IT was a case of close but no cigar for Burnley as a late equaliser denied them their first victory over Rovers for 34 years.

The Clarets took the game to their visitors early on, with Rovers keeper Jake Kean’s clearance cannoning off Sam Vokes and spinning narrowly wide.

Kean then produced a stunning double save to deny Scott Arfield and Danny Ings, but Rovers weren’t without chances themselves.

Jordan Rhodes fired over, while Tom Cairney’s long-range effort required a finger-tip save from Tom Heaton.

The second half was a cagey affair with chances few and far between.

With less than 15 minutes left, Burnley took the lead when substitute Junior Stanislas played the ball into Ings, who delivered the perfect return pass for the former West Ham man to curl home.

But Burnley were denied victory five minutes from time.

Michael Duff’s attempted clearance from Arfield’s poor back-pass, cannoned off Rhodes and looped in.

There was still time for Rovers midfielder Lee Williamson to be sent off for pulling back Ings as the Clarets striker raced clear.