Seven goals, six games for bargain striker Austin
LONDON (AP): AS THE goals have dried up for Jamie Vardy at Leicester City, another former non-league striker has embarked on a hot scoring streak for a Premier League club.
Charlie Austin made it seven goals in six games in all competitions for Southampton with a double in yesterday’s 3-1 victory over Burnley that took the south-coast club up to eighth in the standings.
In a career that began outside England’s four professional leagues, Burnley provided the 27-year-old Austin with one of his stepping stones to the world’s richest soccer competition.
Austin was a bricklayer working a full day on a building site before playing on a part-time basis for Poole Town in the ninth tier until 2009. It took third-tier club Swindon to pluck Austin from obscurity, for Burnley to take him up another league, and then QPR to give him a shot at the Premier League.
PENALTY SPOT
Still, doubts persisted around Austin’s fitness. Southampton were able to snap him up for £4 million (then US$6 million) in January. What a bargain that now seems.
Austin’s first goal yesterdaycame in the 52nd minute, Nathan Redmond’s low volley from the edge of the area doubled Southampton’s lead, and Austin was on target from the penalty spot in the 66th minute, following Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s push on Sam McQueen.
The one blot on the afternoon for the Saints was Burnley becoming the first team to score against them in 612 minutes when Vokes scored a late penalty.
“This team will always create chances, it’s a dream for any striker,” Austin said. “I am in the right place at the right time.”
Burnley is only a point above the relegation zone, with seven points from its first eight games back in the Premier League. Austin
MIDDLESBROUGH 0, WATFORD 1
The day’s first Premier League game lacked the entertainment provided later by Southampton, with the only memorable moment coming with Jose Holebas’s eye-catching goal.
The 32-year-old Greek midfielder sent a shot from the edge of the penalty area soaring into the top of the net in the 54th minute at the Riverside stadium in northeast England.
Watford climbed to 10th place as Middlesbrough remained winless at home this season since returning to the Premier League and only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.