Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Southampton and Burnley at St Mary's Stadium. The Clarets have yet to score an away goal this term, let alone pick up all three points, but they can climb above their opponents into 12th place at the close of play should they end that disappointing run on their travels.

The Saints dropped into the bottom half of the table following results elsewhere this afternoon, though they know that victory will see them climb back into eighth place - well on course to maintaining their impressive league finishes from the past few seasons. It may have started off in a shaky manner, but boss Claude Puel is now starting to put his spin on this side and the top half is very much in their sight.

TEAM NEWS!

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster, Martina, Fonte, Van Dijk, Targett, Romeu, Davis, Clasie, Tadic, Redmond, Austin

BURNLEY XI: Heaton, Ward, Mee, Keane, Lowton, Marney, Defour, Gudmundsson, Hendrick, Boyd, Vokes

Starting with the home side, then, and there is news of three changes for Southampton from their last outing - a goalless draw at the home of champions Leicester City a fortnight ago. Two of those alterations are enforced, as full-backs Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares are both injured, so Cuco Martina and Matt Targett come in to occupy those defensive positions.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is the other player to drop out of the starting lineup, with Jordy Clasie taking his place taken by for this afternoon's clash on the South Coast. Jose Fonte and Virgil van Dijk are both fit and firing, though, and take up their places in the heart of a defence that has now gone a whopping six games without conceding a single goal. A key part of that defensive success has been the work of Fraser Forster, who is up against fellow England back-up keeper Tom Heaton today.

Oriol Romeu and Steven Davis have also put in some impressive shifts in the engine room of late, allowing Dusan Tadic and Nathan Redmond to get high up the pitch in support of Charlie Austin, who will face his former side for the third time. The Englishman has had mixed success against the Clarets in the past, having scored twice but been sent off on one occasion in those previous two meetings.

As far as the visitors are concerned, they have received a huge boost after Tom Heaton was declared fit to start. The England understudy has not missed a game at club level for over three years now, but an injury picked up while on international duty recently meant that he was a major doubt for this tricky trip to the South Coast. Paul Robinson was standing by for the rarest of starts, though he will not be required on this occasion.

Andre Gray is still absent for the Clarets, meanwhile, as he sits out the third of his four-match ban for comments made on social media. Wales international Sam Vokes is instead fielded as the lone striker on his return 'home' - he never actually played for the Saints, but he has a strong connection with the club and supported them growing up - while George Boyd will look to supply the ammunition in attack.

BENCH WATCH!

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: McCarthy, Yoshida, Long, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, McQueen

BURNLEY SUBS: Flanagan, Kightly, O'Neill, Bamford, Robinson, Tarkowski, Arfield

Jon Flanagan is once again overlooked for a starting spot in defence for Burnley, as he is made to wait for that elusive first appearance in the top flight. Robinson is an experienced understudy but is not needed thanks to Heaton's return to fitness, while Scott Arfield and Patrick Bamford will also be eager to receive some playing time at St Mary's this afternoon.

Jay Rodriguez spent five years at Turf Moor but he could well make an appearance against his former club at some stage from the bench, and Shane Long is another who will be desperate to prove a point having been overlooked from the off once again. James Ward-Prowse is the other attacking option for Puel to call upon should he be required, with Soares and Bertrand failing to make the squad due to their respective injury problems.

Tom Heaton was a big doubt for today's game after sustaining an injury on international duty with England earlier this month, but he is declared fit to feature from the off - his 138th-constitutive start for the Clarets. Southampton make three changes to their side from last time out, meanwhile, with two of those alterations enforced due to the loss of Cedric Soares and Ryan Bertrand to injury.

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A chance for Southampton to climb up to eighth place in the Premier League this afternoon, then, as a slow start to life under new boss Puel has since made way for a far more profitable run of form. Two points from the first 12 on offer suggested that the Frenchman would fail to carry on jobs started by Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman, particularly when considering that those points came in winnable home games against Watford and Sunderland in the opening weeks.

If there is one thing we have learned about Southampton over the past couple of years, however, it is that they should not be written off when the odds are against them. Wins over Swansea City and West Ham United, plus an impressive display against Leicester last time out that deserved more than the one point they accrued, has helped lift the Saints into a far more positive position, with three points today enough to take them back into the top half where they feel they now belong.

Puel's men do face a tough run of fixtures after today's clash, though, as they face Manchester City and Chelsea prior to the next international break, while also preparing for a clash with Liverpool when Premier League action resumes. Focus is not solely on the English top flight, of course - thanks to their impressive finish last term, Europa League football is also being played at St Mary's Stadium this season.

