Nine-man Crystal Palace produced a superb second-half rearguard performance to earn a goalless draw with Burnley.
Scowcroft and Derry see red in stalemate
Nine-man Crystal Palace produced a superb second-half rearguard performance to earn a goalless draw with Burnley.
Palace striker James Scowcroft and captain Shaun Derry were sent off in the second half for two bookable offences, but Palace held on to claim an unlikely point.
Burnley piled forward after the dismissals but Palace had goalkeeper Julian Speroni to thank as he made superb stops from Christian Kalvenes and Chris Eagles.
Palace started well with Patrick McCarthy seeing a long-range shot saved by Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen.
For all their possession Palace were unable to force a meaningful opening and Leandre Griffit fired a shot from 30 yards straight at Jensen.
As the half went on Burnley grew in confidence and Martin Paterson's curling shot was saved by Speroni.
Nine minutes before half-time Scowcroft was fortunate not to be sent off when he was booked for an apparent elbow on Graham Alexander.
However, the Eagles were dealt a huge blow two minutes into the second half when Scowcroft was shown a second yellow card following a seemingly inconspicuous aerial challenge.
Burnley immediately set about making the numerical advantage count and Kevin McDonald had a powerful shot from the edge of the area saved by Speroni
Bad to worse
Things went from bad to worse for Palace in the 52nd minute when Derry, who was booked for dissent in the aftermath of Scowcroft's dismissal, received a second yellow and his marching orders for a foul on Wade Elliott.
With Palace down to nine men, Burnley poured forward in search of the lead and Speroni did well to gather Kalvenes' shot from the right-hand side of the penalty area.
Minutes later Speroni had to be at his best once again as he parried away Eagles' drive from 20 yards before Chris McCann volleyed wide from the edge of the box.
Burnley continued to dominate and Paterson volleyed over the bar from inside the box when he should have done better.
The visitors thought they had the opener when Clarke Carlisle headed in, but Iain Williamson disallowed the goal for a foul on Speroni.
With time running out Burnley poured men forward but failed to make that pressure tell with Paterson and Alexander both off target.
In injury time Steven Caldwell headed over as Palace held on for a well-deserved point.
