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Adam Lanigan at Turf Moor
BBC Sport England

 

(BBC Sport) Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford saved two Wilson Isidor penalty kicks as they played out a dramatic goalless draw with Sunderland.

The first one arrived in the 86th minute when Trafford kept out Isidor’s powerful effort, before he repeated the feat in the fifth minute of stoppage time as the French striker again went to the goalkeeper’s right.

The penalty saves preserved Burnley’s unbeaten home record and enabled them to move level on points with Leeds United at the top of the Championship, albeit with an inferior goal difference.

However, Isidor’s misses cost the Black Cats the chance to overtake their opponents and draw level with the Yorkshire side as they remain fourth, two points behind the joint leaders, with Sheffield United sandwiched in between.

When the Black Cats won the reverse fixture back in August, it was the first sign that they meant business this season after the arrival of the previously unknown Regis Le Bris.

Nobody was really expecting them to still be in the hunt for automatic promotion five months later, but they have shown admirable sticking power up to this point.

That Saturday afternoon on Wearside was also a first defeat for Scott Parker’s Burnley. Remarkably, there has only been one more in the subsequent 23 games.

The Clarets’ goal has been kept under lock and key with only nine conceded in their 26 matches – and only four at home – as the foundation for their push for an immediate return to the top flight.