Cardiff and Burnley scoreless at break

Burnley 0 Cardiff 0

Burnley supporters could see something of a novelty at Turf Moor this afternoon if neither side can improve following a lacklustre first half.

The Clarets have not been involved in a goalless draw at home since the visit of Crystal Palace in August 2002, but the finishing of both sides in the opening 45 minutes suggests the 15-month spell could soon end.

The home side kept faith with the side beaten 2-0 at Wolves in the Carling Cup in midweek, with Glen Little making his first League appearance since returning from a loan spell at Bolton.

Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence made two changes to his starting line-up as Spencer Prior replaced Gary Croft and Willie Boland came in for the suspended Richard Langley.

Burnley started brightly as Richard Chaplow fired wide from 20 yards in the third minute and Robbie Blake blazed a free-kick high and wide shortly afterwards.

The Clarets continued to dominate as the half progressed, with Blake again guilty of some wayward finishing in the 20th minute.

Graham Branch should have done better when Blake’s free-kick picked out the midfielder in the six-yard box, but his header cleared the crossbar.

City’s first noteworthy chance arrived just before the half-hour mark when Gavin Gordon rose highest to meet a Tony Vidmar cross, but the striker’s effort whistled over.

The Bluebirds ended the first half on top, with Graham Kavanagh forcing a fine save from goalkeeper Brian Jensen with a curling 25-yard free-kick.