AWAY DAY TRANSFORMATION

What a difference a year makes. Three hundred and eighty five days earlier the Clarets had been put through their latest away day humbling at St Mary’s.

Fortunate to only lose 3-1, Sam Vokes’ late penalty was Burnley’s first away goal of the season - on October 16. This was the point when the Clarets looked befuddled by life on the road. They were reliant on Tom Heaton to keep the scores down.

An 0-0 draw at Old Trafford would follow, but it relied on a heroic Heaton and a fair share of fortune, and a 4-0 defeat at West Brom was the nadir.

Now this side look seasoned campaigners on the road. One defeat in six is remarkable given the start away from Turf Moor. This built on the win at Goodison, two classic away day successes.

CHANGING THE GAME FROM THE BENCH

The use of substitutions is perhaps one area where Sean Dyche has been questioned in some quarters in the past.

In fairness his options available from the bench now far exceed what he has had available in the past, and he made great use of them here.

Southampton had enjoyed a good spell in the last 15 minutes of the first half and the first 15 of the second, and Burnley just couldn’t get out of their half.

The introduction of Sam Vokes and Ashley Barnes changed that. The Clarets offered a threat again and it was fitting one of the subs got the goal.

SETTING TARGETS

We are barely a quarter of the way through the season yet Burnley are now just one point short of being halfway to that magical total of 40.

That’s what they finished last term on and although the players maintain that is the first target again for 2017/18, they are surely eyeing more now, even if that is just in private.

But just what is achievable? Of course a lot of that could depend on Sean Dyche’s future.

Presuming he stays a top half finish looks attainable. The top six are surely impenetrable, but after that there doesn’t appear to be a standout side in the league this season that can wrap up seventh comfortably as Everton did last season.

It’s all to play for and there’s no reason Burnley can’t be part of that discussion. They’ve certainly been the best of the rest so far this season.

THE DEFENSIVE UNIT

Plenty of praise has come Nick Pope’s way recently and he was once again excellent at St Mary’s, with a couple of sharp saves and a generally commanding presence in his area.

But this back four look to be on top of their game right now. Matt Lowton, James Tarkowski, Ben Mee and Stephen Ward have played all but nine minutes together this season in the Premier League and it shows.

There is a great understanding between the back four and they look incredibly well drilled, and as a result the opposition are being restricted to few chances. There look to be plenty more clean sheets to come, especially if Mee and Tarkowski can continue to perform as they are doing.

A NERVY FEW DAYS?

The first questions when Dyche arrived to speak to the media after this victory were once again about his future.

It’s been a recurring theme for a few weeks now, first with the Leicester City job and now, more worryingly, the Everton vacancy.

David Unsworth’s audition at Goodison Park has not gone well and the Toffees will look to use this international break to appoint their next boss.

Will they look to Dyche? We’ll find out in the next couple of days, but it’s going to be a nervy time for Clarets fans everywhere.

It’s difficult to put into words how Dyche has transformed this club. His departure would cast a large shadow. Let’s hope he is walking out at Turf Moor against Swansea in two weeks time and the journey can continue.