Saints fell prey to those lapses in concentration again to only draw in a game that they really should have won if they had finished off a number of chances that they really should have buried.

This was always going to be a game that would be tough for Saints, they seem to struggle against sides that sit back and go on the break and that is what happened again on Saturday.

In games such as this one and the game against Wolves a few weeks ago, you need to be able to take your chances when they come and keep concentrating for the whole game.

This plan had gone out of the window when after only 13 minutes Tino Livramento was caught ball watching and allowed Cornet to run off him and have a free header, the left back can be excused in that he has made few mistakes this year, but this was only his 9th Premier league appearance and sometimes at his age you just have to learn the hard way.

For the next 25 minutes of so Saints has a plethora of chances in which they really should have scored, a header from Moi Elyounoissi went just wide, Theo Walcott had a good chance but pulled it wide, Nathan Redmond had perhaps the miss of the season and Tino Livramento had a glorious run that saw his curling shot come off the inside of the post.

With the break looming though the left back redeemed himself for his early error and headed home a Nathan Redmond corner to put Saints level.

After the break Saints came out quickly and when on 50 minutes Armando Broja carried the ball and fired home with a cross shot into the far post you felt there would be only one winner.

All Saints had to do now was stay strong and keep concentration as they did against Leeds and surely the three points were in the bag, Burnley for their part were keeping to their game plan, get men behind the ball, spoil the game with petty fouls and time wasting at every opportunity and bang the ball quickly up front to try and catch us on the break.

This they managed only 7 minutes later, a long ball up to field was chested down and the subsequent ball through to Cornet found Jan Bednarek a yard off his man who turned and hit a ball that bouncing a couple of yards in front of goal in the corner gave Alex McCarthy no chance.

Now Burnley really did what Burnley do, a few years ago Saints fans moaned about not getting entertainment, but watching Burnley is as entertaining as watching paint dry, they are a nasty grubby little team who time waste from virtually the opening whistle of the game.

The referee failed to get hold of this and they got away with it much to the chagrin of the crowd.

But with 33 minutes to get a winner Saints had plenty of time and if I have a fault it is with Ralph Hasenhuttl's failure to make a substitution until the 74th minute, Theo Walcott was not having a good game and replacing him with Stuart Armstrong was the obvious choice.

We needed a player who could drive at the heart of the visitors defence and offer something different than crosses into the box, Stuart Armstrong was the man who could do this, yet it was the 74th minute before he came on.

The departure of the injured Broja was a blow and Che Adams the obvious substitution, but why did we not throw on Adam Armstrong to the 89th minute ?

But a point is a point and after the weekend's fixtures were completed we still have the same gap between us and the bottom three and that is a good thing.

But the old issues were still there on Saturday, we have to keep concentration and we have to start putting away chances.

We had 16 attempts only 3 less than Liverpool had against Manchester United yesterday but only 4 on target, one less than Burnley had despite only having 9 shots throughout the game.

There were many plus points about Saturday, but ultimately all the plus points can be undone by far less minus ones, if we had defended like Burnley we would not have conceded either goal.

We still lack leadership and unless we get it the same old problems will keep happening.

It was an enjoyable afternoon for all that though, we saw an entertaining game despite Burnley's attempts to reduce it to their level, I just thank God I am a Saints supporter and not a follower of Burnley, it must be awful to watch it week in week out.

Photo: Action Images

saintpete01 added 18:11 - Oct 26 spot on saintmark1976 and braveheart Sleepwalking to the championship And Baffling selections RALPH HUGGERS ARE GETTING SPLINTERS
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