Derby County were forced to settle for a point as a stubborn and firm Burnley defence held strong to secure a goalless draw at the iPro Stadium.

Derby County were forced to settle for a point as a stubborn and firm Burnley defence held strong to secure a goalless draw at the iPro Stadium.

Closely fought throughout the first half, Paul Clement’s oozed vibrance and quality in the first half as the visitors were indebted to a solid showing by Tom Heaton and his defence.

Whilst Sam Vokes had three chances of his own for Sean Dyche’s side, the Rams, who pressed and pressed, just could not find a way through to find the breakthrough in an entertaining clash in Derbyshire.

In front of the Sky Sports cameras, Derby started strongly. Their tempo high and their football imaginative, Burnley found themselves forced into sitting and soaking up the pressure.

Following two early penalty shouts that were waved off by the Dean Whitestone, the referee, Johnny Russell saw a deflected strike easily gathered by Tom Heaton, before Jacob Butterfield on his debut drew the same outcome with a low drive from range.

The visitors’ only chance of note in the first 45 minutes came from a goalmouth scramble in the Derby penalty area, but George Boyd poked over Scott Carson’s crossbar.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first as Sean Dyche’s side soaked up heavy spells of Derby pressure.

Butterfield, making his home debut, shot well over from distance, whilst Richard Keogh headed a glorious chance from a Russell corner narrowly wide, with his frustration at missing the opportunity clearly on show.

Butterfield passed up two further chances as the game approached the hour mark, but after standing firm, Burnley grew back into the contest.

After collecting a pass from former Derby man David Jones, Sam Vokes stung the palms of Carson, but Clement’s side continued to have the better of the openings.

Keogh saw a towering header cleared off the line, before the returning George Thorne forced Heaton into a fine save with a fizzing drive.

For all their pressure, a mistimed tackle by Forsyth on the left appeared to have let Michael Kightly in, but the wideman’s cut back into the area was volleyed over by Vokes.

Jeff Hendrick, the substitute, saw a low drive from 35 yards easily gathered by Heaton with seven minutes remaining, before Vokes wasted another clear opportunity, scuffing a shot into the grateful arms of Carson when well placed.

With time ticking down, Russell bent a high free narrowly wide and over and Martin saw a drive saved by Heaton, but the Clarets’ wall held out and the Rams were forced to settle for a point.

Derby County: Carson, Christie, Keogh, Shackell, Forsyth; Thorne (Hanson, 81), Butterfield (Hendrick, 74), Johnson; Russell, Weimann, Martin (C)

Substitutes not used: Grant, Bent, Pearce, Shotton, Warnock

Burnley: Heaton, Darikwa, Duff, Keane, Mee; Boyd, Jones, Arfield, Kightly (Taylor, 81); Vokes, Gray (Hennings, 30)

Substitutes not used: Gilks, Ward, Lowton, C Long, Barton

Attendance: 26,834 (592 Burnley supporters)

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