SOUTHAMPTON boss Claude Puel said Burnley had got ‘lucky’ in their 1-0 win over the Saints at Turf Moor.

The returning Joey Barton scored the winning goal 13 minutes from time with a free-kick, but Puel felt his side had deserved something.

They became the eighth team to suffer defeat at Turf Moor this season, but of the Clarets strong home record Puel said: “If they are lucky like today they can continue to win. It is difficult to play here with long balls, second balls but I think we can give a good answer against them.

“It is important to score and to take a good result. Congratulations for this team. It is important to win our game and at home they are strong but in this game I think we deserve a positive.”

Tom Heaton made a double save to deny Jay Rodriguez and Josh Sims in the final minute to keep the points in Burnley’s hands.

Puel added: “It is difficult of course to accept this. You can see this game. It was a difficult game against a difficult opponent with long balls, second balls, free kicks.

“We made strong work to resist. Just one free kick, strange free kick for them to win this game. It is a big disappointment.

“The attitude, the same spirit, the quality, like the game against Liverpool but we didn’t deserve this good play. Of course it is two different games.

“We can do very good work today and miss many chances, Dusan in the first half and also the second, the opponent goalkeeper made good saves.

“It is difficult to tell other things. A lot of opportunities, no chances for the opponent.”