Southampton vs Burnley match report: Charlie Austin and Nathan Redmond sink Clarets on the south coast

Southampton 3 Burnley 1: Claude Puel's side extended a promising spell of form with victory over one of the Premier League's most limited sides

Redmond celebrates his strike with Austin (Getty)

They say there are no easy games in the Premier League, but this felt like a routine victory for Southampton and, but for Burnley's outstanding England goalkeeper, Tom Heaton, it could have been a rout. It would have been an ideal warm-up for the more challenging prospect of Thursday's Europa League group game against Internazionale in Milan but for an injury to Matt Targett that leaves them with no recognised left back.

Ryan Bertrand injured a hamstring on England duty and Targett limped off with a similar problem after only 13 minutes here to be replaced by Sam McQueen, an under-23 team midfield player who was making an unexpected Premier League debut. He performed competently yesterday but the San Siro is a different proposition as is the Etihad Stadium, where Saints face Manchester City next Sunday. “It will be difficult for the next games,” Claude Puel, the Saints manager, said. “It's not his position but Sam has a good left foot and he played a good game today.”

On the plus side, Charlie Austin scored twice either side of Nathan Redmond's second goal for Saints, giving Austin seven goals in his past six games and four in his last four matches against his former club. He was brought off early yesterday to keep him fresh for the Inter game, denying him the chance of a hat-trick that he might have completed by half-time but for a stunning early save from Heaton, the only Burnley player who looked of Premier League standard.

Austin bundled the scrappy first goal home from close range (Getty)

The Clarets remain without a point on their travels and only scored their first away goal of the campaign yesterday thanks to a generous decision in their favour by referee Mike Dean. But Sean Dyche felt that his team were let down by Dean, who turned down penalty claims when Johann Gudmundsson was felled by a combination of McQueen and Virgil Van Dijk with the match still goalless. “It's impossible that's not a penalty,” Dyche said.

Heaton's save came after five minutes as he plunged to his left to touch Austin's header from Matt Targett's cross around the post. “Gordon Banks, [Joe] Hart the other night, a fantastic moment,” Dyche said, although there were few other highlights for his side as Southampton dominated.

On the half hour, Dusan Tadic chased goalkeeper Fraser Forster's long clearance all the way into the Burnley penalty area but hit his shot too close to Heaton. Tadic then sent Austin clear with a first-time pass from well within his own half, but the striker, looking to chip Heaton as he rushed off his line, seemed to get the ball trapped under his feet and his final effort was a weak miscue. Next it was Redmond, receiving from Tadic and dancing inside two defenders, who tested Heaton with an angled shot towards his near post.

Austin added another from the penalty spot (Getty)

Burnley were being forced back and it may have been a sign of growing pressure that Michael Keane, also in the last England squad, and Heaton failed to communicate when conceding a needless corner shortly before half-time. But they had a let-off when Austin slipped as Heaton could only paw another fierce shot from Redmond to his feet.

But a goal had to come and it arrived six minutes into the second half as Burnley failed to clear Tadic's corner from the right. Virgil Van Dijk's header looped goalward off the shoulder of Jordy Clasie and Austin scored at the second attempt, poking the ball home from an inch or so out after his first effort had been blocked on the goalline by Sam Vokes.

Heaton tipped over a rising shot from Tadic just short of the hour but could do nothing when the resulting corner was somehow allowed to reach Redmond, whose half-volley zipped low past the partially-unsighted goalkeeper. And after 65 minutes it was 3-0, Austin scoring confidently from the penalty spot after McQueen had tumbled very easily under Gudmundsson's challenge.

Vokes celebrates scoring his consolation goal (Getty)

Referee Dean then seemed to take pity on Burnley, awarding a penalty after Ben Mee collided with Tadic, Vokes scoring to end Saints' run of six successive clean sheets in all competitions. But the home side finished very much on top, Heaton saving spectacularly from James Ward-Prowse and competently from Jay Rodriguez and Tadic. “After the international break it was important to see my players' good attitude and spirit,” Puel said. “After the first goal it was easier to find other chances. We could have scored many goals.”

Dyche was forced to agree. “On the whole they were just too strong,” he admitted. “The defining point was the penalty. It wouldn't half have made a difference, and theirs was incredibly soft. But that doesn't take away from them being better than us.” And was he regretting the sale of Austin to QPR in 2013? Not a bit of it. “Good luck to Charlie,” he said. “We sold him for four million quid and we've got two promotions since.”

Southampton: Forster, Martina, Fonte, Van Dijk, Targett (McQueen, 14), Romeu, Clasie, Davis, Tadic, Austin (Rodriguez, 71), Redmond (Ward-Prowse, 88).

Subs not used: McCarthy, Yoshida, Long, Hojbjerg.

Burnley: Heaton, Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward, Berg Gudmundsson (Kightly, 70), Hendrick, Marney, Defour (O'Neill, 41), Boyd (Bamford, 81), Vokes.

Subs not used: Flanagan, Robinson, Tarkowski, Arfield.

Referee: M Dean (Merseyside)

Attendance: 29,040