Burnley 1-1 Southampton

Manolo Gabbiadini lashes home to snatch a point for Southampton

Substitute Manolo Gabbiadini scored a 90th-minute equaliser as Southampton climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone with a draw at Burnley.

The Clarets looked to be heading for their first win of 2018 thanks to Ashley Barnes' close-range goal and Nick Pope's spectacular save from Josh Sims.

But Italy international Gabbiadini lashed home to finish off a move during which referee Bobby Madley had inadvertently impeded Burnley's Ashley Westwood.

Madley was booed off the pitch at full-time as the home fans showed their irritation.

Dusan Tadic had earlier gone close for the visitors - who climb to 16th - in a dour first half low on chances.

Gabbiadini's late goal meant they extend their improving record to one defeat in nine games, while Burnley remain seventh.

Fine margins hurt Clarets

Ashley Barnes prodded home for what looked set to be the game's only goal before Gabbiadini struck

Victory would have moved Burnley to within a point of their record Premier League haul of 40, set last season.

They were on the brink of their sixth home win of the season in the league, and the fifth by a solitary goal.

Though Burnley have moved ahead of teams such as Everton - who have spent far more than them - their inability to kill teams off leaves them vulnerable.

Madley's accidental role in Southampton's leveller is likely to compound manager Sean Dyche's disappointment.

Madley also denied the hosts a penalty when Barnes was shoved in the area, and ignored appeals from the hosts when they felt Saints keeper Alex McCarthy had handled outside the area.

But a point apiece is arguably a fair outcome from a contest in which possession was split 50-50.

Pope put himself in contention for save of the season when he touched Sims' late drive onto the post.

And the Clarets were able to welcome top scorer Chris Wood back to their matchday squad - he was an unused substitute.

Pellegrino's savvy rewarded

A Southampton fan hugs Gabbiadini after his dramatic late intervention

Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has been under pressure of late, with his side having slipped into the bottom three.

But the Argentine has slowly been accumulating the positives.

Since defeat by Crystal Palace in the opening week of 2018, they have lost just once in nine matches, with a run in the FA Cup appearing to boost what looked to be flagging confidence.

And Pellegrino can reflect on a job well done here after his late changes made a positive effect.

Bringing on 20-year-old Sims added spark to the visitors' attack, and he would have equalised but for the fine stop by Pope.

And it was another substitute, Gabbiadini, who reacted so decisively after Saints got a slice of good fortune when Madley got in Westwood's way.

The Italian scored six goals last season - his first in England - and is now only two off that tally this campaign.

Pellegrino will now hope for more signs that January recruit Guido Carrillo - signed from Monaco for £19m - will adjust too.

There were few of those at Turf Moor, with the Argentine managing just two shots and only one on target.

Man of the match - Wesley Hoedt (Southampton)

The Southampton defender made more tackles, clearances and interceptions than any team-mate

Burnley still searching for three points - the stats

• Burnley are winless in their past 11 Premier League games (D6 L5), their longest such run in the competition since January 2010 (12 games).

• Southampton have not lost any of their past nine Premier League games which they have started in the relegation zone (W4 D5), since a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in December 2012.

• Saints have won just once in their past 15 Premier League matches (D8 L6).

• Gabbiadini netted his first Premier League goal in 15 appearances, and first since scoring twice against Newcastle in October 2017.

• Barnes scored his fourth Premier League goal of the season. No Burnley player has scored more this term (level with Wood).

• The Clarets have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their past five home Premier League games, this after keeping four shutouts in the previous five.

'Blame won't change result' - what they said

Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "You can only control what you can control. The performance was good, certainly enough to win three points. It is another point on the table. We're still finding ourselves. We've had a tough run. We did enough to win. The game was petering out to nothing.

"They huffed and puffed, but didn't create too much.

"We should have had a penalty for a foul on Barnes, and he reacted well to get his goal. There was a handball outside the box by their keeper, then the goal of course. Apart from all those things, I'm pleased with everything."

On Southampton's controversial equaliser: "It's irrelevant who I blame, because it is not going to change anything.

"We know what this division is about, if you lay your hand on anyone in the top half they go down."

Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino: "At the end, the game was difficult, because Burnley don't concede too many. The goal gave us a good feeling, because there wasn't too many chances. We competed at the start of second half but maybe they were stronger than us in some respects.

"It's one point, but the draw is almost the same as a win."

What's next?

Burnley host Everton on Saturday, 3 March (12:30 GMT), while Southampton welcome Stoke on the same day (15:00 GMT).