Desperate Clarets are running dry

BURNLEY have now not won in 19 matches - but at least Luton got their first point in six games.

Clarets boss Steve Cotterill said: "In our position players have to be brave to have the ball. "There was something better about the side, but in the second half we got anxious and Luton came more into it."

New Hatters manager Kevin Blackwell said that, towards the end, the Burnley faithful voicing their frustration lifted his men. He said: "In these situations the home side gets apprehensive and players lose confidence."

It took 27 minutes for Burnley to bring a save from Luton keeper Dean Brill. Steve McVeigh played a superb ball into the penalty area and Andy Gray was there to meet it with his head, but Brill made an excellent stop.

Defender Graham Coughlan had been the first man to muster a serious shot on goal two minutes earlier, but Luton cleared after his effort took a series of deflections. The visitors reshaped their defence after 23 minutes when Leon Barnett, who had won everything in the air, had a knock and was replaced by Chris Coyne.

Gray had a second chance on 32 minutes when Steve Jones broke and put in a low cross. The striker was in the right place at the right time, but he shot weakly and Brill saved.

Blackwell's men might have led when Matthew Spring crossed for Dean Morgan, whose header went over on 57 minutes. Advertisement Four minutes later Morgan shot into the side netting, before Spring tried his hand from 20 yards on 65 minutes only for Brian Jensen to make a save. Cotterill added: "We knocked on the door in the first half, but in the second half we looked a bit scared.

HOW THEY RATED BURNLEY Jensen 6, Thomas 6, Harley 6, Coughlan 7, Jones 6 (G O'Connor 6), Gray 5, McCann 5, Djemba-Djemba 6, Akinbiyi 5 (Lafferty 6), McVEIGH 8 (J O'Connor 6), Caldwell 6. MANAGER Cotterill 6 LUTON Brill 6, Barnett 7 (Coyne 7), Heikkinen 6, Carlisle 6, Davis 6 (Foley 6), Bell 5, Robinson 6, Spring 6, Keane 6, Morgan 6 (Andrew 6), Talbot 5. MANAGER Blackwell 7 REFEREE M Thorpe 7 MAN OF THE MATCH PAUL MCVEIGH The only man on the field with any creative ability.