Ronald Koeman has had worse birthdays . On the same day he turned 52 , Southampton kept themselves in the hunt for European football , and it was gift-wrapped by Burnley themselves . Shane Long ’ s first strike in the Barclays Premier League since November and an own goal by Jason Shackell did the trick against a Burnley team threatened with being sent back to where they came from last season . As for Southampton it will take some doing to get rid of them . Just when Arsenal , Liverpool and Manchester United thought Champions League qualification was primarily a scrap among themselves , this served as a reminder . Shane Long opened the scoring with his first goal in the Barclays Premier League since November . Long celebrates putting Southampton ahead in the 37th minute against Burnley on Saturday . Southampton ( 4-2-3-1 ) : Forster 6 ( K. Davis 14 , 7.5 ) ; Clyne 6 , Fonte ( c ) 6 , Alderweireld 6 , Bertrand 8 ; Schneiderlin 6 , S. Davis 6.5 ; Mane 6.5 , Tadic 6 ( Wanyama 46 , 6 ) , Long 7.5 ; Pelle 6.5 . Subs not used : Yoshida , Gardos , Djurcic , Ward-Prowse , Elia . Manager : Ronald Koeman 7 . Goals : Long ( 37 ) , Shackell ( OG 58 ) Booked : NONE . Burnley ( 4-4-2 ) : Heaton 6 ; Mee 6 , Schakell ( c ) 5 , Duff 5.5 , Trippler 6 ; Barnes 6 ( Wallace 82 ) , Arfield 6 , Jones 5.5 , Boyd 6.5 ; Vokes 6.5 ( Jutkiewicz 74 , 6 ) , Ings 5.5 ( Sordell 88 ) Subs not used : Gilks , Kightly , Keane , Reid . Manager : Sean Dyche 6 . Goals : NONE . Booked : NONE . MATCH RATING BY KIERAN GILL AT ST MARY 'S STADIUM . Jason Shackell 's own goal at St Mary's.Click here for our match zone service . ‘ The boys gave me the best present for my birthday , ’ said Koeman , who was serenaded by the St Mary ’ s crowd with their rendition of Happy Birthday . ‘ A good win . An important win . Three points . Nice present. ’ Yet it was horribly tense at times , as it should be against a team fighting for their Premier League lives . Burnley , fresh from beating Manchester City last week , made the Saints sing for their supper . Southampton moved to within a point of Liverpool , albeit a game ahead , and did so without Fraser Forster , the keeper with the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season . No sooner had the game got started than it was interrupted when Forster , named in Roy Hodgson ’ s England squad this week , had to be carried off on a stretcher after 14 minutes following an innocuous challenge by Sam Vokes . There was nothing in it as the Burnley striker tried to block the goalkeeper ’ s clearance but Forster was replaced by the 38-year-old Kelvin Davis , and Koeman does not think he will be able to feature for England this month . Burnley shot themselves in the foot in the 58th minute when Jason Shackell diverted Ryan Bertrand 's cross into his own net . Burnley defender Jason Shackell looks dejected after scoring an own goal against Southampton . Yet Southampton made do without Forster , and Long settled their nerves on 38 minutes . A deflected low drive by Nathaniel Clyne from the right corner of the penalty area somehow found the unmarked forward at the back post . A simple tap-in was all that was required , and the Irishman obliged . Southampton have dropped just two points from winning positions this season — fewer than any other team — but this was scrappy , to say the least . Graziano Pelle should have scored , and passed the dreaded 1,000-minute mark in the Premier League since his last goal . He hit the crossbar from close range , produced air-kicks , had headers saved , and his luck never improved . ‘ The first half was a little bit more difficult . We had good chances to score more than one goal , ’ Koeman added . ‘ There was good movement , good attacking , good chances . ‘ Pelle was a little unlucky , but he was working hard . That ’ s what you have to do if you don ’ t score . Your team-rate is important.The goals will come , ’ insisted Koeman . It was a good win. ’ The game died when Burnley shot themselves in the foot in the 58th minute . Ryan Bertrand had been a nuisance throughout , and his cross led to an outstretched knee by Burnley defender Shackell turning Ryan Bertrand ’ s cross into his own net under no pressure . Southampton , then , remain in the race , and the seemingly impossible remains possible . Southampton keeper Fraser Forster was injured after 14 minutes following an innocuous challenge by Danny Ings . Referee Roger East checks on a stricken Forster in the penalty area . Forster was carried off on a stretcher after colliding with Burnley striker Ings . Forster was replaced by 38-year-old substitute goalkeeper Kelvin Davis on Saturday . Burnley keeper Thomas Heaton saves bravely at the feet of Graziano Pelle . Burnley striker Sam Vokes controls the ball at St Mary 's Stadium . Burnley 's Ashley Barnes dives in to tackle Southampton 's Nathaniel Clyne . Southampton manager Ronald Koeman was serenaded by Saints fans on his 52nd birthday . Burnley manager Sean Dyche shows his frustration as his side went down to defeat at Southampton .
Shane Long scored his first goal in the Barclays Premier League since the same day to put Saints ahead . Jason Shackell diverted Ryan Bertrand 's cross into his own net for second Southampton goal . Keeper Fraser Forster had to be carried off on a stretcher following an innocuous challenge by Sam Vokes . Manager Ronald Koeman was serenaded by the St Marys crowd with their rendition of Happy Birthday .