Nathan Tella could not add to his run of five goals in Burnley's previous two league games
Championship leaders Burnley moved 14 points clear at the top of the table and extended their unbeaten league run to 18 games with a goalless draw at home to Sunderland.
Both sides spurned opportunities in an uninspired stalemate, with Anass Zaroury firing wide as the Black Cats threatened to condemn Burnley to their first home defeat this season.
The result did little for 11th-placed Sunderland's play-off hopes as they failed to score for the first time in 20 league matches, although they were entitled to rue their luck when Amad Diallo's deflected strike hit the crossbar in the 69th minute.
Abdoullah Ba had the ball in the Burnley net with four minutes remaining but was denied by an offside flag as Sunderland became the first team to keep a clean sheet at Turf Moor this campaign.
- Relive Friday's EFL action as it happened
Patrick Roberts and Daniel Neil tested home goalkeeper Aro Muric during an impressive first-half showing from Sunderland, while Ashley Barnes missed two inviting chances for Burnley.
The in-form Nathan Tella could not rediscover his recent clinical finishing for the hosts, and the lively Manuel Benson and Josh Brownhill also misfired when well-placed after the break as neither side could find a winner.
The Clarets now need a maximum of eight points from their final eight matches to clinch promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Vincent Kompany's side are 17 points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough - the team they visit in their next league game on 7 April.
Sunderland remain 11th after their longest run of scoring in games in the second tier since 2005 came to an end.
Tony Mowbray's side are six points adrift of the final play-off position occupied by Millwall, who could stretch that to nine points if they win at West Brom on Saturday.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBurnley
Formation 4-2-3-1
49Muric14Roberts5Harwood-Bellis36Beyer29Maatsen24Cullen8Brownhill17Manuel23Tella19Zaroury10Barnes
- 49Muric14Roberts5Harwood-Bellis36Beyer29MaatsenBooked at 57mins24CullenBooked at 53mins8Brownhill17ManuelSubstituted forda Silvaat 83'minutes23Tella19ZarourySubstituted forGudmundssonat 67'minutes10BarnesSubstituted forObafemiat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Cork7Gudmundsson11Twine15Peacock-Farrell18Ekdal22da Silva45Obafemi
Sunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Patterson32Hume13O'Nien6Batth11Gooch24Neil39Ekwah10Roberts21Pritchard20Clarke28Gelhardt
- 1Patterson32Hume13O'Nien6Batth11Gooch24Neil39EkwahSubstituted forMichutat 64'minutes10RobertsSubstituted forBaat 76'minutes21PritchardSubstituted forLihadjiat 76'minutes20ClarkeSubstituted forCirkinat 88'minutes28GelhardtSubstituted forDialloat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Cirkin12Bass16Diallo17Ba22Lihadji25Michut45Anderson
Referee:Jarred GillettAttendance:21,462Match StatsHome TeamBurnleyAway TeamSunderlandPossessionHome69%Away31%ShotsHome13Away7Shots on TargetHome3Away3CornersHome5Away4FoulsHome11Away13Live Text Post update
Match ends, Burnley 0, Sunderland 0.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Burnley 0, Sunderland 0.
90'+2'Post update
Connor Roberts (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland).
90'Post update
Foul by Nathan Tella (Burnley).
90'Post update
Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Dennis Cirkin replaces Jack Clarke.
88'Post update
Michael Obafemi (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'Post update
Foul by Abdoullah Ba (Sunderland).
87'Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
86'Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
85'Post update
Foul by Nathan Tella (Burnley).
85'Post update
Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'Post update
Offside, Sunderland. Jack Clarke tries a through ball, but Abdoullah Ba is caught offside.
83'Post update
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jordan Beyer.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Burnley. Vitinho replaces Benson Manuel.
82'Post update
Attempt missed. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Burnley) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jóhann Gudmundsson with a cross following a corner.
82'Post update
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Lynden Gooch.
82'Post update
Attempt blocked. Benson Manuel (Burnley) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Brownhill.
81'Post update
Attempt missed. Josh Brownhill (Burnley) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jóhann Gudmundsson with a cross.
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Source: bbc.com