The Saints have made a bright start to their European campaign, too, having defeated Sparta Prague comfortably here and picked up a credible point away at Hapoel Be'er Sheva last time out to remain well on course for the knockout stages. A double-header against Inter Milan now awaits - a real standout fixture for supporters which, should they pick up positive results, will leave the door open for more Europa League football post-Christmas on the South Coast.

DID YOU KNOW? Southampton also remain alive and well in the EFL Cup thanks to victory over Crystal Palace in the last round, setting up a nice tie with Sunderland on home soil later this month. Very much all systems go for the Saints at the moment, then, and a large part of their success is down to an impressive run of form on home soil. Puel's charges have won three and drawn two of their five games at St Mary's this term, while also going eight games without defeat stretching back into last season.

The Saints have also scored in each of their last 13 home league games - the best record in the division. Throw into the mix the fact that they have gone six games without shipping a single goal in all competitions, which they will fancy stretching to a seventh game today, and you get the feeling that Southampton could well replicate - or indeed better - their success of recent years. Still early days, of course, and Puel will be keen to keep supporters' feet firmly on the ground.

Southampton will fancy their luck against today's opponents, as the Clarets have suffered back-to-back defeats on their travels this term and have yet to find the net. It has been a solid enough start to the campaign for Sean Dyche and his Burnley side, though, as they remain in 14th place heading into this game and can climb into 12th - above the Saints - with a win today.

Dyche's side have yet to lose successive games this term, but their results do have a familiar feel to them already as they have also failed to go successive games without tasting defeat. Having lost 1-0 to Arsenal last time out, in rather unfortunate circumstances, the pattern suggests that today's game should end in either a draw or with all three points being taken back up north. Time will tell on that front, but one thing is for sure - Burnley will not go straight back down without a real fight.

Burnley have made a positive enough start to life back in the Premier League - picking up points at home to remain afloat at the bottom, knowing that another win today - their first away from Turf Moor - will lift them above their opponents into 12th place. Southampton, on the other hand, are two points ahead after recovering well from a shaky start that saw them claim just two points from their first four games.

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As well as being hard done by against Arsenal prior to the international break, with Laurent Koscielny's hugely-contentious goal crossing the line deep into added time, Burnley have also come unstuck in unfortunate circumstances against Swansea City and Hull City in their other home fixtures - late goals being scored by both opponents. That has left the Clarets five points worse off, but they did secure a memorable home win over Liverpool and also beat Watford in Lancashire.

It has not all been plain sailing, though, as the Clarets exited the EFL Cup at the hands of neighbours Accrington Stanley last month. Dyche will be pleased enough by the way things are panning out, those late goals aside, but his side do face a fairly tricky run heading into the next international break. St Mary's is proving to be one of the toughest places to visit at the moment, and after this match there are games against Everton (h), Manchester United (a) and Crystal Palace (a) to follow in the coming weeks.

So Burnley are yet to score on their travels, losing all three games in all competitions and yet to score a single goal. They have won two of their last 15 Premier League fixtures overall, when taking into account their previous season at this level, and hold claim to the lowest average-possession rate in the division ahead of the latest round of fixtures in the top flight, with 36.8% of the ball in their opening seven games this season.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Southampton have lost just one of the last five league meetings between these two sides, although two of those fixtures have ended all square. The Saints have suffered only one defeat in their last 14 clashes against Burnley at St Mary's Stadium, however, winning seven of those.

With kickoff on the South Coast now 10 minutes or so away, let us turn attention to some pre-match thoughts from both camps.

Claude Puel: "I prefer to lose this [clean sheets] record and win the game, it's not important for me. It's not just the defence, for me it's important to consider it as the work of all the team - midfield and offensive players also."

Sean Dyche: "We have to be intent on doing what we do and have belief in what we do and so far we've had a solid start to the season. We want that to continue, though we're obviously aware it's a tough place to go."

Puel speaking specifically about his side's run of clean sheets, which stands at six games heading into today's meeting. "It's not important for me," the Frenchman says, as he prioritises points over records. Dyche was quick to acknowledge how tough this match will be for his side, meanwhile, but is happy enough with the Clarets' start to the season, as they sit comfortably in 14th place.

PREDICTION! All signs point to a Southampton win-to-nil this afternoon, as they boast an impressive run of clean sheets and have gone some 13 home league games without tasting defeat. Burnley, on the other hand, have not yet found the net on their travels in league and cup this season and have won just once here in 14 matches. That said, I am expecting a tight battle that will be decided by the odd goal - 1-0 to the hosts.

