Burnley 0-0 Sunderland: Black Cats hit crossbar on way to point at leaders

Championship leaders Burnley moved 14 points clear at the top of the table and extended their unbeaten league run to 18 games with a goalless draw at home to Sunderland.

The result did little for 11th-placed Sunderland’s play-off hopes as they failed to score for the first time in 20 league matches, although they were entitled to rue their luck when Amad Diallo’s deflected strike hit the crossbar in the 69th minute.

Abdoullah Ba had the ball in the Burnley net with four minutes remaining but was denied by an offside flag as Sunderland became the first team to keep a clean sheet at Turf Moor this campaign.

Patrick Roberts and Daniel Neil tested home goalkeeper Aro Muric during an impressive first-half showing from Sunderland, while Ashley Barnes missed two inviting chances for Burnley.

The in-form Nathan Tella could not rediscover his recent clinical finishing for the hosts, and the lively Manuel Benson and Josh Brownhill also misfired when well-placed after the break as neither side could find a winner.

The Clarets now need a maximum of eight points from their final eight matches to clinch promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Vincent Kompany’s side are 17 points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough – the team they visit in their next league game on 7 April.

Sunderland remain 11th after their longest run of scoring in games in the second tier since 2005 came to an end.

Tony Mowbray’s side are six points adrift of the final play-off position occupied by Millwall, who could stretch that to nine points if they win at West Brom on Saturday.