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Pearson knew his side had to take the points, and incredibly thought, missed chances apart, they deserved to in a game that the Clarets won on merit. "We were done by a sucker-punch right on half time but we cannot feel sorry for ourselves," he said.
"We just have to bounce back. We have two games left and we have to do whatever it takes to get the points to ensure we stay up. There is no doubting it has been a very disappointing day but we need to put this behind us as soon as possible.
"I am sure there will be some people who feel right not that the season has gone to a new depth but we cannot allow ourselves to think that. I have to make sure I pick the players and the staff up and get us ready for a very tough game at West Brom. With the match being put back to the Monday we have to be prepared for the fact that we could be back in the bottom three by then and if that happens then we have to deal with it.
"I could not fault the players for their effort but we did not always have enough quality to open them up. It was just not our day and I am bitterly disappointed. We had stressed the need to guard against complacency and I don't think we were complacent.
"We had plenty of chances to win the game but we could not take them and now we have to get upbeat again very quickly. This result has now put us under pressure once more but we still have the opportunity to turn it around."
For Owen Coyle and Burnley it is no longer a chase for the play offs but looking to get back to winning ways after successive defeats against Norwich and Sheffield United, and he was pleased to get that first win away since the 4-2 victory at QPR in February.
"It was a great win and that gives us our best points total for six years," Coyle said after captain Steven Caldwell's goal had given us our first league win at Southampton in 61 years. "That gives us foundations to build on and shows we are heading in the right direction.
"I have been disappointed and hurting as much as anyone else with the results in the past couple of weeks. This now gives us a platform and we will now look to bring a few in over the summer to compliment what we have and try to take the club on."
Coyle explained that he had to contend with the absence of a number of players for this game. "Kyle Lafferty obviously missed out with is appendix, Mark Randall was unwell before the game and Jon Harley's baby was unwell and had to be rushed to hospital. So we had numerous things to cope with, but that has been the story of the season.
"I would have liked to have had a fully fit squad available and have some continuity of selection, but it wasn't to be. But I think we have shown that when we are focused and tuned in we have a terrific group of lads.
"It was a long journey, but we have shown determination and grit and passed it around very well at times. But equally there is still room for improvement and that's what we'll look to do.
"The fans turned out again in their numbers and they were vocal, and it's good to give them something to shout about."