DERBY County extended their unbeaten run to six matches with a dogged and determined defensive display against Burnley at Turf Moor.
The goalless draw saw the Rams record a fourth clean sheet in a row, and left Nigel Clough’s men side in 11th place in the Championship, two points off the play-off places and one point ahead of Burnley.
In a game where the home side had most clear-cut chances, both managers will undoubtedly be happy with battling performances shown by their respective sets of players, as the Rams and the Clarets continue to rise up the table.
Clough named an unchanged side for third game in a row, but his players were nearly caught napping after an explosive start from Eddie Howe’s team.
Inside the first 60 seconds, the game burst into life after a shot by Burnley striker Charlie Austin was blocked by Rams defender Jason Shackell.
Derby struggled to get to grip with the wet and windy conditions in the early stages and keeper Frank Fielding was called into action when he collected a dangerous cross fired in by in-form Burnley frontman Jay Rodriguez.
Derby pressured with a lovely move through the centre of the park, which was ended abruptly following a slack piece of control by Jamie Ward on seven minutes.
The best chance of the half saw Burnley’s Keith Treacy sneak between Rams skipper Shaun Barker and Shackell to head over following good work by Rodriguez on the right wing to keep the ball in play.
Moments later Rodriguez unleashed a 30-yard screamer which went wide of Fielding’s goal.
The Rams tried to get Paul Green, Ward and Theo Robinson on the ball to dictate the game, and soon these tactics paid dividends, with youngster Callum Ball only inches from connecting with a cracking cross from Robinson.
A bad challenge on Gareth Roberts saw Austin escape without a booking before former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dean Marney shot wide.
Derby continued to improve towards the end of the half and hit their first shot on target just before the interval after great interplay with Green saw Robinson turn and fire in a shot from 20 yards which former Rams keeper Lee Grant collected easily.
Ball was booked for a challenge on Ben Mee before the last talking point of the first half saw the home fans on their feet after Barker tussled with Clarets captain Michael Duff for the ball in the box, but, despite protestations from the home fans, referee Lee Probert waved away any penalty claims.
Both sides made a change at half-time, with Jeff Hendricks replacing James Bailey and Burnley throwing on Josh McQuoid for Ross Wallace.
Early on, Barker let a high ball bounce over him, allowing Rodriguez a sniff at goal, but luckily for Rams fans he fluffed his lines and shot straight into the hands of Fielding.
But this mishap spurred Derby into life and they went right up to the other end of the pitch, with Robinson running on o a long ball only for a well-timed Duff tackle to put an end to any danger.
The Rams began to dominate in the match for the first time but they were nearly left ruing missed chances when John Brayford had to make a last- ditch tackle to prevent Austin scoring for Burnley.
Fielding had to be at full stretch only moments later to keep out an Austin header and he then blocked a follow up effort by McQuioid
Robinson exited the game on 57 minutes to be replaced by on-loan debutant striker Ryan Noble as Ward burst down the left-hand side of the pitch to dummy a defender and race into the box only to see his shot blocked for a corner.
This spelt the end of the Ram’s main period of pressure and Burnley began to grow in dominance, which saw Barker yellow-carded and Burnley’s Chris McCann burst into the box, with a last ditch Brayford tackle stopping a certain goal.
Moments later, Treacy’s cross from the left, helped by a gust of wind, nearly embarrassed Fielding as he watched it go over his head and bounce back off the post before being cleared by Shackell.
Midfielder Marney was then booked for a bad challenge on Gareth Roberts just moments before the Rams’ best chance of the second half.
Following great play by Hendrick and Green, Barker mis-timed a header from a corner, lifting the ball over the crossbar.
As the game headed for a draw, Burnley had two great chances to snatch victory.
Austin fired wide of the post as the Rams were cut open and Marvin Bartley crossed from the right, forcing Fielding to save with his legs from Rodriguez’s shot.
Jake Buxton replaced Callum Ball before Burnley had the last opportunity of the game as Rodriguez fed Austin, who was pressured by Shackell into shooting wide, leaving the Rams to grab a hard fought point.
