Brilliant Burnley boost survival bid with vital Saints win

Connor Roberts and Nathan Collins were the unlikely Burnley heroes as the Clarets boosted their Premier League survival bid with a priceless 2-0 victory over Southampton at Turf Moor.

Roberts settled Burnley's early nerves with a sumptuous, curled effort (12) - his first Premier League goal - before Collins headed in for only the second time in the top flight (44) to put the seal on a dominant first-half performance in which the hosts could only be criticised for not scoring more.

Southampton were indebted to goalkeeper Fraser Forster for keeping their hopes of salvaging something alive as long as they did, but with substitute Che Adams spurning their best chances after the break there was no way for back for Ralph Hasenhuttl's off-colour Saints, who succumbed to a sixth defeat in their last eight matches in all competitions.

Victory extends Burnley's unbeaten start to life after Sean Dyche to two matches and sees Mike Jackson's 18th-placed Clarets move to within a point of safety. Repeat the performance and result against Wolves on Sunday, and Burnley will climb out of the bottom three at the expense of Everton, piling the pressure on the Toffees ahead of the Merseyside derby.

Burnley nearly paid the price for their early nerves when Oriol Romeu headed a gilt-edged chance wide from James Ward-Prowse's corner with just seven minutes on the clock. Five minutes later those nerves were settled in emphatic fashion.

Returning right-back Roberts picked up the ball in a pocket of space on the edge of the area and, off his unfavoured left foot, picked out the far corner of the Southampton with an exquisite, curled finish.

Goalkeeper Forster single-handedly kept Southampton in the game, brilliantly smothering Wout Weghorst's