BURNLEY moved eight points clear from the bottom three with a third away point of the season at Sunderland.

In a game high on endeavour but short on quality both sides missed gilt-edged chances to claim all three points.

And while Burnley’s wait for an away win goes on it is a result that will hurt the Black Cats more as they remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League table.

The first clear chance for the Clarets arrived on 11 minutes as Andre Gray and Stephen Ward combined down the left with the latter sending a low cross in on a plate for George Boyd inside the six-yard box, only for the winger to miss his kick with the goal at his mercy.

Scott Arfield then sent a free-kick wide before Ashley Barnes headed over from an Arfield corner.

Five minutes before the break Barnes missed a chance even more inviting than Boyd’s.

There was an element of fortune in the way it landed at his feet, with Arfield’s miss-hit shot going straight to the striker’s feet but he managed to poke an effort from six yards wide when it looked easier to score.

Sunderland’s first good chance came three minutes into the second half as Fabio Borini got the wrong side of Matt Lowton to latch on to Darron Gibson’s ball. Tom Heaton opted to stay on his line and Borini could only shoot straight at him from 10 yards.

The Black Cats had started the second half quickly and Heaton was called into action moments later to push Januzaj’s close-range effort away after a cross from Jermain Defoe.

In a game of glorious chances going begging Sunderland submitted their entry just after the hour. Sebastian Larsson’s whipped cross looked certain to be headed home by Billy Jones from five yards out only for the right-back to somehow head across goal and well wide of Heaton’s goal.

Burnley’s threat had diminished in the second half but Sam Vokes came close to a winner with four minutes to go, stealing the ball of Jason Denayer before seeing his shot from a tight angle saved by Jordan Pickford.

There was still time for some late drama with Heaton making a near post save from Borini’s effort from inside the area to secure Burnley’s third away point of the season.