Burnley, Southampton play to a 1 all draw

Barnes calmly stroked home from the spot after Jack Stephens had handled the ball inside the box under pressure from substitute Peter Crouch. Ashley Barnes’ penalty deep into second-half stoppage-time salvaged a draw for Burnley against fellow strugglers Southampton at Turf Moor.

Nathan Redmond had given Southampton the lead earlier in the second half when he picked up Jan Bednarek’s pass and fired a low shot into the bottom corner from around 20 yards.

Burnley were convinced they had won a penalty in the first half when Barnes appeared to be brought down by Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, but referee Anthony Taylor booked the 29-year-old for simulation.

Saints striker Danny Ings had the best opportunity of the opening 45 minutes, firing straight at Tom Heaton in a one-on-one situation before being forced off with an injury.

Barnes struck the bar late on after latching on to Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s flick on, but he made no mistake from the spot 10 minutes later. The two teams are locked on 24 points with Southampton 16th and Burnley 17th.

All’s well that ends well for Burnley

Despite collecting 11 points from their previous five league games – fewer only than Manchester United and Manchester City – Burnley went into Saturday’s game just four points above the drop zone.

It looked as though the Clarets were going to slip to their first defeat of the new year after Redmond’s magnificent strike, but Barnes‘ late penalty stretched their unbeaten run to six league matches.

Dyche will have been stunned at the decision not to award his side a penalty in the first half when McCarthy brought down Barnes, who reacted furiously at being shown a yellow card by Taylor.

Burnley had gone 67 games without a penalty in the Premier League prior to Saturday, but that long wait came to an end when Stephens inexplicably handled the ball inside the area – under pressure from Clarets debutant Crouch.

The 38-year-old came on in the 75th minute and caused havoc in the Southampton rearguard, having a goal-bound shot blocked by Gudmundsson before forcing Stephens into conceding the decisive spot-kick.

It could prove to be an important point for the Dyche’s side, who face trips to Brighton and Newcastle either side of a home clash with Tottenham later this month.

Saints rue missed chances

Southampton were perhaps fortunate to draw against fellow strugglers Crystal Palace on Wednesday, but they should have picked up a win here after defending doggedly for the majority of the second half.

They came under intense pressure towards the end of the game as Barnes missed two glaring opportunities to level before firing past McCarthy from 12 yards, but the visitors had created the better chances up to that point.

Ings should have given Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side the lead in the first half after running on to Matt Targett’s long pass, but the Liverpool loanee fired straight at Heaton.

Phil Bardsley cleared off the line within minutes of the restart after Chris Wood inadvertently flicked another Targett delivery towards his own net, before Heaton produced a fine one-handed save from James Ward-Prowse’s header.

Victory would have lifted the Saints level on points with 14th-placed Crystal Palace, but they remain perilously close to the drop zone despite extending their unbeaten run under Hasenhuttl to five matches.

They will be desperate to return to winning ways at home to 18th-placed Cardiff next weekend.

Man of the match – Ashley Barnes (Burnley)

Redmond continues fine form – the stats

Burnley are winless in their past 14 Premier League games played in February (D7 L7).
Southampton have won eight points in their past four Premier League away games (W2 D2), as many as they managed in their previous 11.
Southampton are unbeaten in five Premier League games (W2 D3), their longest run without defeat in the competition since October 2016 (also five games).
All five of Redmond’s Premier League goal involvements for Southampton this season have come under Hasenhuttl, with five goals and two assists in 10 appearances (after none in 15 games before that this term).
Crouch became the second oldest player to play for Burnley in the Premier League (38 years, three days) after Graham Alexander in May 2010 (38 years, 211 days).
Burnley’s Crouch has played for seven different clubs in the Premier League, with only Marcus Bent appearing for more (eight, with Craig Bellamy, Andrew Cole, Wayne Routledge and Tal Ben Haim also managing seven).
Barnes has scored 15 goals for Burnley in the league since the start of last season, more than any other player at the club.

First-half decision ‘baffles’ Dyche – what the managers said

Burnley manager Sean Dyche: “We have had two games with big decisions go against us. Had we come away with nothing today you’d struggle to believe what was going on.

“The first decision baffles me. I am outspoken when people go down too easy. Ashley Barnes had no other choice as the keeper takes the legs away and yet Ashley comes away with a booking.”

On the equaliser: “What a calm penalty Barnes took at the end of the game. He stayed calm and that’s a good quality.”

On Crouch’s debut off the bench: “Crouch can play, he knows the game and can adapt. And he causes confusion. The ball goes into the box and people are wondering who is doing what.”

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl: “The 1-1 with Crystal Palace on Wednesday felt a success but this feels like losing. But I think it was a fair result. We had a few situations where we were lucky.

“We are unbeaten in five games which is important for me. We had a big chance but it’s important to keep winning points consistently and that’s what we are doing. It’s important steps.”