ASHLEY Barnes’s stoppage time penalty earned Burnley a point on an afternoon of high drama at Turf Moor.

The Clarets striker tucked home his side’s first league spot kick since April 2017 with just seconds remaining after Southampton’s Jack Stephens was penalised for handball.

The point extends Burnley’s unbeaten run to six top flight games but only tells half the story.

Barnes, who was denied by Alex McCarthy and the crossbar in the second half, was brought down by the Saints keeper on 31 minutes for what looked like a certain spot kick.

Referee Anthony Taylor disagreed and booked the Clarets striker for diving.

The flashpoint livened up what had been a drab encounter until that point.

Southampton took the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Nathan Redmond was given too much space to advance forward and drive a low shot into the corner of the net.

The Clarets, who brought on debutant Peter Crouch a debut in the final 15 minutes, huffed and puffed for an equaliser with Barnes denied by Alex McCarthy and the crossbar.

It didn’t look like a leveller would come. But with the final play of the match Stephens handled Ashley Westwood’s cross and Barnes held his nerve.

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