Southampton 0 Burnley 1: Vokes bags winner at boyhood club

Sam Vokes netted a late winner against Southampton - the club he supported as a boy - to seal another away victory for Burnley.

Published : Nov 05, 2017 02:38 IST

Sam Vokes (L) celebrates his late winner for Burnley against Southampton.
Sam Vokes (L) celebrates his late winner for Burnley against Southampton.
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Sam Vokes (L) celebrates his late winner for Burnley against Southampton.

Boyhood Southampton fan Sam Vokes netted a late winner as Burnley's fine early season away form continued and it breached the Premier League's top six with a 1-0 triumph at St Mary's.

League leader Manchester City is the only side to have beaten Sean Dyche's men away from Turf Moor in this campaign, with the Clarets turning around last term's dismal record on the road - where they won just once - in spectacular fashion.

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This victory may be somewhat less heralded - and less surprising - than the opening day defeat of champion Chelsea, but it had not looked like coming until Vokes was introduced as a second-half substitute.

Nick Pope - a Premier League player of the month nominee - was equal to everything Mauricio Pellegrino's men mustered going forward, with an assured defensive display from Sean Dyche's Burnley looking to have sealed a hard-fought draw.

But with the visitor's first effort on target, Vokes directed a header beyond the flailing Fraser Forster to earn the points.

Manager Dyche continues to be linked with the vacant Everton post, but it was Merseyside rival Liverpool he had in his sights here as - at least until the Reds face West Ham later in the day - Burnley moved above them up to sixth.

The host dominated possession early on, but its measured approach play too often concluded with a direct ball that suited a sturdy Burnley backline.

When finally, after 26 minutes, the Saints full-backs combined and Cedric Soares picked out Ryan Bertrand in the area, the looping header from the latter dropped harmlessly off target.

Pope was belatedly forced into a first save just over 10 minutes before half-time, beating away Sofiane Boufal's strike after he met a loose ball at the back post.

Southampton stepped up a gear after that opening and Pope was at full stretch again to keep out Nathan Redmond's low drive.

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Another smart Pope stop kept out Maya Yoshida's dipping left-footed volley following the restart, but the home side's momentum waned.

Dyche introduced Ashley Barnes and Vokes from the bench in the hope of stealing a winner at the other end and the changes had an impact, at least pushing Burnley further up the pitch.

And Vokes took his opportunity when it arrived on 81 minutes, nodding in a Johann Berg Gudmundsson cross in a stunning smash-and-grab.

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