Southampton’s improvement under Ralph Hasenhüttl is real: they were good value against fellow strugglers Burnley and less than a minute from gaining victory, only to be denied by a last-gasp mistake that presented the home side with their first penalty in well over a season.That was poetic justice, for Sean Dyche’s penalty paranoia raged anew in the first half when Alex McCarthy brought down Ashley Barnes as he tried to reach Phil Bardsley’s long ball. It looked like the long wait might be over and Burnley would have had the chance to go in front, yet instead Anthony Taylor booked the Burnley striker for simulation, which was hard to understand as the contact was clear and McCarthy failed to reach the ball. Matters were made worse when Southampton deservedly took the lead in the second half and looked like holding on to it until Jack Stephens accidentally handled when attempting to clear from Ashley Westwood in stoppage time. The defender went for a header with his arm raised, the ball struck it and Barnes was as relieved as anyone to put away the penalty. Related: Why transfer window was subdued – despite Mike Ashley splurge | David Conn Continue readingreadfullarticle
