English Premier League

Southampton play a nil all draw with Burnely

The former England number one produced several second-half saves to keep his first Premier League clean sheet for the Clarets, after his £3.5m move from Manchester City last Tuesday. Joe Hart says he has “walked into a nest of top goalkeepers” and has to be on his toes after impressing on his Burnley debut against Southampton.

“I am so pleased to have signed here permanently,” added the 31-year-old. “It’s obvious the love I had for Man City, but I had to cut ties with them to flourish, so I’m over the moon to be here and it’s down to me now.”

Burnely

Hart is competing with England goalkeepers Nick Pope and Tom Heaton for the keeper’s jersey, although the former is sidelined with a shoulder injury sustained against Aberdeen in July.

Burnley controlled the tempo of the game early on, despite only returning from Turkey on Friday following Thursday’s 0-0 Europa League draw against Istanbul Basaksehir.

Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy denied Aaron Lennon early on before keeping out Jeff Hendrick’s low first-half header. But the hosts came back into the game when new signings Danny Ings and Mohamed Elyounoussi were introduced to the action.

Jack Stephens saw his side-foot effort at the back post turned aside by Hart, who also clung on to Mario Lemina’s header.

No sign of a European hangover

Burnley started the match with a real intensity, which suggests they were not suffering after their trip to Istanbul. The Clarets, who made four changes after their stalemate in Turkey, enjoyed 58% possession in the first half.

Saints failed to clear their lines early on as former Everton forward Lennon latched on to the loose ball before firing at goal, but Southampton keeper McCarthy made himself big and kept it out.

The visitors continued to dominate the first half with 12 attempts on goal, but only four were on target.

Hendrick nearly headed Sean Dyche’s men in front in the final minutes of the half, after the ball fell kindly for the midfielder following Ben Mee’s acrobatic overhead kick. But McCarthy was equal to it, getting down low to his right.

Burnley started the second half in a similar fashion and McCarthy was called into action again as Stephen Ward was first to the second ball following a corner, but the Saints keeper showed good speed to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Southampton grew into the game after introducing Ings and Elyounoussi, but Hart was in impressive form to deny Stephens, and Dyche will be buoyed by his side’s performance after three matches in Europe.

Source: BBC News