Southampton, Burnley Share Spoils At St. Mary's

SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom- Despite their dominance, Southampton were forced to settle for a point on the opening day of their Premier League season after a 0-0 draw with Burnley at St Mary’s.

The well-drilled visitors arrived of the back of valuable competitive minutes in a Europa League qualifier at Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday.

They settled quickly and almost opened the scoring when Jack Cork curled the ball beyond Alex McCarthy, before being deemed to be in offside position.

McCarthy was also called into action when the ball fell loose to Aaron Lennon inside the area, with the Saints stopper diving bravely to thwart his side-footed effort.

On 18, Saints began to make their mark on the clash and when Ryan Bertrand found space down the left, he sent in a typically inch-perfect delivery for Mario Lemina to flick goalwards and test Joe Hart.

Stuart Armstrong was almost richly-rewarded for his runs into the box, when his low driven ball across the face of goal was begging to be steered home.

Growing in confidence and buoyed by a vociferous St Mary’s, Saints continued to press and the Scotland international playmaker was involved again when Jannik Vestergaard rose highest to head his corner just over.

Rousing reception

There was a scare in first-half stoppage though, with McCarthy making another vital save at point-blank range. After Ben Mee had kept the ball alive with some acrobatics at the back post, it fell kindly for Jeff Hendrick who saw his effort kept out.

Just before the hour, Hughes made a double switch which saw Danny Ings and Moi Elyounoussi enter the field, with the former receiving a rousing reception on his homecoming.

Such positive changes gave Saints a boost and they were almost ahead soon after. Mee headed Elyounoussi’s corner delivery back towards his own goal and will have been thankful to teammate Ashley Westwood for his clearance off the line.

The momentum was firmly with the hosts. Ings cut inside and curled an effort just over the angle after Charlie Austin had battled with Matt Lowton on the left.

And that was followed up a dinked cross towards the back post which saw Jack Stephens force Hart into a good save at the near post.

The fleet-footed Ings also created another chance for Norwegian international Elyounoussi who saw his effort blocked behind.

The Clarets had introduced Sam Vokes and Ashley Barnes but were being penned back in their own half.

Five minutes added time offered further hope that Saints would make the elusive breakthrough, with Southampton-born Ings stinging the gloves of Hart late on, but it was not to be.

-Report by www.southamptonfc.com