Clean sheets are proving to be our Achilles heel

Southampton had lost at Bristol City on the previous Wednesday but Burley had been enthused by the way they came storming back in that game. "I was very pleased with the way we played in the second half at Bristol City and we wanted to start the same way here, and we did begin very brightly," he said.

"We could have been four up in fifteen minutes. We scored two and hit the woodwork twice and when those don't go in you get a bit anxious, but we always looked as though we could score.

"We were disappointed with the first goal we conceded but we got back in the front at a good time. Stern John is scoring regularly and is full of confidence now. His hold up play is excellent and Bradley Wright-Phillips has improved a lot this season. He is getting stronger and his stamina has improved and they are combining well.

"We always look capable of scoring but we conceded too many and that is an area we have to look at. It was good to have Wayne Thomas back because there is no doubt we have missed him. And Jhon Viafara again showed he is a colossus in the centre of defence with his pace and strength.

"It was a good result because this is a very difficult place to come and they were on a good run, but we are moving in the right direction now. We have won four out of six and we are beginning to string a few wins together and to find some consistency."

Steve Cotterill, in charge of Burnley for the 150^th time in the league rightly pointed to that awful start. "It was almost a comeback, but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb," he said after seeing the Clarets lose their unbeaten home record.

"When we got back to 2-1 we gave ourselves a chance and if we had got the next goal we think we can then go on and win the game. But when you concede a third, and especially in the manner we conceded the goals, then it doesn't matter what you do.

"Once that third went in, whilst we didn't give up, we didn't quite have enough to go and get an equaliser. You can make as many subs and change the formation as much as you like, but once you are indulging in giving them three goals then it is going to become a problem for you.

"If you cannot head the ball, you are going to concede goals, You just have to take more responsibility in certain situations and there are a few who need to go home and have a little look at themselves tonight.

"Whether it was the early goal or not, I don't know, but I felt it took us twenty minutes to get into the game and clean sheets are proving to be our Achilles heel.

"But the side is built to win and we have gone and played some good attacking football and lost because of our defending.