Walsall 0 Burnley 0 - Pete Oliver's big match report

ON THIS evidence there can be no doubting Burnley's stomach for a fight as they set the benchmark for the rest of their away-days in the relegation struggle.

At times it wasn't pretty, but Burnley proved beyond doubt that,when the chips are down,they are capable of rolling their sleeves up and slugging it out.

Walsall may not have set the world alight this season but they are no mugs either, particularly at the Bescot Stadium where they have lost just three times this season, beaten Sheffield United and drawn with Nottingham Forest.

Burnley's away record of 13 defeats has been well documented and another on the back of losses at Wycombe and Carlisle would have made life even more difficult for them.

Their response was a first clean sheet in the League since beating Southend in January and an almost complete stranglehold on a side that beat title favourites Watford on their home patch four days earlier.

Chris Woods had no difficult saves to make on his Burnley debut following the sale of Marlon Beresford to Middlesbrough, although he did show a command of his area with a couple of pressure-relieving punches.

The chances didn't exactly flow at the other end either during a fiercely competitive and never dull match.

But the Clarets certainly went closest to scoring and had the best chance of the game through Glen Little.

Walsall boasted plenty of potential Gallic flair in their line-up with the French pair of Jean-Jacques Eydelie and Didier Tholot, who could have been brothers as well as countrymen given their similar builds, making their home debuts.

The Frenchmen met some Lancashire grit, however, and there was only one winner on the day as Burnley's defence, with Chris Vinnicombe in at left-back, performed magnificently. The defence have been guilty of some costly slips in recent weeks but inspired by Gerry Harrison and Neil Moore, the whole back five was rock solid.

They were also uncompromising and there were bookings for Harrison and Moore but the Clarets sent out a message that they will be no soft touch on this form during a run-in which will see only the strong survive.

Mark Ford carried on the theme in midfield where no quarter was asked or given and, along with Little and Paul Weller, created several avenues of attack which were not always fully explored.

Burnley lacked punch around the Walsall penalty area which reduced their potency but there were times when they stretched the home defence and threatened to take all three points.

None more so than when Harrison took it on himself to stir things up with a typically forceful run from half-way which ended with a thumping shot over the bar.

Runs from deep looked the best way of opening up the Walsall defence when Little followed Harrison's example on the half-hour.

The midfielder played a one-two with Andy Payton as he bore down on the box but, having received the return, could not apply the finishing touch as his effort whistled just over the top.

With it went Burnley's best chance of winning the game, although it didn't necessarily look that way at the time as they built up a real head of steam with Harrison firing in a long-range free-kick and Cooke volleying goalwards from 20 yard from Mark Winstanley's cross. Walsall's better moments came to nothing thanks to Burnley's whole-hearted defending with Moore making a couple of timely clearances and Vinnicombe producing the perfect challenge to deny Tholot a clear shooting opportunity.

Tholot's threat was largely nullified but the Clarets were grateful for a piece of poor control from the Frenchman early in the second half when the way opened up for him.

The frustration felt by he and Roger Boli was illustrated by Boli's retreat further into midfield after the break as Michael Rickets moved into a more central striking role.

And Rickets was also guilty of a shocking first touch when John Hodge's apparent miscue fell perfectly for him in space beyond the far post. His total mis-kick ensured a quiet afternoon for Woods whose only scare came when he and Harrison had a break down in communications and Tholot nipped in to almost claim the winner.

But late chances were not just restricted to the hosts. Burnley, often lifted by searching runs from Weller and Little, were dangerous on the break and James Walker had to be quick off his line to save at Cooke's feet from Little's back heel.

Then when Chris Brass returned the ball Cooke beat the off-side trap but not Walker as his glancing header went wide.

Brass again proved himself a useful outlet wide on the right and often got in behind the attacking Chris Marsh and when he won a corner in stoppage time Burnley sent the big guns up for a final assault.

There were to be no late heroics on this occasion but with the platform put back in place for another push for safety there is scope for starring roles in the 11 games that remain.

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