Southampton recorded only their second win since Boxing Day as they beat Burnley to move within a point of Championship leaders West Ham.

Adam Lallana opened the scoring with a header from Frazer Richardson's cross.

Rickie Lambert twice went close before Billy Sharp netted his first Saints goal, although Burnley defender Ben Mee seemed to get the final touch.

Saints substitute David Connolly had a strike ruled out for offside while Burnley rarely threatened the goal.

Burnley arrived at St Mary's having won five of their last six away games while Saints' recent wobble had seen them without a win in four at home.

But it took the hosts just eight minutes to take the lead when full-back Richardson overlapped down the right and stood up an inviting cross which Lallana glanced in at the near post for his second goal in a week.

Three minutes later, former Claret Danny Fox crossed for Lambert whose shot was fingertipped wide by Lee Grant and from the corner, Lambert's header was cleared off the line by David Edgar.

Sharp, making his full debut since joining from Doncaster, made it two when he forced Lambert's cross into the net via Mee's knee.

Burnley manager Eddie Howe made a double substitution at the break, throwing Josh McQuoid and Marvin Bartley into the action, but Saints were still in control and could have added to their tally.

Lambert's cross just eluded Connolly and Grant kept out Lallana's close-range shot before Connolly thought he had bagged a third after the Burnley goalkeeper spilled a long-range effort from Lambert, but an offside flag curtailed his celebrations.

Southampton's win sets up an intriguing top-of-the-table clash against West Ham, whose match on Saturday was postponed because of the bad weather, at Upton Park on Tuesday.

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins: "Billy Sharp is going to be a massive threat in this league.

"But it is not about 11 players, we have a very strong squad to deal with the latter stages of the campaign.

"You can see the link-up play between Rickie Lambert and Billy, there are goals in both of them. They are going to be a huge threat for any defence."

Burnley boss Eddie Howe: "It was as poor as we have played for a long time. I don't think any player has come out of it with much credit except for Lee Grant.

"We have to hit the ground running now and start winning our home games between now and the end of the season.

"The defeat has served us a notice. We knew it was going to be probably our toughest game of the season and I am very disappointed with how we played."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Southampton

  • 01 Davis
  • 02 Richardson
  • 06 Fonte
  • 13 Fox
  • 26 Hooiveld
  • 04 Schneiderlin
  • 08 Cork
  • 10 Guly (Hammond - 78' )
  • 20 Lallana
  • 07 Lambert (Lee - 90' )
  • 11 Sharp (Connolly - 64' )

Substitutes

  • 16 Martin
  • 14 Hammond
  • 42 Puncheon
  • 19 Lee
  • 22 Connolly

Burnley

  • 01 Grant
  • 02 Trippier
  • 04 Duff
  • 15 Edgar
  • 36 Mee (Hines - 74' )
  • 06 McCann
  • 07 Wallace
  • 08 Marney (Bartley - 46' )
  • 26 Treacy (McQuoid - 46' )
  • 09 Rodriguez
  • 23 Austin

Substitutes

  • 12 Jensen
  • 24 Easton
  • 19 McQuoid
  • 20 Bartley
  • 16 Hines
Ref: Kettle
Att: 24,099

Match Stats

Shots

13 4

On target

7 2

Corners

13 4

Fouls

16 7

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:54 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +3:12

Shot from just outside the box by Tadanari Lee misses to the left of the goal.

90:00 +2:42

Marvin Bartley fouled by Dean Hammond, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Marvin Bartley.

90:00 +1:35 Substitution

Substitution Tadanari Lee is brought on as a substitute for Richard Lambert.

89:10

Marvin Bartley fouled by Dean Hammond, the ref awards a free kick. Kieran Trippier takes the free kick.

88:30

The offside flag is raised against Richard Lambert. Direct free kick taken by Lee Grant.

87:16

Corner taken by Adam Lallana from the left by-line played to the near post, Michael Duff makes a clearance.

87:09

The ball is sent over by Adam Lallana, blocked by Michael Duff.

86:23

Adam Lallana takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Kieran Trippier manages to make a clearance.

