MORGAN Schneiderlin’s equaliser denied Burnley victory over Championship leaders Southampton at Turf Moor this afternoon.

Charlie Austin had put the Clarets ahead in the 53rd minute but a Southampton side including Burnley old boys Jack Cork, Danny Fox and Richard Chaplow levelled with 10 minutes left.

Austin and Jay Rodriguez both had shots blocked as the Clarets had the better of the first half, while Adam Lallana headed wide for the visitors.

There was little in the way of clear cut chances until after the interval, though, with Jos Hooiveld having to clear Rodriguez’s stabbed effort after Kelvin Davis had dropped Brian Easton’s cross.

Seconds later Kieran Trippier fired in a cross from the right and Easton arrived at the back post to shoot wide.

But Burnley took the lead in the 53rd minute as Rodriguez beat Hooiveld to Easton’s cross and Austin pounced on the knockdown, hooking home from six yards.

Lee Grant soon had to save from Frazer Richardson at the other end, while Southampton should have equalised when Rickie Lambert arrived unmarked to meet Richardson’s cross but saw his header bounce up off the ground and strike the bar.

Lallana then had two good chances to make it 1-1, failing to get a proper connection on a free header from Fox’s cross and then nodding wide from an even better position after getting on the end of another centre from the left back.

And Southampton did level the match with 10 minutes left as Fox crossed from the left once again and the ball was flicked on at the near post for substitute Schneiderlin to convert from six yards.

Andre Amougou put a header just wide from Trippier’s corner late on but Southampton had the best chance to win it when Lallana was put through before seeing his shot saved by Grant.

Burnley: Lee Grant; Kieran Trippier, Andre Amougou, David Edgar, Brian Easton; Ross Wallace (Zavon Hines 88), Marvin Bartley, Chris McCann, Junior Stanislas (Dean Marney 73); Jay Rodriguez, Charlie Austin (Alex MacDonald 90). Subs not used: Jon Stewart, Ben Mee.

Southampton: Kelvin Davis; Frazer Richardson, Jose Fonte, Jos Hooiveld, Danny Fox, Guly (Richard Chaplow 46), Dean Hammond (Morgan Schneiderlin 62), Jack Cork, Adam Lallana; David Connolly, Rickie Lambert. Subs not used: Bartosz Bialkowski, Aaron Martin, Steve De Ridder.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.

Attendance: 14,170.