LAST week Burnley were grateful to returning 37-year-old Michael Duff for his heroics in the win over Manchester City, but seven days on they were thwarted by a man a year older than the Clarets veteran.

When Kelvin Davis replaced stricken goalkeeper Fraser Forster in the early stages of this game Danny Ings, Sam Vokes, Ashley Barnes and George Boyd must have been licking their lips.

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The 38-year-old hadn’t played a competitive game in over a year and had shipped three goals in the FA Cup meeting between these two sides in January 2014.

But any hopes of ring rust for the greying veteran were quickly put to bed as he made a string of fine saves in the first half which helped to turn the game in the Saints favour.

Having named the same side that beat City last week, the Clarets were the better side in an opening 45 minutes that got better and better as it went on.

But they didn’t get their rewards, and while Davis was the hero, boss Sean Dyche and his players admitted afterwards that the finishing had made life more comfortable for the goalkeeper.

With those just above them in the league also losing it was no damage done for the Clarets, but with fixtures running out it is a source of frustration that they came away from St Mary’s empty-handed despite playing so well in that first half.

The return of Vokes to the starting line-up has made an immediate impact and he was dominant in the air against Toby Alderweireld and Jose Fonte.

But it was an afternoon of frustration for the pair who were returning to their roots. Both were born locally and supported the Saints as kids.

Both had first half chances to get on the scoresheet, just as they had done in that 4-3 FA Cup reverse last January, but neither could take them, and Vokes in particular will be disappointed he didn’t make more of two fantastic first half chances.

Having both come close to scoring in the first half, they were hardly involved in the second, with Ronald Koeman’s half time introduction of Victor Wanyama for Dusan Tadic shoring up the home side’s midfield.

The defeat means the Clarets have lost 26 of 34 away games across their two Premier League campaigns, which suggests the four fixtures that remain at Turf Moor, against Tottenham, Arsenal, Leicester and Stoke, could be crucial.

But for a defining 20 minutes at the end of the first half on the south coast they could have improved those wretched statistics.

After Forster was replaced by Davis the game opened up, mostly in Burnley’s favour.

They should have taken the lead midway through the half. George Boyd started the move with a crossfield ball to Barnes, and his cross was touched by Ings to an unmarked Vokes, but from 10 yards out his half volley was struck almost straight at Davis.

The veteran keeper managed to block the shot away for a corner, and from the first set piece Boyd saw a shot deflected behind, and he was involved when the second came over, going down under Fonte’s challenge.

Referee Roger East waved away the appeals, but Boyd was adamant he deserved the spot kick, although any contact from the defender on Boyd’s ankle appeared minimal.

When the goal arrived Southampton had hardly threatened, and it had an element of fortune to it. Sadio Mane’s header was blocked by Shackell, and when the ball fell to Clyne he drove it back across goal, and with the help of a deflection it fell to Shane Long who converted.

It was end-to-end stuff and Koeman’s side should have doubled their lead, only for Graziano Pelle to somehow hit the crossbar from a free kick which was headed back into this path by Morgan Schneiderlin.

From that Saints chance the Clarets immediately broke away, with Ings starting the counter and it looked like he had finished it when he drilled a shot across Davis, only for the goalkeeper to make his best save of the afternoon.

Back came Southampton, Clyne’s 30-yard drive was deflected just wide, before Heaton had to be at full stretch to tip Davis’ header over.

Next it was Burnley’s turn to have a go, Kieran Trippier’s cross was headed back across goal by Barnes, and Vokes header was turned over by Davis, although again the effort was too close to him.

After a helter skelter first half Koeman looked to bring some control back into the game, and he did just that with the introduction of Wanyama.

Suddenly Burnley were struggling to recapture their rhythm and work the ball forward as easily as they had done.

Just before the hour the advantage was doubled, with Ryan Bertrand drilling a cross in from the left at an awkward height, and Shackell could only deflect the ball beyond Heaton as he stuck out a despairing leg.

Southampton have the Premier League’s best defensive record this season and they were never letting a two goal lead slip.

After a frantic end to the first half, the final 20 minutes passed by without incident as the Clarets were left to rue those missed chances.