86:04

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Daniel Fox, save made by Lee Grant.

85:27

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Daniel Fox, The ball is delivered by Morgan Schneiderlin, blocked by Ross Wallace.

84:01

Corner taken right-footed by Adam Lallana from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Michael Duff.

83:44

Adam Lallana produces a cross, Michael Duff makes a clearance.

80:12

Richard Lambert crosses the ball, David Edgar manages to make a clearance.

78:42

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Daniel Fox, Michael Duff makes a clearance.

77:42

Jack Cork has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

77:06 Substitution

Substitution Dean Hammond on for Guly Do Prado.

76:52

Richard Lambert takes a shot. David Edgar gets a block in.

75:08

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Kieran Trippier from the right by-line, Jos Hooiveld manages to make a clearance.

74:16

Zavon Hines fouled by Daniel Fox, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ross Wallace.

73:42 Substitution

Substitution Zavon Hines is brought on as a substitute for Ben Mee.

73:30

Guly Do Prado has an effort at goal from long range that misses to the right of the target.

72:03

The referee blows for offside. Kieran Trippier restarts play with the free kick.

71:33

Guly Do Prado sends in a cross, Ben Mee gets a block in.

71:15

The ball is delivered by Guly Do Prado, Ben Mee gets a block in.

70:18

The assistant referee flags for offside against David Connolly. Direct free kick taken by Lee Grant.

69:19

Unfair challenge on Marvin Bartley by Morgan Schneiderlin results in a free kick. Ben Mee takes the free kick.

66:01

The assistant referee signals for offside against Charlie Austin. Kelvin Davis takes the free kick.

65:10

Richard Lambert crosses the ball, Effort from inside the six-yard box by David Connolly goes wide right of the target.

64:56

Marvin Bartley takes a shot. Adam Lallana gets a block in.

64:05

Adam Lallana takes a shot. Save by Lee Grant.

63:20 Substitution

Substitution Billy Sharp goes off and David Connolly comes on.

61:38

A cross is delivered by Adam Lallana, Michael Duff makes a clearance.

61:01

Ben Mee concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Lambert. Free kick taken by Jose Fonte.

59:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by Guly Do Prado on Ben Mee. Ben Mee takes the free kick.

57:44

Ben Mee fouled by Jose Fonte, the ref awards a free kick. Lee Grant takes the direct free kick.

57:07

Marvin Bartley concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Lallana. Free kick taken by Daniel Fox.

57:07

Adam Lallana fouled by Marvin Bartley, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Adam Lallana.

56:24

The ball is crossed by Chris McCann, clearance by Daniel Fox.

56:02

A cross is delivered by Kieran Trippier, clearance made by Guly Do Prado.

55:50

Centre by Kieran Trippier, clearance by Jose Fonte.

54:52

The ball is sent over by Ross Wallace, clearance by Richard Lambert.

54:39

Centre by Kieran Trippier, Adam Lallana manages to make a clearance.

54:32

The ball is sent over by Josh McQuoid, clearance made by Jos Hooiveld.

53:54

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ross Wallace from the right by-line, clearance by Daniel Fox.

52:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Marvin Bartley on Adam Lallana. Adam Lallana takes the indirect free kick.

51:55

Corner taken by Ross Wallace from the right by-line, clearance by Jose Fonte.

51:45

A cross is delivered by Kieran Trippier, blocked by Adam Lallana.

51:16

Centre by Josh McQuoid, Adam Lallana makes a clearance.

49:56

Ben Mee fouled by Jose Fonte, the ref awards a free kick. Lee Grant restarts play with the free kick.

48:47

Guly Do Prado takes a shot. Chris McCann gets a block in. Corner taken by Daniel Fox from the right by-line, clearance by Ben Mee. Corner taken right-footed by Adam Lallana from the right by-line, clearance by Ben Mee.

46:31

Frazer Richardson sends in a cross, clearance made by Michael Duff.

46:21

The ball is delivered by Daniel Fox, Ben Mee makes a clearance.

