Burnley 0-0 Sunderland: Visitors consider themselves a rare spot on Turf Moor

It only delayed the inevitable, but Burnley’s gallop towards the Premier League was slowed a little by Sunderland.

Vincent Kompany’s side lacked much of their usual rhythm, but they came close to promotion – and the title – with a point that put them 17 ahead of Middlesbrough in third place.

Hopes of getting everything settled and dusted over Easter weekend now depend on other results, but the Clarets will want to get across the finish line in their next two games against closest challengers Boro and Sheffield United.

Sunderland, who retain their own play-off ambitions, largely held the leaders at bay and might even have clinched a win.

Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo was unlucky to see a deflected shot bounce off the bar just minutes after coming on, Josh Cullen’s sliding block making the difference.

Vincent Kompany’s side from Burnley were 14 points ahead after a 0-0 draw against Sunderland

Replays showed Patrick Roberts, who played Diallo, was flagged for offside in the lead up, but there is no VAR here.

Sunderland had the ball in the net six minutes from time but Abdoullah Ba was caught offside when he snapped Jack Clarke’s low ball home from the left after the home defense pushed out.

The red smoke bomb detonated to celebrate the away game proved a bit premature but Sunderland were worthy of their point.

Kompany spoke before the game about the timing of his team’s 6-0 win at Manchester City in the FA Cup being “impeccable”, as a brutal reality check.

He said the embarrassing result had a “shock effect” to keep his players from “sipping pina coladas on the beach”.

Mind you, judging by the number of passes that went astray here early on, they might have been.

Resilient Sunderland fought hard for the point as Burnley dominated 70 per cent of possession

Possession-obsessed Clarets grabbed the ball but ran it straight out three times and Ian Maatsen’s loose pass into his own box almost resulted in a goal, only for Jordan Beyer to save the day.

Sunderland’s Pierre Ekwah, making his first start, designed the first chance of the game, a volley from the edge of the box which he swept wide.

It took the leaders 27 minutes to create something remarkable. They forced a corner and when it was only half taken, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, playing for the first time in almost three months from injury, fired the shot. Keeper Anthony Patterson equalized with a strong hand.

Sunderland didn’t see much of the ball but grabbed a punch on the break. When Josh Cullen was stolen in midfield, Roberts sliced ​​in from the right and curled a shot that may have sneaked in and required a save from Arijanet Muric.

From the corner, Dan Neil shot through a crowd but straight at a grateful Muric.

Clarets forward Ashely Barnes is tackled by Sunderland defender Danny Batth at Turf Moor

Burnley still had a few more gears to find. Nathan Tella wanted a penalty – reinforced by the Turf Moor regulars – when it was checked by Neil, but referee Jarred Gillett was not fooled.

Five minutes from half-time, the previously reticent Ashley Barnes found herself free in the Sunderland box after an inventive over-the-shoulder pass from Josh Brownhill.

Barnes had time, but his attempt to pick out the top corner with his side foot had too much height and cleared the bar.

Brownhill then traded passes with Manuel Benson before his shot was deflected over the top by Lynden Gooch’s flying block.

Tony Mowbray’s side climbed to 11th in the championship standings – six points from a playoff spot

Tony Mowbray’s guards come on with renewed vigor after the break, with Roberts twisting and turning before shooting straight at Muric.

As the Lancastrian drizzle fell, Burnley tried to find some suppleness in their game. Tella’s tame low shot would never cause problems for Patterson.

Barnes was the man at the end of a nifty one-touch move involving Tella and Anass Zaroury, but jumped at the chance when the full house under the Friday night lights tried to collect them.

Instead, it was Sunderland who came closest to winning, only to settle for a draw.