SAINTS face a desperate battle to survive the drop from the Championship after a 1-0 defeat to Burnley at St Mary's.

After this defeat and with results elsewhere Nigel Pearson's side are fourth from bottom with just two games remaining - away to West Brom and at home to Sheffield United.

The only goal of the goal came in first half stoppage time when Saints lost concentration from a corner and Steven Caldwell headed home.

There was an early booking in the game with Wade Elliott being shown a yellow card inside the first minute for a late sliding tackle on Andrew Surman.

Burnley had the first effort at goal when Chris Lucketti gave the ball away on the edge of his own area and the Clarets eventually worked it to James O'Connor but his shot from 20 yards was sliced over the bar.

It was a very lively start to the game with both sides keeping the ball down and looking to break quickly.

Bradley Wright-Phillips had Saints' first meaningful effort as he cut across goal but dragged his low shot wide from 25 yards out.

As the pace of the game kept up it was McCann who again sliced over the bar with the next half chance.

Mario Licka was the next to try his luck opting to shoot after a long run on 17 minutes but firing over the bar.

Saints threatened from a corner two minutes later but the ball wouldn't quite break for them after Brian Jensen had spilled it while moments later Lucketti's shot was deflected over.

It was Saints who were now getting on top and dominating possession and territory while the early threat from Burnley was now not so potent.

But Pearson's side were still struggling to create a decent chance to make that dominance count.

Graham Alexander became the second player on the book on 26 minutes when he chopped down Jason Euell.

Inigo Idiakez whipped in the free kick from the left that was an over hit cross but dipped just over the bar.

Idiakez had a crack from 30 yards out on 33 minutes which was well struck but fizzed just wide of the post.

As the half wore on the quality football had disappeared and it became more of a scrap which suited Burnley better with Ade Akinbiyi always a big target and Andrew Cole playing a deeper role off of him.

Saints thought they had created a terrific opening a minute before the break as Idiakez flicked the ball through to Stern John with the outside of his boot. Jensen saved low down but the flag had gone up for offside.

Jensen had to make a save that counted in stoppage time from Surman's drilled effort from the left.

Richard Wright was the next keeper in action to turn Chris McCann's header over the bar.

But deep, deep into stoppage time there was no stopping Burnley.

Robbie Blake whipped in a corner from the left which saw Steven Caldwell get in front of his man at the near post to flick across goal and into the far corner for 1-0.

When the half time whistle blew Saints knew they would have to find a way to be better in the final third as, despite some good football in patches, that late effort from Surman was as near as they had come and now they really needed two goals from somewhere.

Saints at least gave themselves hope that they could do just that as they came so close to an equaliser just over a minute after the restart.

Wright-Phillips managed to get a toe to the ball after Euell's header and it trickled under the keeper but his the outside of the post. The ball ran into the six yard box but just as John looked to finish into an empty net Caldwell steamed in with a great challenge to deny him.

There was a flash point four minutes later as Akinbiyi and Youssef Safri clashed but the referee decided to have a word with them and take no further action.

John had a great looking chance on 54 minutes when Wright-Phillips cut the ball back to him but he fell over as he went to hit it and missed the ball.

Idiakez struck a shot well from 25 yards on the hour mark but it was straight at Jensen.

Both sides made their first change on 64 minutes.

Nathan Dyer came on for his appearance since December in place of Mario Licka while Burnley brought on Joey Gudjonsson for O'Connor.

Wright-Phillips saw a shot blocked but fired in the rebound on the half volley from 20 yards but again it was straight at Jensen who held on.

Chris Perry kept Saints in the game with a terrific tackle on 70 minutes. Blake fired the ball past Wright and Akinbiyi was read to tap home before Perry's brilliant sliding challenge.

Caldwell was the third Burnley player booked for a foul on Idiakez a minute later.

Idiakez came so close on 74 minutes with a low drive that was heading for the bottom corner before Jensen got down to turn it wide.

Burnley again came close to a second on 78 minutes when Caldwell got a header on target from a corner but Dyer was there to clear it off the line.

Saints made a double switch on 79 minutes with Marek Saganowski and Jhon Viafara replacing Wright-Phillips and Idiakez. Burnley also made a change with Alan Mahon replacing Cole.

Saints somehow conspired not to score again when it seemed John would finish from Viafara's cross but again he couldn't connect cleanly with it.

Juts as the fourth official held up the board to show three minutes of added time Safri rifled in a shot from 25 yards that Jensen just tipped over the bar.

Burnley made their final change with John Spicer replacing Blake.

When the final whistle blew it was Saints who were staring down the barrel after another home defeat.

Full match analysis and reaction in Monday's Daily Echo.