45:05

Ross Wallace fouled by Daniel Fox, the ref awards a free kick. Kieran Trippier takes the free kick.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Dean Marney leaves the field to be replaced by Marvin Bartley.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Burnley) makes a substitution, with Josh McQuoid coming on for Keith Treacy.

45:00 +2:02 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +1:02

Ben Mee is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Richard Lambert restarts play with the free kick.

45:00 +0:05

The assistant referee flags for offside against Adam Lallana. Lee Grant restarts play with the free kick.

42:41

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Daniel Fox from the left by-line, Richard Lambert produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

42:23

Jose Fonte takes a shot. Blocked by Keith Treacy.

42:17

Adam Lallana produces a cross, clearance made by Charlie Austin.

41:21

The ball is delivered by Frazer Richardson, blocked by Ben Mee. Corner taken left-footed by Daniel Fox, save by Lee Grant.

40:10

Adam Lallana challenges Ross Wallace unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kieran Trippier takes the direct free kick. Keith Treacy takes a shot from a long way out which goes wide of the right-hand post.

39:37

Jay Rodriguez gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Daniel Fox. Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.

38:31

The ball is crossed by Richard Lambert, save by Lee Grant.

36:56

A cross is delivered by Kieran Trippier, Kelvin Davis makes a save.

34:37

Keith Treacy is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.

33:46

Kieran Trippier fouled by Adam Lallana, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kieran Trippier.

32:26

Assist by Richard Lambert.

32:26 Goal scored

Goal - Billy Sharp - Southamp'n 2 - 0 Burnley Billy Sharp fires in a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Southampton 2-0 Burnley.

31:14

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Kieran Trippier, clearance by Jos Hooiveld.

28:06

Billy Sharp crosses the ball, Michael Duff makes a clearance. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Daniel Fox from the right by-line.

25:55

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ross Wallace on Adam Lallana. Daniel Fox restarts play with the free kick.

25:11

Dean Marney has a shot and went wide left of the target.

23:29

Keith Treacy takes a shot. Save by Kelvin Davis.

22:52

Daniel Fox gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dean Marney. Free kick taken by Ross Wallace.

20:12

Jos Hooiveld sends in a cross, clearance made by Chris McCann.

20:01

The ball is delivered by Richard Lambert, Lee Grant makes a save.

18:17

Free kick awarded for a foul by Morgan Schneiderlin on Dean Marney. Dean Marney takes the direct free kick.

16:47

Richard Lambert gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Duff. Indirect free kick taken by Lee Grant.

16:13

Foul by Jay Rodriguez on Jose Fonte, free kick awarded. Jose Fonte takes the free kick.

15:05

Inswinging corner taken by Adam Lallana from the left by-line, Billy Sharp concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Mee. Lee Grant takes the indirect free kick.

14:26

David Edgar concedes a free kick for a foul on Guly Do Prado. Daniel Fox takes the free kick.

13:03

Frazer Richardson delivers the ball, Ben Mee manages to make a clearance.

10:42

Richard Lambert takes a shot. Save by Lee Grant. Corner taken right-footed by Adam Lallana from the left by-line to the near post, Richard Lambert takes a shot. David Edgar makes a clearance.

9:28

Ben Mee delivers the ball, save by Kelvin Davis.

9:02

Jay Rodriguez crosses the ball.

7:17

The assist for the goal came from Frazer Richardson.

7:17 Goal scored

Goal - Adam Lallana - Southamp'n 1 - 0 Burnley Adam Lallana scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Southampton 1-0 Burnley.

6:38

The ball is swung over by Guly Do Prado, clearance by David Edgar.

5:53

Billy Sharp gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kieran Trippier. Lee Grant restarts play with the free kick.

4:58

Morgan Schneiderlin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris McCann. Lee Grant restarts play with the free kick.

4:32

Charlie Austin is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.

3:49

The ball is delivered by Frazer Richardson, save by Lee Grant.

2:52

Guly Do Prado produces a cross, Ben Mee makes a clearance.

1:40

Centre by Jay Rodriguez, Jos Hooiveld manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The game gets underway.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association