BURNLEY summoned on the two substitutes, Barnes, Wallace, looking for their very own Dambusters. But this time the resulting bouncing bomb rebounded only off the crossbar.

Vito Mannone, the Sunderland goalkeeper reduced to a spectator as Ashley Barnes' deflected effort looped over his head and looked like it might drop into the net with five minutes to go, breathed a sigh of relief.

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Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni had been similarly relieved at almost exactly the same stage a week earlier, when he saved Scott Arfield’s penalty at Selhurst Park.

The route to the back of the net remains blocked.

The luck is not with the Clarets in front of goal right now, and Burnley fans know it.

The warm round of applause that greeted the final whistle said as much.

Some sets of supporters around the country might not take kindly to their side going 526 minutes without a goal.

Imagine how Newcastle United fans would react, should Alan Pardew’s team encounter such a drought.

But, for the most part, Burnley followers are understanding right now.

They knew this Premier League season was never going to be easy but they trust in their players, and particularly their manager.

With good reason, after the heroics of last term.

And even without a goal since Arfield’s strike against Chelsea only 14 minutes into the new season, they have still picked up three draws in their opening five games.

They would have liked a win by now, and a home game against Sunderland did seem the ideal time to get it, but promoted teams have certainly made worse starts.

They want for nothing in determination or work rate.

Former Burnley and Sunderland midfielder Kevin Ball greeted both sets of fans at half time – introduced with mention of the tackle on David Dunn that once earned him both fame and infamy in East Lancashire.

Sometimes when a legend returns it is a reminder of what the current team is missing, but the Clarets are not short of Ball’s driving force right now. They have that with Dean Marney, with David Jones, and with others in various positions.

If the Clarets fall short this season, and it remains very much an if, it will certainly not be for the want of trying.

Burnley may not be scoring goals, but they are delivering the high tempo football that their supporters appreciate.

Sunderland’s attempts to slow the game right down in the first half, under their Uruguayan boss Gus Poyet, were met by ridicule by the home fans.

First ironic ‘oles’ as the Black Cats passed the ball around in defence, then a hearty cheer as the move ended with a pass right into the arms of Tom Heaton. That Poyet was disappointed with a draw suggests he possibly underestimated the ability this Burnley side do possess.

Few teams will get an easy ride from the Clarets this season.

Manchester United didn’t, even Chelsea got a scare.

There may not be goals to celebrate, but there is still plenty of pride among Burnley fans at the moment.

If another 33 goalless draws would be enough to guide them to safety, well maybe some would take that right now.