David Jones presses home the point

Ronald Koeman brings his Saints side to Turf Moor on the back of three-successive defeats against Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United, having only lost two of their previous 12 games.

But Southampton still boast the Premier League’s best defensive record, having conceded only 12 goals so far.

The Clarets lost 4-3 at St Mary’s in the FA Cup third round in January, but the Saints will be much-changed, following a huge turnover of players during the summer, while former Burnley forward Jay Rodriguez - who netted in that game - is still recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

That cup tie was a feast of pressing football from both sides, and Jones feels that is the way forward again tomorrow: “Southampton have done really well, and it will be a really tough game.

“But at Turf Moor, we’ll be looking to play our usual high-energy game and look to build on the performances and points we’ve got in recent weeks.”

Burnley’s pressing - so pivotal in their success last season - has become more prevalent of late, particularly in the 2-1 win at Stoke City, and at QPR on Saturday, and the former Manchester United man added: “I think we’ve always tried to be a pressing team, it’s just more difficult against certain teams in the Premier League.

“I think, probably what you’re seeing is the belief that as a team we showed in the Championship, that high energy play. Getting points on the board in recent weeks helps that.”

That belief hasn’t been knocked by a first defeat in five outings at Loftus Road: “It’s hard, but the atmosphere around the club, and what the manager instils in us, is we don’t dwell on disappointment, although initially you are after a game.

“I felt we were the better side, but certain key moments in the game either we didn’t take advantage of, or didn’t deal with as well, so we were disappointed.

“There were some really good chances, but we just didn’t have that end product, which was disappointing as I thought we showed good energy throughout.

“Their keeper produced a great save from Boydy as well.

“But we can’t dwell on that, there were positives, but generally, after the performance, and given they are in and around us, we wanted to do better.”

He added: “There’s belief there, a lot of energy, and we were worthy of getting something but it wasn’t to be.

“I thought we were on top in the first half and disappointed to be going in level at half-time. We’ll just have to learn from our mistakes.”