Burnley 1 - 1 Stoke City

Nugent secures draw

Updated: March 11, 2010, 8:00 AM BST

David Nugent regained his scoring touch for the second match in a row but Burnley had to settle for a point when what they really needed was a victory.

• Pulis pleased as ploy fails

It means that while Brian Laws' side move above Hull they remain in the relegation zone.

Tuncay opened the scoring for Stoke in the 23rd minute but Burnley rallied in the second half.

Laws, though, is finding it hard to make an impact since replacing Owen Coyle as manager in January.

This was his ninth league match in charge and they have won only won. Next up are fellow strugglers Wolves on Saturday - another massive game.

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.

Burnley, though, 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.

Pulis pleased as ploy fails

Stoke manager Tony Pulis could afford a wry smile after Burnley's attempts to curb the threat of Rory Delap's long throws came unstuck. The Clarets moved the advertising hoardings closer to the pitch at Turf Moor in the hope of taking the edge off the midfielder's missiles.

However, the ploy failed with Delap launching the ball into the area for Mamady Sidibe to flick on and Tuncay to opening the scoring in the 23rd minute. Burnley, though, hit back in the second half and David Nugent equalised in the 52nd minute in a 1-1 draw following a superb cross from Martin Paterson.

Pulis said: ''We noticed what they had done as soon as we came out. We get on with it, it is their club, it's their ground. They have to do what they have to do. You take it and get on with it. I don't care where a goal comes from. It is always satisfying scoring. Because he was a javelin thrower as well, Rory has that technique obviously down to a treat.''

Pulis was pleased with the way the team reacted after the FA Cup defeat by Chelsea. He said: ''We've had a lot of games lately against the bigger clubs and it takes a bit out of you. I thought we started the second half really flat. Give Burnley credit they had a right go and had the crowd behind us. We were down to the bare bones.

''We are still wearing nappies when the comes to the Premiership and we won't take any team lightly, certainly not a team near the foot of the league. We are desperate to get 40 points, that's our target.''

The point takes Burnley above Hull but they remain in the relegation zone. Manager Brian Laws has seen his side win only once in nine league games since replacing Owen Coyle but is convinced they can get out of trouble.

He said: ''Everyone expects Burnley not to be in the Premier League next year but we believe it. We have goals in us. We just have to keep it tight at the back.

''I will take a lot of things out of the game particularly the second half performance. They bullied us in the first half. The players could have felt sorry for themselves but responded magnificently.

''Nugent's goal was terrific, it was great ball in by Paterson. It set the tone and I am disappointed we didn't go on and win the game.''