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Time and time again the Saints number 8 was left wide open with only a passing interest being expressed by the Clarets backline. For a team whose defenders boast over a thousand appearances between them the defending often bordered on amateurish and the Hungarian goalkeeper was obviously not impressed.
Soon after captain Steve Caldwell called it a day. It was obvious that he wasn't fit, however as little composure as the rest of the defence exhibited there after, you could plainly see why Steve Cotterill felt it necessary to risk the big Scot. Caldwell's replacement David Unsworth slotted into the already beleaguered backline, but frankly all he really served to prove was that we are seriously missing Michael Duff.
Twelve minutes in Wright-Philips completed a hat trick of post hits, but the Saints weren't to be made to wait much longer. On 15 minutes Nathan Dyer, who was allowed to roam free for much of the game, punished the Clarets for there bashfulness. The livewire winger whipped in an inch perfect cross for Jason Euell to nod home and put the visitors into a commanding lead.
You would have thought having Dyer on the books as a loanee the other season would have given us a clue how to contain him, but the Clarets strategy seemed to be to ignore him as much as possible and to hope that a Premier League team signed him before the end of the half. Moments later a similar play lead to Clarke Carlisle desperately heading behind as the diminutive Dyer took advantage of Burnley's left side weakness once again.
Finally Burnley seemed to stir into action. Several runs by left winger Kyle Lafferty offered some excitement but unlike Tuesday night, no end product. On the other wing Wade Elliott seemed to be making some headway down the Burnley right. On one occasion a mazy crossfield run set up Chris McCann for a blast that drifted narrowly wide.
Then on the half-hour a breakthrough. Top scorer Andy Gray had been largely anonymous until then but his layoff to McCann sent the flame haired midfielder hurtling towards the Southampton goal. Darting between two defenders McCann coolly beat Kelvin Davis to give the Clarets a largely undeserved lifeline.
As the break approached the Clarets tried in vain to tie up the proceedings. Gray twice had good efforts. First a header from a corner that he should have done better with then a curling effort that just drifted wide. Unfortunately the Clarets went in still trailing.
As the second half opened you could sense that there could be a lot more goals left in the game. With both defences looking likely to concede it became a question of who would score the all important next goal. Despite a couple of dangerous free kicks from the strangely off form Robbie Blake, the Saints were the ones who were next to draw blood.
Once again Dyer tormented Stephen Jordan on the Burnley left, before sending a cross towards the far post that appeared to be headed for a cluster of Clarets. Somehow despite being out numbered the former Sunderland Striker Stern John rose unchallenged to head home. It was a sickening blow, however the Clarets almost responded immediately. As they pressed an attempted Elliott cross cascaded off an outstretched hand. A possible penalty? Well maybe we have used up all this season's ration. The linesman looked less than convinced.
Soon after Alan Mahon replaced Blake, but despite some close efforts including a glancing Gray header that flashed just wide, it needed the introduction of Ade Akinbiyi to really get things moving. At least now we had someone who seemed to care. After an "accidentally on purpose" demolishing of last season's villain Jhon Viafara, and almost heading in a corner, the sub took a feed from fellow sub Mahon and beat Davis to bring the Clarets within a goal of their foes.
Could we pull off an unlikely and largely undeserved comeback. Well sadly no. All we had time for was a point blank header which pretend striker Carlisle deposited into the Cricket field stand, and for Southampton sub Grzegorz Rasiak to explain why he was on the bench, by missing an open goal.
All in all a very disappointing performance. In the two games I have witnessed since I returned across the Atlantic I have seen Burnley only look really convincing for about 4 minutes. Since Andy Gray despatched the penalty against Norwich, it has been a worrying trend of less than inspiring football. Hopefully it won't last or else I may be keeping up to date with my beloved Clarets on "The Throw One Inn" once again.
Reporting from Turf Moor- Mike Jones- HanoverUSAClaret