Source: Telegraph
Burnley 1 Stoke City 1: match report
It took Burnley 33 years to return to the top-tier yet, despite a season of toil, they are not ready to surrender their place amongst the elite without a fight. [LNB]David Nugent's second-half equaliser ended a damaging four-match losing run and earned Brian Laws's side a crucial point which takes them above Hull in the relegation zone, level on points with 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers. [LNB]Burnley showed plenty of spirit which will give their fans hope for the final nine games after coming from behind after Tuncay had given Stoke City a first-half lead. [LNB]This was the start of a monumental few days for Burnley with fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers visiting east Lancashire on Saturday. [LNB]Back-to-back wins would revitalise Burnley's season for the remaining eight matches, yet after a bright start Laws' side found themselves in the familiar position of chasing the game after Tuncay was gifted his fourth Premier League goal of the season. [LNB]The long-serving Turkish international was unmarked when he headed Mamady Sidibe's flick past Brian Jensen in the 23rd minute after Rory Delap had launched yet another long throw into the Burnley penalty area. [LNB]It was only Stoke's eighth away goal in the top-tier but yet another catastrophic failure by Burnley's defence in their attempts to record a first clean sheet for five months. [LNB]Since defeating Hull City 2-0 at Turf Moor at the end of October, Burnley had conceded 38 times in 17 matches before last night, but few as soft as the one which allowed Stoke to take a significant step towards securing their Premier League future. [LNB]Manager Tony Pulis is refusing to get complacent and has set his side a safety target of two wins from their remaining 11 games. [LNB]But the way they have been performing lately Stoke are on course to better last season's impressive 12th-placed finish. [LNB]They produced a typically hard-working performance at Turf Moor although Burnley should have equalised before half-time. [LNB]When Chris Eagles found Martin Paterson on the edge of the six-yard area in the 38th minute, it looked certain he would score but Paterson somehow scuffed his effort and the ball fizzed wide. [LNB]However, Paterson quickly redeemed himself for his glaring miss by providing the ammunition for Nugent to equalise in the 52nd minute. [LNB]The Northern Ireland international produced an inch-perfect cross for the on-loan Portsmouth forward, standing on the edge of the six-yard area, to direct a powerful header beyond the outstretched arms of Thomas Sorensen in the 52nd minute. [LNB]Turf Moor erupted and, for the first time, Stoke were on the back-foot. [LNB]Sorensen flapped at a cross from the industrious Paterson before Stoke survived strong appeals for a penalty when Nugent tumbled inside the Stoke area under a challenge by Robert Huth. [LNB]Burnley continued battle until the final whistle but a victory for the hosts would have been harsh on Stoke, who remain unbeaten from home in the league in 2010. [LNB]