Both sets of players are now waiting in the tunnel area - kickoff at St Mary's Stadium less than five minutes away now. Just the two fixtures in the Premier League today, with Liverpool against Manchester United still to come tomorrow. Watford were winners away at Middlesbrough, courtesy of Jose Holebas's goal shortly before the hour mark at the Riverside Stadium.

A big afternoon in particular for Charlie Austin, who has seven goals in seven games as he prepares to face his former side. The Englishman has two in two against his former suitors while playing for Queens Park Rangers, but he was also shown a red card in one of those games so he has mixed memories to say the least. Austin will be up against Tom Heaton today - a keeper boasting a run of 138 starts in a row for Burnley.

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KICKOFF! Burnley get us under way at St Mary's Stadium, sporting their all-blue away strip. Southampton, in their more traditional red and white stripes, looking to make a positive start in their first home outing for a month.

Some early pressure from the visitors, as a cross into the box is met by recent England call-up Michael Keane. No real threat to Forster's clean sheet record, though, as the attempt ended well wide of the target in the end.

Some slicking Southampton movement ends with only a corner being won, which is easily dealt with by the Clarets' defence. Redmond works some space down the right but his delivery is met by a blue shirt, with Austin unable to get his head to the ball.

SAVE! What a stop from Heaton! This is as good a save you will see all season, as the Englishman dived across to his left to somehow palm aside Austin's header from just a few yards out. That is why he is so important to Burnley.

SAVE! Far more straightforward stop for Heaton this time, as Tadic shoots straight at the England back-up stopper. Really bright start to the game for the Saints, who are - as expected - dominating possession early on.

Burnley with the lowest-average possession rate in the division, remember, so no real surprise to see Southampton knock the ball around with ease in these opening 11 minutes. Just the one chance so far, which Heaton somehow kept out from Austin's header.

A concern for Puel now, as stand-in full-back Targett has picked up a hamstring injury and is down receiving treatment. Another injury in that position is the last thing the Frenchman wants, particularly this early in the game.

SOUTHAMPTON SUB! Matt Targett is unable to continue and Sam McQueen is brought on in his place for his Premier League debut. Bertrand, Soares and now Targett all on the sidelines for the Saints, in what is proving to be troublesome area.

Burnley have used that break in play to compose themselves a little more, and they now look far more settled than they did in the opening 10 minutes or so. Southampton, as a result, have not really managed to get their foot on the ball in an attacking zone.

Dyche will be delighted by the way this game is panning out now, with his side seeing their fair share of possession over the past five minutes. A disappointing ball from Marney rolls out of play, however, and the Saints can now regroup a little.

SHOT! A first opportunity of the mach for Sam Vokes, who volleys Ward's left-sided cross a yard or so wide of the target. Burnley really growing in confidence now and certainly the side on top, as we reach the end of the opening quarter of the game.

The possession count is near enough 50-50 now, which shows just how much the visitors have improved after a slow start to the match. Southampton have struggled since losing Targett to injury, with their momentum slipping away at that point.

Burnley perhaps a little too confident now - Hendrick taking on a shot from 35 yards out which was always rising. Up the other end, Tadic sends a cross into the box but it lacked quality and the Clarets cleared their lines once again.

McQueen is involved for the first time, taking a pass into his path well and sending in a tasty cross down low which is defended. The full-back then closed down his opponent to stop an attack from starting, earning applause from the home fans.

Not the greatest of matches so far, in truth, with just that one chance of note inside the opening half-hour on the South Coast - Austin seeing his header from a few yards out superbly kept out by Tom Heaton.

YELLOW CARD! Defour with a pretty poor challenge on Redmond, which rightly earns him the first caution of the afternoon. Makeshift striker Redmond is now back to his feet after some treatment and is OK to continue.

SAVE! Heaton makes another big save to keep Burnley level, this time denying Tadic who was played through in bizarre circumstances. Forster was rushed into booting the ball up the field, and it almost turned into an assist as Tadic latched on to it and was through on goal, only for Heaton to race out and deny the midfielder with his upper body.

CHANCE! The game has burst into life all of a sudden. Gudmundsson was bundled over by Van Dijk inside the box but referee Mike Dean waved play on, allowing Tadic to spray a pass up the pitch for Austin to race on to in acres of space. The striker got his feet caught under the ball and rushed his shot, though, sending it wide of the target.

