Final score: Burnley 0 Sunderland 0

SUNDERLAND are still without a win in the Premier League this season after the Black Cats were held to a goalless draw at Burnley.

Both sides hit the post in the closing stages of a tense encounter between the two sides at Turf Moor.

Burnley went into the game as the Premier League’s lowest goalscorers, with one goal to their name so far this season. And, after a dour opening 45 minutes at Turf Moor, it was easy to see why.

The Clarets had their chances in a jittery start for Sunderland, but were unable to make them count.

Kieran Trippier fired a low shot into Vito Mannone’s hands with two minutes on the clock, before former Middlesbrough striker Lukas Jutkiewicz brought a save out of the Italian after Lee Cattermole’s poor defensive header dropped into the forward’s path.

Sunderland registered their first effort in anger on 11 minutes when Emanuele Giaccherini curled into Tom Heaton’s hands, but Burnley went on the attack again with David Jones firing low into Mannone’s gloves after good support work from George Boyd.

Sunderland settled soon after, and began to stroke the ball about well, and their second chance of the afternoon came on 22 minutes when Seb Larsson crossed, Connor Wickham headed on and Jack Rodwell nodded straight into the hands of Heaton.

Santiago Vergini flashed a header wide on 28 minutes from another Larsson cross, while Wickham’s 20-yard effort failed to trouble the Clarets goalkeeper.

Sunderland came out of the blocks the better side after the restart, with Jack Rodwell making Heaton work hard with a low fizzing shot from 20 yards, before Giaccherini flashed a ball across the face of goal which Burnley cleared to safety.

Burnley, however, had the best chance of the game on 68 minutes when Scott Arfield shot towards Mannone’s near post, but the Italian got down well and pushed the ball around the post.

In the aftermath, there were appeals by Burnley for a penalty when Giaccherini felled Ashley Barnes, but although Anthony Taylor did not award it, the challenge was of particular cost to Sunderland as the Italian playmaker could not continue afterwards and was replaced by Will Buckley.

Jutkiewicz brought a flying save out of Mannone on 77 minutes when the striker broke through Sunderland’s ranks and unleashed a rasping effort, while the visitors cleared to safety.

Burnley hit the crossbar with three minutes to play, Ashley Barnes rattling the woodwork after Jutkiewicz again raced clear of Sunderland’s backline.

Van Aanholt hit the post for Sunderland in injury time when the Dutchman fired one in from 25 yards, rebounding off the woodwork then off the back of Heaton’s heels to safety.

Wes Brown had to clear a Burnley looping ball over the bar as the Clarets continued their pressure, but Sunderland stayed strong and held on for the point.

BURNLEY (4-4-2): Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee; Arfield, Marney, Jones (Wallace 86), Boyd (Reid 92); Sordell (Barnes 63), Jutkiewicz. Subs not used: Gilks, Keane, Ward, Kightly.

SUNDERLAND (4-3-3): Mannone, Vergini, O'Shea, Brown, van Aanholt; Rodwell, Larsson (Gomez 67), Cattermole; Johnson (Altidore 67), Wickham, Giaccherini (Buckley 73). Subs not used: Pantilimon, Jones, Bridcutt, Graham.