Source: Team_Talk
Penalty miss costs careless Clarets
Graham Alexander's penalty miss proved costly as Burnley saw their 100% home record disappear following a 0-0 draw with Bristol City.[LNB] The Clarets dominated from start to finish as they looked for their fifth successive victory at home this season, but a mixture of poor finishing and a fantastic City rearguard action saw the spoils shared.[LNB]Alexander's penalty miss was his first in Burnley colours, but the home side had more than enough opportunities to claim all three points.[LNB]Alexander's powerful first-half effort sailed wide of the post after Tyrone Mears had been fouled by Danny Haynes in the 26th minute.[LNB]Jay Rodriguez hit the woodwork after the interval but the Robins nearly stole all three points when Jonathan Stead's effort from 12 yards produced a magnificent save from Brian Jensen.[LNB]Wade Elliott headed against the bar in the final minute but Keith Millen's men held on for a draw.[LNB]The Clarets started brightly as City goalkeeper David James was called upon to save headers from Jay Rodriguez and Clarke Carlisle.[LNB]Jack Cork then went close to breaking the deadlock but the young midfielder's 25-yard strike went narrowly over the bar.[LNB]Burnley were given a golden opportunity to take a deserved lead when they were awarded a penalty.[LNB]Mears latched on to Chris Eagles' lovely chip and, as he went through on goal, the Jamaican international was hauled down by Haynes in the area.[LNB]Referee Scott Mathieson wasted no time in pointing to the spot but Alexander fired wide, his first penalty miss for Burnley from 19 attempts.[LNB]Alexander looked to make amends eight minutes later but his free-kick was saved by James at the second attempt just ahead of an advancing Cork.[LNB]After the interval, Burnley were indebted to Jensen when he made a point-blank save from Marvin Elliott in the Robins' first clear opportunity on goal.[LNB]At the other end, Rodriguez's header left James stranded but the effort was cleared off the line by Christian Ribeiro.[LNB]Burnley stepped up the tempo and James was on hand to superbly tip Eagles' thumping 20-yard effort round the post.[LNB]From a similar distance, the midfielder tried his luck again and though the effort went past the outstretched James, it was fractionally wide of the right-hand post too.[LNB]Chris Iwelumo's close-range strike looked goalbound but Ribeiro once more spared the visitors' blushes with a block on the line.[LNB]Burnley were nearly caught out on the counter when Stead unleashed a shot that looked certain to be heading in the bottom corner only for Jensen to push it round the post.