A real frenetic feel to the match over these past six minutes or so, with both teams looking lively - Southampton in particular who have now had three decent chances to edge into the lead. Half time fast approaching at St Mary's.

SAVE! Redmond twists one way and another inside the box, before looking to catch out Heaton at the near post. No chance of that happening when he is in this type of form, though, as he gets across well to concede just a corner.

A deep cross into the box is met by an unmarked Ben Mee at the back post, but his looping header back into the mix is cleared away. Defour the latest player to pull up now with a hamstring injury, and Burnley look likely to make a change.

BURNLEY SUB! Defour is the second player to leave the pitch through a hamstring injury - a huge blow for the visitors. Aiden O'Neill is on for a rare run-out now - his third appearance from the bench this term - with half time just two minutes away.

Nine attempts in total from Southampton in this first half, which is now near its conclusion, but only three of those troubled Heaton who has produced two top-class stops in the opening 45 minutes. Ward a little lucky to avoid picking up a yellow for a challenge on Redmond.

SAVE! Four minutes have been added on at St Mary's, where Southampton are the side asking all the questions now in an attacking sense. Redmond runs straight at his opponent before sending him to the ground, with his resulting shot again kept out by star man Heaton.

SAVE! Van Dijk, from all of 40 yards out, takes on a shot which ends right down the throat of Heaton. The Englishman just had to make sure he got well behind that well-struck effort, which he more than did. Half time seconds away now.

Referee Mike Dean blows his whistle for half time, in a game that has lacked quality in front of goal but has more than made up for that with some top-quality saves. Tom Heaton is solely to thank, producing a few top-class stops to keep his side level at the break.

It took seven minutes for Southampton to create their first opening of the match after a cross from the left was met by the head of Charlie Austin, only for Tom Heaton to produce the first - and best - of his many saves. The Englishman got across superbly to palm the ball aside, and a more straightforward stop was to come a few minutes later as Dusan Tadic blasted the ball straight at him.

Both teams lost a player to injury in the opening 45 minutes - Matt Targett, in for Ryan Bertrand who is himself on the sidelines, hobbled off to mark way for Premier League debutant Sam McQueen, while Burnley had to take off Steven Defour. The Clarets failed to register an attempt on target in the first half - their best chance falling to Sam Vokes midway through when the former Southampton fan volleyed Stephen Ward's cross wide of the target.

The big moments in the match were continually involving Heaton, who denied Tadic 35 minutes in with his upper body when the creative midfielder was played through in bizarre circumstances by Fraser Forster's punt upfield. That came moments after Johann Berg Gudmundsson saw his appeals for a penalty under a challenge from Virgil van Dijk turned down by Mike Dean, but that proved to be a rare attacking move from the visitors as Southampton continued to knock on the door.

Tricky winger Nathan Redmond twice used his quick footwork to turn an opponent inside out and test Heaton, with the England back-up keeper - a doubt for today's game after withdrawing from international duty - coming out on top on both occasions. Heaton, who has now played 138 games in succession for Burnley since joining more than three years ago, was to be tested once more prior to the break by a long-range Van Dijk drive, which was never going to find a way past the in-form stopper.

A change apiece in a goalless first half, but will we see any more alterations at the midway point? Here is a reminder of the options available to both managers at St Mary's Stadium.

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: McCarthy, Yoshida, Long, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg

BURNLEY SUBS: Flanagan, Kightly, Bamford, Robinson, Tarkowski, Arfield

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RESTART! Southampton get us back underway on the South Coast. Six shots on target for the Saints in the first half, but will they have better luck against inspired Burnley keeper Heaton in this second period?

Vokes comes deep to win the ball for his side, but when looking forward there is a huge gap which he has vacated. The Clarets need to get a few more bodies forward if they are to win the game, yet a point is probably what they are holding out for.

Southampton's long-running unbeaten run on home soil, currently standing at eight games, has not looked under too much threat so far. Vokes did somehow get his boot on the ball in the box a few moments ago, though, which required a big block to help aside.

The pressure really growing on the visitors now, as Southampton turn up the tempo and throw all they have at their opponents. The Saints going all out to find that breakthrough goal early in this second half.

I said they've been knocking on the door - Southampton have now knocked that door down and finally have a breakthrough at St Mary's. It is Charlie Austin who scored it, helping the ball over the line from close range at the second time of asking after Van Dijk met a corner at the back post.

Burnley must now come out of their shell in search of a leveller, which will leave gaps open at the back for the likes of Tadic and Redmond to make the most of. Southampton just keeping things professional since edging ahead by knocking the ball around.

