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 November 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 .