New season, same problems for Southampton as Burnley come away with a point

Southampton 0-0 Burnley: Saints have now trudged through just one home win in 12 league matches, dating back to late November

Both sides were ultimately unable to break the deadlock (Getty Images)

Joe Hart helped Burnley secure their second clean sheet of the week after their exploits in Europe on Thursday evening.

Sean Dyche’s side travelled to Turkey for the first leg of their Europa League qualifier with Istanbul Basaksehir, in what ended a 0-0 draw. That marked Hart’s competitive debut following his £4m move to Turf Moor and after helping the Clarets strengthen their hopes of progressing in Europe, he followed up that display by producing a number of key saves that helped Burnley wrap up the week with their first point of the Premier League season.

It would have been more had they made more of a succession of chances, particularly during the opening hour when Alex McCarthy matched Hart’s efforts, responding well to Mark Hughes’ decision to stick with the keeper who saw out last season and leave new arrival Angus Gunn on the bench.

Southampton improved as the game went on and after showing signs they had not got last’s season relegation battle out of their system, the Saints created enough opportunities to believe they could have started the season with a win. Danny Ings, signed on loan from Liverpool on deadline day, appeared early in the second half and added a cutting edge to a Saints side that was lacking a focal point during the first half.

Mohamed Elyounoussi shoots under pressure from James Tarkowski (Getty Images)

There is more to come from both teams, but there was cause for both managers to feel satisfied at a steady start to the campaign.

Dyche, though, will be keen to study replays of a seventh-minute finish from Jack Cork that was ruled out for offside. It was a close decision and an opening goal then may have sapped the home side’s confidence. Four minutes later, McCarthy made his first major contribution with a fine save form Aaron Lennon after the winger had been sent clear into the box by a flick on from Chris Wood, back in the side after missing the trip to Istanbul with an infected insect bite.

Burnley’s fluent passing and impressive movement proved too much for Southampton for the opening 20 minutes but a header from Mario Lemina brought Hart into the action and served warning of the threat Southampton would pose later in the game.

Jeff Hendrick has his headed attempt saved by Alex McCarthy (Getty Images)

It was Burnley who finished the half stronger, though, and McCarthy again impressed when he reacted well to prevent Jeff Hendrick scoring from close range. Hendrick again tested McCarthy at the start of the second half with a snap shot from the edge of the box, but chances became harder to come by for the visitors as Southampton began to assert themselves.

The introduction of Ings and Mohammed Elyounoussi, another summer capture, added a fresh dimension to the home side’s play and a period of pressure resulted in a corner that was cleared off the line by Ashley Westwood after Ben Mee’s misdirected clearing header.

Saints midfielder Lemina came more into the game after an unconvincing first half and he again drew a save from Hart after the England international had just denied Jack Stephens. But this was no rearguard action by Dyche’s side who can be satisfied they survived the first examination of their ability to compete on both fronts.