Burnley climbed to within just seven points of the Premier League’s top-four with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Southampton at a blustery St Mary’s.
In was a freakish start in freak weather on the south coast, as Burnley opened the scoring in bizarre scenes – Ashley Westwood finding the net straight from a corner after an incredible blunder from Danny Ings on the front post.
Their lead last just 16 minutes, however, as Ings made amends for his error by thumping Saints level with a brilliant strike from the edge of the area against his former club.
Southampton looked the more likely to score and almost went in front when Jack Stephens’ header hit the bar just before the break.
But it was Burnley who took the lead again in the second-half with a stunning strike from substitute Matej Vydra – his first goal in over a year.
Southampton didn’t give up, though, and the hosts had a penalty appeal turned down by VAR after a cross appeared to hit Burnley defender Ben Mee on the arm.
But in the end Ings’ early error cost Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side as they suffered their third defeat in four league games.
The players battled through terrible conditions at St Mary’s, as the wind and rain of Storm Dennis descended. It was so blustery that even the floodlights were shaking on the roof of St Mary’s.
And the weather appeared to play a part in Burnley’s freak opening goal inside the first two minutes of play.
Westwood swung an early corner into the box and Ings, who was marking the front post, inexplicably let the ball go, thinking it was heading straight out of play.
But the wind may have fooled the striker, or he just completely misread the flight of the ball, as it instead dipped under his body and over the line, with goalkeeper Alex McCarthy rendered helpless.
Mee wheeled away in celebration after he poked the ball in the net to make sure, but it had already crossed the line from Westwood’s effort as Southampton players, fans and manager Hasenhuttl were all left stunned.
Burnley’s lead didn’t last long as Ings – who else? – restored parity.
The in-form striker has scored 46.9% of Southampton’s Premier League goals this season – the highest percentage of any player in the top flight – and his confidence showed as he turned on the spot to curl the ball into the bottom corner from outside the box for his 15th of the season.
Both teams were forced into changes in the first-half, with Burnley frontman Chris Wood and Saints winger Sofiane Boufal both picking up injures on the sodden turf.
The rain picked up during half-time and the conditions really were treacherous when the players came back out, but Dyche’s choice of sub paid off as Vydra gave the away fans something to celebrate on the hour mark.
The forward did brilliantly to chest down Jeff Hendrick’s ball forward, before taking another deft touch to beat his man and smashing the ball into the top corner.
It was only his second league goal for Burnley and his first for 17 months.
Saints were frustrated after dominating the opening half, and while Burnley were the better team overall after the break the hosts kept pushing for another equaliser.
Stuart Armstrong lashed two chances over the bar and Clarets goalkeeper Pope showed why many are tipping him to be England’s No.1 for the Euros with a superb fingertip save to deny Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Dyche’s men also had to survive a late VAR check, but Mee was adjudged not to have deliberately handled in the penalty area, as they held on to secure their third win in four games.
Hasenhuttl, meanwhile, will be left with plenty to think about after Southampton’s third defeat on the trot in all competitions.
