BURNLEY warmed up for their Europa League second qualifying round second leg with Aberdeen with a goalless home draw against Montpellier.

The French Ligue 1 side’s trip was poorly timed with the English heatwave having a hiatus.

The visitors, who were backed by less than 10 travelling supporters, had left behind sunny skies and temperatures of 30-plus degrees for this game at Turf Moor, which was doused in drizzle and significantly cooler than we’ve experienced of late.

And there was little of note to brighten up the day, particularly as Robbie Brady appeared to suffer an injury setback as he limped off before half-time.

Jeff Hendrick was the only player to stay in the side from the line-up that had faced Aberdeen last Thursday, playing alongside a fit-again Aiden O’Neill, as manager Sean Dyche made almost wholesale changes from the Europa League second qualifying game.

Ashley Barnes returned after a minor injury set-back, while Sam Vokes, who came off the bench to score Thursday’s equaliser at Pittodrie, partnered him up front.

With the Premier League season a fortnight away, starting at Southampton, Dyche was keen to increase the number of minutes in his men.

The game offered little as a spectacle in a grey and miserable first half, despite early half chances at both ends.

Brady conjured the first for Burnley with a free kick that just needed a touch to divert it into the net but still needed a save from Benjamin Lecomte nevertheless to prevent it from sneaking in.

At the opposite end Paul Lasne worked the ball onto his left foot in a central position and took a shot from around 22 yards that Adam Legzdins palmed away to his left.

Burnley looked the more likely to make the breakthrough as the game wore on. Jon Walters earned a corner following Daniel Congre’s challenge in the box, and from Brady’s delivery Kevin Long nodded down for Vokes at the far right post. But the striker was unable to deliver a repeat of last Thursday’s equaliser at Aberdeen as he hooked the ball over the bar.

Aiden O’Neill then went on a strong solo run and delivered a decent ball into the box from the right, but neither Vokes or Ashley Barnes were able to connect.

Montpellier were restricted to chances from distance, with Legzdins getting down comfortably when Isaac Mbenza took aim from over 25 yards.

Despite their frustrations the visitors continued to put pressure on the Burnley backline and Long, who captained the side, conceded a corner to ensure the advancing Andy Delort was denied a sight of goal.

The half petered out, but not without incident as Brady, who is returning from a long-term knee injury, went off before the break with what appeared to be a hamstring problem, replaced by youngster Dwight McNeil.

The sun broke through in the second half, and Hendrick almost made the breakthrough for Burnley but his 49th minute drive was cleared off the line by Pedro Mendes.

The remainder of the half was punctuated by a succession of substitutions for both sides in the name of pre-match fitness.

Barnes and Hendrick were withdrawn on the hour, and later Vokes, with Thursday’s re-match with Aberdeen at Turf Moor in mind.

The closest the Clarets came to a goal was when Long headed wide from McNeil’s free kick.

It was Montpellier who had the better of the second half chances, as Mbenza went close with a 35-yard free kick before he was withdrawn, and Legzdins saved well from substitute Giovanni Sio.

BURNLEY: Adam Legzdins; Phil Bardsley, Kevin Long, Jimmy Dunne, Charlie Taylor; Jon Walters, Aiden O’Neill, Jeff Hendrick (Mason Goodridge 60), Robbie Brady (Dwight McNeil 42); Sam Vokes (Dan Agyei 70), Ashley Barnes (Nahki Wells 60).

Subs: Trialist (George McMahon), James Tarkowski, Jack Cork, Aaron Lennon, Chris Wood, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Stephen Ward, Matt Lowton, Ashley Westwood, Ali Koiki.