Burnley missed the chance to move out of the Premier League drop zone as they drew 1-1 with Stoke City at Turf Moor.
Nugent levels after Tuncay opened scoring
Burnley missed the chance to move out of the Premier League drop zone as they drew 1-1 with Stoke City at Turf Moor.
The Clarets, though, battled hard as they had to come from behind to claim a point.
Stoke went ahead midway through the first half when Tuncay Sanli headed home after an archetypal Rory Delap throw, deep into the box, was not dealt with.
But Brian Laws' men were level not long into the the second half when David Nugent rose to head home a Martin Paterson cross.
The point means Burnley remain in the bottom three, but they have moved above Hull City and only goal difference is keeping Wolves above them. Stoke remain in 11th.
Early chance
Stoke almost made the breakthrough as early as the third minute when Abdoulaye Faye clipped a shot wide of the post following a corner from Liam Lawrence.
There followed a decent spell of pressure by Burnley but they could not take take advantage.
Danny Fox whipped in a free-kick that was diverted to safety by Danny Collins. Then Chris Eagles was set up by Martin Paterson in the 14th minute following a short spell of pressure by the home side.
However the former Manchester United midfielder sent his effort nearer the corner flag than the goal, much to his frustration.
Stoke again found themselves on the back foot when Jack Cork found space in the area but like Eagles failed to test Thomas Sorensen.
The visiting goalkeeper, however, then turned away a low drive from Fox in the 17th minute as Burnley stepped up the pace.
Stoke took the lead six minutes later following a long throw from Rory Delap. It was flicked on by Mamady Sidibe to Tuncay, who headed home.
Burnley came under pressure in the 31st minute when Matthew Etherington released Delap, only for Graham Alexander to show good positioning to block his shot.
Etherington then set up Tuncay in the area but his first touch was poor and Leon Cort was able to get the ball away.
Burnley hit back and Eagles delivered a cross to Paterson at the back post in the 39th minute. However he showed a lack of confidence and sent his effort weakly into the side-netting.
Stoke responded and Etherington latched on to a good ball from Andy Wilkinson and delivered it into the area - but Cort was able to clear.
Bright
Burnley, however, made a bright start to the second period and Eagles latched on to a pass from Nugent.
He skipped forward to the edge of the area only to go to ground following a challenge from Delap.
Eagles appealed for a free-kick but referee Howard Webb would have none of it and allowed play to continue.
Burnley stunned Stoke by drawing level in the 52nd minute with a goal out of nothing. Paterson turned Collins inside out before delivering a superb cross deep into the area.
Nugent was the first to react and left Sorensen stranded with a powerful header - his sixth goal for the club.
It was an open game now with both sides going for the win, rather than settling for a point.
Etherington tried to release Wilkinson in the 82nd minute but goalkeeper Brian Jensen anticipated, then a minute later substitute Dave Kitson made space for himself before rattling in a shot which tested Jensen.
Burnley came close to getting the winner in the closing moments of the game with Eagles sending a shot over the bar and substitute McDonald finding the wrong side of the post with his effort.
| Burnley |
Team Statistics |
Stoke City |
| 1 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 1 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 4 |
Corners |
4 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
11 |
| 0 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 56.30% |
Passing Success |
57.80% |
| 12 |
Tackles |
15 |
| 91.7 |
Tackles Success |
100 |
| 55.5 |
Possession |
44.5 |
| 51.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
48.5 |
|
