Burnley 1-1 Southampton: Gabbiadini’s Last Minute Goal Salvages A Point For The Saints
A late equaliser from Manolo Gabbiadini was enough to take Southampton out of the drop zone by a slim margin and extend Burnley’s winless run even further. The 90th-minute goal cancelled out a scrappy goal scored by Ashley Barnes in the first half.
Although the Saints had the better chances on goal, they never really looked like getting out of the blocks and troubling the opposition defence. A lack of a cutting, driving edge from either side let them down like it has done all season.
Defensively, the Saints frustrated Burnley with a resurgent and resolute display. Aaron Lennon threatened to score on a couple of occasions, but one shot was blocked, whereas the other was tame. Barnes could have added another if he had finished off a well-crafted cross by Ashley Westwood. Super sub Sims then tested the keeper on two occasions, before playing a huge hand in the goal, with a delightful cross to Carrillo.
Southampton Player Ratings
Alex McCarthy: 6/10
Kept one shot out off Jeff Hendrick, where he made himself big and cut out space. Unfortunately, he parried the ball away to his head, which ultimately led to an opener. The shot-stopper was again questioned when he appeared to have held the ball outside his territory.
Cedric Soares: 7/10
Disciplined and hard-working as always, Cedric ran up and down the pitch, pitched in with a delivery whenever he found space but mainly struggled to find an opening up front against the crowd of Burnley defenders.
Wesley Hoedt: 7/10
Could have been a touch stronger on Barnes and Hendricks but apart from that, solid performance throughout. Hoedt lined up many important clearances and kept the back line safe, many a time.
Jack Stephens: 8/10
Continued his good form by winning aerial duels, closing down well on his marker and keeping a fine foothold on the game whenever on the ball.
Ryan Bertrand: 7/10
More pacy and strong than many others, Bertrand surged forward confidently and was safe in possession, if not spectacular.
Mario Lemina: 6/10
Lemina was alright with the sideways passing but nothing too ambitious from his side. Out muscled a couple of times but apart from that, a satisfactory performance.
Oriol Romeu: 7/10
Certainly more solid and formidable than his midfield partner, Romeu added two interceptions and a handful of tackles in the centre of the pitch, which increased pressure on Burnley.
James Ward-Prowse: 7.5/10
A few moments of magic, fine footwork and brilliant layoffs, the pass master covered a lot of ground and always had his head up, searching for the right pass.
Nathan Redmond: 5/10
Redmond barely managed to run into a vacant area with the ball or provide a cutting edge. The Englishman gave away possession too, thanks to a number of inaccurately played passes and through ball attempts.
Dusan Tadic: 6/10
Not as instrumental or industrial as one would expect Tadic to be, but he certainly worked his socks off and was good with the set-piece duties.
Guido Carrillo: 7/10
Was absent for some periods of the game but Carrillo held the ball up well and tried to create something out of nothing. Most importantly, his pass to Gabbiadini was brilliant thinking as it got the Saints a vital point.
Substitutes
Joshua Sims: 8.5/10
He tested Nick Pope thrice in a short span of time. Sims’ methods of finding empty spaces and picking a couple of inch-perfect passes was a highlight of the late flurry by the Saints.
Sofiane Boufal: 6.5/10
Not as elusive and effective, but nonetheless, attempted dribbles and key passes.
Manolo Gabbiadini: 9/10
Only because he stood his ground and bravely tucked in a sharp shooter’s finish for the equaliser. Gabbiadini again posed a question as to why he isn’t chosen as a Saints’ number 9.