Blackpool 0-0 Burnley: Championship leaders held by strugglers in dour draw

BlackpoolImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Blackpool have kept clean sheets in their past two home games but are six points adrift of safety

Struggling Blackpool held runaway Championship leaders Burnley to a goalless draw in an uneventful Lancashire derby.

The Clarets came close to taking the lead before the break but Chris Maxwell made a fine save to deny Johann Berg Gudmundsson's well-hit shot.

Vincent Kompany's men enjoyed almost 80% of the possession against the Seasiders but could not find a way past the impressive Maxwell in the home goal.

A point for Mick McCarthy's side, who have won just one of their past 18 matches, does little for their bid to avoid relegation and they are now six points adrift of safety.

Burnley are now 13 points clear of second-placed Sheffield United, who lost earlier in the day at Blackburn, and 17 above third-placed Middlesbrough.

The Clarets beat League One Fleetwood on Wednesday to secure an FA Cup quarter-final at Kompany's old side Manchester City but were not at their fluent best against a stubborn Tangerines side.

Maxwell saved well from Gudmundsson in the first half and Scott Twine and Nathan Tella after the break to secure a second clean sheet in their past two home games.

They will hope to build on this result when they visit Bristol City next Saturday, while Burnley host another local rival, Wigan, on the same day.

Blackpool boss Mick McCarthy:

"I'm very satisfied with our afternoon's work actually - and how the players committed to that.

"With the shape of the team, they all had to work very, very hard. They had to because we were playing against the best team in the league.

"I spoke in our pre-match press conference about having a performance, despite whatever happens against the best team in the league who are miles in front.

"But win, lose or draw you want a performance so the fans could get behind us and enjoy. We've certainly done that and we've got a point out of it."

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany:

"I think you always want to set the standard as high as you can, but it just felt like one of those games.

"We didn't concede loads of chances, although I felt we approached the final third enough times to get the goals.

"But you play against a team that's got something to fight for, so you've got to expect it to be difficult and, in the end, it might just be a point gained given the context."

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