Ings strike earns Southampton first win of season

Southampton ended their losing start to the season as Danny Ings’ first-half goal earned his side a first top-flight victory at Burnley for almost 50 years.

Injury-hit Burnley, without seven senior players, had claims for a penalty dismissed by referee Andre Marriner – and the video assistant referee – midway through the first half after forward Chris Wood went down under pressure from Jan Bednarek.

Wood went close to an equaliser immediately after half-time but Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was equal to his low header from Ashley Westwood’s cross.

McCarthy was again called upon to stop Charlie Taylor’s powerful first-time strike from the edge of the penalty area as the hosts – who remain without a point from two games – pressed for a leveller.

Southampton failed to register a shot on target following Ings’ early goal but held firm in response to conceding five at Tottenham last weekend as they sealed a first win at Burnley in the top flight since March 1971.

Ings proves decisive once again

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side largely answered his pre-match calls to prove they were better than their opening results and performances had suggested, producing the gritty display necessary to take the points at Turf Moor.

Southampton lost both league games to Burnley last season – including a 3-0 loss in Lancashire – but they offered a resolute response to Sunday’s concerning 5-2 defeat by Tottenham.

Once again it was Ings who made the difference for Saints, though it was summer signing Walker-Peters who stepped up from right-back to produce the defence-splitting pass which allowed Adams to tee up his strike partner.

England forward Ings, fresh from finishing as joint-second top goalscorer in the Premier League last season, has now scored 46% (25) of Southampton’s past 54 goals in the competition and looks ready to mount another Golden Boot challenge.

With no other Saints player scoring more than five in that time, he will be required to if they are to improve on last season’s 11th-place finish.

However, following the heavy defeat by Spurs – which featured a worrying second-half collapse – just as pleasing for Hasenhuttl will surely be the enduring focus and desire to see out a clean sheet on Saturday, despite coming under late pressure.

Jannik Vestergaard came into the defence to partner Bednarek at the expense of Jack Stephens and the pair settled in well, producing 13 clearances apiece in front of McCarthy, who himself delivered when called upon.

More to follow.

Player of the match

IngsDanny Ings

Burnley

1. Squad number1Player namePope

2. Squad number34Player nameDunne

3. Squad number3Player nameTaylor

4. Squad number8Player nameBrownhill

5. Squad number16Player nameStephens

6. Squad number28Player nameLong

7. Squad number9Player nameWood

8. Squad number18Player nameWestwood

9. Squad number26Player nameBardsley

10. Squad number11Player nameMcNeil

11. Squad number27Player nameVydra