Dyche might well be thinking of making another change now, this time of his own choosing rather than an enforced one, with Southampton still looking comfortable. Not enough attacking intent from the Clarets with nearly an hour played.

Puel will not be sitting, or standing as is the case right now, too comfortably with just the one goal in it. Southampton are closing in on that record of seven games without conceding, made all the more important by the tightness of the game.

SAVE! Redmond squares the ball for Tadic, who turns and fires towards the top corner of the net. Heaton was there to help the ball over the crossbar, meaning another set-piece for the Clarets to defend.

Southampton have their second goal of the afternoon, and it has come from another corner kick. Redmond just peeled off his marker to give himself enough space to take on the shot when it arrived, sending the ball straight through Heaton who had no chance on this occasion.

Southampton's tails are really up now as they look to score a third of the match, with Burnley just unable to clear their lines. Dyche has surely got to be thinking of making a change or two now - this game is fast slipping away from him.

PENALTY TO SOUTHAMPTON! Southampton boasting nearly 70% of the ball in this second half, which sums up just how dominate they have been. Tadic plays in McQueen to run in behind Gudmundsson - the Iceland international bringing down the debutant to concede a penalty.

He was somehow denied a goal by Heaton in the first half, but Austin now has two to his name today - this latest one coming from the spot. After McQueen was brought down by Gudmundsson, the Englishman coolly sent his pen down the middle to seal the points for good.

SAVE! McQueen again involved in this latest attack, which ends with Romeu blasting a shot on goal from 40 yards out for Heaton to comfortably collect. Can't get my head around Dyche's lack of action - his side are being torn apart and still he sticks with the same XI.

SUBS! Gudmundsson is replaced by Kightly fresh on the back of giving away that penalty, as Dyche finally makes his second change of the match. Two-goal Austin is replaced by Jay Rodriguez - a former Burnley man being replaced by another.

PENALTY TO BURNLEY! A potential route back into the game for Burnley, as Mike Dean points to the spot after seeing Tadic push Mee in the back when defending a corner kick. Vokes to step up...

How about this for a second half! Two penalties and now four goals in the space of 30 minutes, as Vokes sends his spot-kick right down the middle to end Southampton's run of clean sheets. That is also the Clarets' first away goal of the season.

Romeu with another bullet strike, which this time sails over without Heaton needing to get a touch to the ball. Both managers still have a change available to them - surely something they will make the most of following a gruelling 30-minute spell.

Burnley enjoying their best spell of the match, as they finally get bodies forward and ask questions of their opponents' backline. Romeu was on hand to produce a last-ditch challenge, meaning his side retain their two-goal lead.

BURNLEY SUB! Patrick Bamford is brought on for George Boyd, as the Clarets look to make the most of this prolonged spell of pressure. Puel will not be panicking too much right now, with his side still two goals to the good.

Southampton just allowing time to tick down now at St Mary's, with just seven minutes of the contest left to play. The momentum has gone out of the game over the past few moments, with Burnley unable to capitalise on their strong spell.

It is worth pointing out that Mike Dean has now awarded 19 penalties since the start of last season in the Premier League - more than any other referee. Burnley will feel slightly aggrieved by the one call, and they were also denied a spot-kick in the first half.

SOUTHAMPTON SUB! James Ward-Prowse is given three minutes to impress, as he takes the place of Nathan Redmond. The departing player has had another impressive game, creating a few chances for himself and scoring one.

SAVE! Skipper Jose Fonte comes within inches of adding a fourth Southampton goal, cleanly meeting a corner which skims the post on its way through. Ward-Prowse, on for just a minute or so, tests Heaton with attempt number 32 of the match.

SAVE! Rodriguez really should have added his name to the scoresheet after getting on the end of McQueen's cross but, for what seems like the 100th time today, Heaton denied the substitute forward. Still time for another, though!

We are now three minutes into the five added on and Southampton are still looking comfortable, knowing that the points are now safely in the bag. This second half has had it all really, but the Saints never truly looked like losing - or drawing - this game.

The full-time whistle sounds at St Mary's, meaning another victory for Southampton on home soil. The Saints were frustrated by Burnley keeper Tom Heaton in the first half, who made 11 stops overall, but Charlie Austin scored twice and Nathan Redmond also registered to make it nine games without defeat here in the Premier League.

That conclude's Sports Mole's live text coverage of events on the South Coast. Reaction from St Mary's is to follow shortly, while an on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here. Thanks for joining!