Southampton fan Sam Vokes scores for Burnley as they win 1-0 at St Mary's

Saints fan Sam Vokes heaped the pressure on Mauricio Pellegrino as his winner saw Burnley grab a 1-0 win at St Mary’s.

The match marked the end of Saints’ kind run of fixtures to start the season with a defeat to take into the international break, after which they face all of the top six before the end of the year.

Vokes’ winner nine minutes from time came from Burnley’s only shot on target in the entire match on another another frustrating day for Saints who were roundly booed off at the final whistle.

Saints started the game with some intensity, with an attack minded line-up almost playing as a front four at times.

They were able to have comfort in doing so with Burnley content to sit deep, stay organised and try and soak up the pressure.

Burnley’s plan was to attempt to hit Saints on the counter attack and they did just that on nine minutes as Johann Berg Gudmundsson had the first shot of the game which he slashed wide from distance.

The St Mary’s crowd was sticking behind their team and remaining patient, despite the fact the side were struggling to create a chance.

Robbie Brady tried to make something happen for Burnley, whipping in a cross from the right but it was too high for Chris Wood and drifted wide of the far post.

Saints finally managed a shot on 26 minutes as Dusan Tadic lifted in a cross from the right that was met by the head of Ryan Bertrand. However, from a difficult position he couldn’t hit the target.

It seemed to give Saints a little more attacking impetus, and they were attempting to pull Burnley out of position by going wide.

Nathan Redmond tried to make something happen with a positive run but he ended up off balance as he attempted to hit a shot from the edge of the area that went well wide.

Sofiane Boufal eventually gave Nick Pope something to do as the ball dropped to him at the far post on 35 minutes.

It was a really tough volley to hit but the Moroccan showed great technique to keep the ball down, firing it into the turf and forcing Pope to dive to turn wide at his near post.

He was in action again moments later, this time cutting out Bertrand’s attempted cross which ended up on target.

Bertrand had another go, this time with a driven shot from inside the box but it was cut out by a brave challenge from James Tarkowski.

Saints produced their best attacking move of the half three minutes before the break as Redmond collected a cross field diagonal pass and drove into the area before unleashing a well struck low shot.

However, Pope was equal to it and saved at his near post.

That proved to be the final action of a fairly underwhelming half of football which ended goalless.

The second period started in a similarly less than thrilling fashion with neither side really looking like they were prepared to take a significant risk.

Saints managed to get a sight of goal on 54 minutes as Tadic put in a cross from the right that found the head of Manolo Gabbiadini, but the striker couldn’t make a clean connection with his finish and it drifted wide of the far post.

Again there were sudden sparks of life from Saints and a good passing move gave Bertrand the chance to shoot in the area, only to see it well blocked by a sliding tackle.

Maya Yoshida was the next to have a go with a terrific half volley on the turn from the edge of the box but Pope dived to make the save.

Redmond threatened to burst through moments later but slipped as he collected a one-two with Gabbiadini and could only poke wide.

Steven Davis tried to convert a tough chance as a half cleared corner dropped to him on the edge of the box but his volley went well over the bar.

Saints were starting to crank up the pressure on Burnley, who were beginning to look a little more ragged defensively.

They quickly acted to try and turn that around with a double change on 65 minutes with Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes replacing Jeff Hendrick and Chris Wood.

Saints also made a switch with Charlie Austin coming on for Gabbiadini.

Vokes had the chance to create something for Burnley soon after coming on but he picked the wrong option and tried to produce an outlandish cut back rather than firing the ball across the six yard box from inside the area.

The Burnley changes certainly had the desired effect as it halted the Saints march forward, giving them greater options to hold the ball up up front.

Saints made a second change on 76 minutes with Shane Long replacing Tadic.

Brady tried to get a shot in for Burnley after a deep cross was flicked his way but it was charged down.

Davis went close on 80 minutes as he turned Jack Cork just outside the area but his left footed shot went narrowly over the bar.

Saints were stunned though as Burnley took the lead on 81 minutes with their first shot on target.

It came somewhat out of nothing as Gudmundsson took advantage of space on the right wing to lob in a cross.

It didn’t look particularly threatening but Vokes did a superb job of not only beating Yoshida to the ball but executing a brilliant header to guide it into the bottom corner from 12 yards out to give his side the lead.

Saints took drastic measures to try and get back into it with Virgil van Dijk moving to play up front so the team could go more direct.

James Ward-Prowse replaced Boufal for the three minutes of added time.

But it couldn’t make a difference as Saints were booed off at the end, with a few jeers in particular reserved for Pellegrino as he went down the tunnel.