Southampton 3-1 Burnley: Charlie Austin strikes as Saints go seven unbeaten

Southampton stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Burnley on Nissan Super Sunday.

After a goalless first period, Charlie Austin's sixth (52) and seventh (66) goals of the season - either side of Nathan Redmond's fine volley (60) - put the game beyond a Burnley side who rarely threatened to cause an upset.

The only blotch on an otherwise impressive display for Southampton came when Sam Vokes converted a 72nd-minute penalty - Burnley's first away goal of the season - as the hosts conceded for the first time in over 10 hours of action.

But that will have been of little significance to Claude Puel's men - who last tasted defeat on September 10 - as they moved up to eighth in the Premier League.

Burnley, meanwhile, remain 14th after a fifth defeat of the season as their quest for their first points on the road continued.

With Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares missing through injury, Southampton recalled Matt Targett and Cuco Martina, while Jordy Clasie replaced Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in midfield.

Burnley, unchanged for the third game in succession, were boosted by Tom Heaton's return to fitness after he shook off the calf injury which saw him pull out of Gareth Southgate's England squad.

And the Clarets captain was involved from the offset, producing a sensational save to tip Austin's goal-bound header around the post as the hosts started brightly.

The withdrawal of Targett with a suspected hamstring injury on the quarter-hour mark dampened Southampton somewhat, with their next opening coming on 30 minutes.

Fraser Forster's rushed clearance inadvertently played Dusan Tadic through on goal, but again the impenetrable Heaton kept the scorelines level.

Virgil van Dijk was fortunate not to concede a penalty for a clumsy challenge on Johann Berg Gudmundsson on 33 minutes, before Southampton spurned another gilt-edged chance as Austin made a hash of his shot when played through by Tadic's exquisite pass.

Heaton had to be alert to keep Redmond's near-post strike out shortly before half-time, but, after Steven Defour was forced off injured, there was still time for the Saints to miss another chance as Austin failed to convert Redmond's cross home in stoppage time.

Missing their midfield talisman, Burnley were helpless to prevent Southampton scoring three goals in a devastating 14-minute spell.

First, Austin bundled the ball home from close range after Van Dijk had headed a corner across the box, before Redmond rifled home a low volley on the hour-mark.

After Gudmundsson was penalised for a bringing Sam McQueen to ground, Austin slotted home his second from the spot.

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Referee Mike Dean handed Burnley a lifeline when Tadic was penalised for blocking Ben Mee in the area, and Vokes duly obliged from the spot as Southampton saw their six-game run without conceding come to an end.

But there was to be no Burnley comeback as Southampton saw out an impressive victory, which would have been even more comfortable had it not been for the fine form of Heaton.

Player ratings

Southampton: Forster (7), Martina (6), Fonte (7), van Dijk (7), Targett (5), Romeu (7), Clasie (7), Davis (7), Tadic (7), Redmond (8), Austin (9).

Used subs: Rodriguez (4), 4 Ward-Prowse (n/a), McQueen (7).

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Burnley: Heaton (8), Lowton (5), Keane (7), Mee (6), Ward (6), Gudmundsson (6), Hendrick (5), Marney (5), Defour (5), Boyd (5), Vokes (6).

Used subs: Knightly (4), Bamford (n/a), O'Neill (5).

Man of the Match: Charlie Austin

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