit the bar really should have gone in, but at least he's getting into the right positions.
Hopefully both sides can keep the high intensity up when we resume, and surely the goalkeepers can't keep these displays up?!
Despite Davis' stops so far, there is of course real worry surrounding Forster. It didn't look too great as he left the field, and I'd be surprised to see him play any part in the England squad next weekend.
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
RESTART! We're underway again here.
SUBSTITUTION FOR SOUTHAMPTON: The home side make their second change at halftime, with Wanyama replacing Tadic to shore things up in the midfield.
SHOT! Steven Davis hits a Pelle knockdown into the side netting. Heaton has it covered, but the fans on the other side of the ground think the effort has gone in.
You can already see how that sub has altered Southampton's formation, and it's a clear 4-2-3-1 now, as opposed to the first half's 4-4-2.
This second half is a little bit calmer than the way things were towards the end of the first period. Still, it's clear that Burnley aren't going to roll over and give up salvaging something from this game today.
CLOSE! Southampton play the ball upfield, with Shackell beating Pelle to it in the air. The knockdown falls to Long who takes a touch and then cannons an effort goalwards. Heaton is at full stretch once more, but this time doesn't make a save as the ball fizzes wide.
Burnley lift the ball into the box and Barnes and Pelle scuffle for it before the Clarets man fouls. The Italian doesn't like it and East calls both men over. Something of nothing.
GOAL FOR SOUTHAMPTON - JASON SHACKELL OWN GOAL
The Saints work the ball down the left and Davis scoops it to Bertrand. The left back hammers a dangerous ball into the six yard box and Shackell reacts, sticking out a knee. It cannons off him and past Heaton before the keeper can even blink. Game over?
Despite doubling their lead, it's not all good news for Southampton, as injury guru Ben Dinnery has just revealed on Twitter.
Fraser Forster is on his way to hospital with suspected knee ligament damage #SaintsFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) March 21, 2015
Burnley aren't giving up here and despite falling further behind, they're still intent on attacking the opposition.
Arfield attacks the Southampton goal and smashes a ball against Alderweireld's legs and out for a corner. The set piece is easily cleared and Mane attempts a Southampton breakaway.
SUBSTITUTION FOR BURNLEY: Vokes comes off for Jutkiewicz. Apologies, I'd lost my connection there briefly. While away, Pelle had a header saved by Heaton and Ings almost closed down Kelvin Davis to nick the ball to score.
Southampton win a free kick just outside the box, when Arfield blocks a Mane shot with his hands. The fans want a penalty but it's not in the box from where I'm watching. Alderweireld tries to bend it into the far corner but it's slightly too high. Not the worst effort.
Pelle is a man desperate to break his 2015 duck here. Every time he gets it, he's keen to get a shot off if half a chance is presented. This time, he unleashes a speculative left footer towards goal when Davis is probably in a better position. The fans moan a little, but I feel sorry for him to be honest.
Trippier whips in a free kick and Shackell has a free header nine yards from goal. Despite having loads of space, he fails to force the keeper into a save.
Boyd works the ball back to Arfield, who is fully 30 yards out. He lashes at it and it flies over. Burnley are tiring.
SUBSTITUTION FOR BURNLEY: Ross Wallace comes on for Ashley Barnes and will take up a position on the right of midfield. Boyd moves to the other side.
CLOSE! Pelle again goes close, and this time he's unlucky to not get much on to an excellent cross from Long. He'd skinned Ben Mee with ease and tried to feed the Italian. The wait continues...
SUBSTITUTION FOR BURNLEY: Burnley make their final change, with Marvin Sordell replacing Ings.
Mee brings down Long in the box. Again, it looks a penalty to me, and again Roger East disagrees. Happily, I'll never ref a game of football.
Four minutes stoppage time will be added here.
FULL TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 2-0 BURNLEY
So there we have it. Jason Shackell's second half own goal killed the game here, adding to the lead Shane Long had given the hosts before half time.
Southampton were pretty comfortable from there on, and Koeman will be delighted to keep the pressure on the teams above them.
Thanks for joining us here today on Sports Mole. For reaction to this and all of today's matches, stay with us here over the coming the hours.
Written by
Joe McPhee
Joe McPhee
