SOUTHAMPTON fan Sam Vokes was the Clarets hero as his superb late header sunk the Saints at St Mary’s to extend Burnley’s stunning start to the Premier League campaign.

Vokes rose from the bench to find the bottom corner of Forster’s net with just eight minutes remaining to secure back-to-back 1-0 wins for Burnley.

Sean Dyche’s men have now taken 19 points from 11 games this term, and four of their five wins have by a goal to nil.

That win that took them sixth in the Premier League, temporarily at least, and they have suffered just two defeats in their opening 11 fixtures.

Chances were at a premium in the first half and although the Clarets enjoyed possession in promising areas, the only real opportunity they had to show for it was a Johann Berg Gudmundsson shot from distance which flew harmlessly wide.

They were rarely troubled at the back though and Nick Pope wasn’t called into action until the 34th minute. James Tarkowski could head Cedric Soares’ cross to Sofiane Boufal and he volleyed into the ground but Pope was across to his near post to turn it behind.

That chance gave the Saints the impetus to end the half on top and Ryan Bertrand skipped inside Gudmundsson’s challenge and hammered a shot goalwards which James Tarkowski slid across to block.

Pope was called into action again a couple of minutes before the break, diving low to his right to turn a Nathan Redmond drive behind after the winger had cut in from the left to get a shot away from 15 yards.

Pope made another fine save 10 minutes into the second half, although he was making amends for failing to claim a Dusan Tadic corner, the ball failing to Maya Yoshida who sent a volley goalwards on the turn from the edge of the box only for Pope to acrobatically tip it over.

Since carving out the first real chance of the game the hosts had been on top and shortly after Steven Davis had volleyed a half-cleared corner over from 18 yards Sean Dyche turned to his bench, introducing Ashley Barnes and Vokes for Jeff Hendrick and Chris Wood.

The changes got the Clarets more on the front foot, but one counter ended when Vokes’ cross was header clear before the striker was played into the inside left channel after good work by Robbie Brady, but his attempt to return the favour fell short of the Irishman.

Vokes made no mistake eight minutes from time though. Gudmundsson’s right-footed cross was just behind him but the Wales striker produced a stunning header from 12 yards to find the bottom corner.