Burnley's recent run of results continued at the Britannia Stadium, where the Clarets were unfortunate to come away with nothing from their match with Stoke City. It was the Potters' first ever league win against the Clarets at the venue, after four wins out of five previous encounters there.
It was a tight game throughout with few chances for either side, but the home side sealed the points early in the second half and held on to their lead despite the best efforts of Burnley in the dying stages.
The Clarets started with a new look line-up and there were debuts for both Phil Bardsley and Andy Gray, with Frank Sinclair, Micah Hyde and John McGreal all absent.
The first 20 minutes were largely even, with the Clarets perhaps playing the more fluent football but with Stoke looking equally dangerous from set pieces.
On particular move saw Graham Branch run at the heart of the Potters defence, twisting Carl Hoefkens both directions before picking out Garreth O'Connor on the right. Both he and Bardsley were looking lively on that side, but the loanee's cross was eventually blocked and the attack was ended.
Prior to that, Stoke's best opportunity came to Paul Gallagher after a headed clearance from Wayne Thomas, but he volleyed his effort well wide of the target.
The Clarets created probably their best chance with just over a minute of the first half remaining, when Branch beat his man down the left before whipping a cross into the area. Chris McCann timed his arrival perfectly but sent his header just over the bar.
Soon after, Stoke had an equally good chance at the other end when the ball dropped at the feet of Gallagher in the box but his left footer was bravely blocked by Thomas.
Stoke started the brighter in the second half though and Gallagher wasn't to be denied this time, when Dave Brammer's cross from the right in the 50th minute picked him out at the far post and he wrapped his right foot around it to slot home past Brian Jensen.
Michael Ricketts had the ball in the net after 58 minutes, following Jon Harley's cross into the area, but a flag was raised following an apparent handball in the build up by McCann.
With just over 15 minutes remaining, Branch tested Simon Simonsen with a low shot at goal from the edge of the area after Gray had laid off Bardsley's right wing cross for him. Unfortunately for the Clarets, the City keeper was well positioned to see Branch's right footer all the way.
With just over 10 minutes to go, the Clarets reverted to a more attacking formation with Gifton Noel-Williams replacing McCann and joining Ricketts and Gray up front.
That gave Stoke more opportunities to break though and they went close late on when Gallagher's 25 yard was deflected over and Jensen made an easy save to catch Clint Hill's acrobatic effort.
It could have been all square five minutes before the final whistle though, as Harley's pacy cross from the left picked out Gray in the area. He looked favourite to score but he couldn't direct his header on target and the chance of a debut goal for the Scottish international had gone.
With four minutes of added time, it gave Burnley added impetus though and you could sense the uncertainty around the ground as Thomas was added to the front line in the bid for a share of the spoils.
It wasn't to be though and the Clarets will now have to focus on their next game with Norwich City at Turf Moor in six days.
Stoke City: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Broomes (Buxton, 45) Duberry, Hill, Brammer, Skoko, Sidibe, Gallagher, Bangoura (Sigurdsson, 79) Russell (Chadwick, 61) Subs not used: De Goey, Junior.
Burnley: Jensen, Thomas, Duff, Bardsley, Harley, Branch (Spicer, 84) James O'Connor, Garreth O'Connor (Elliott, 63) McCann (Noel-Williams, 78) Ricketts, Gray. Subs not used: Karbassiyoon, Lafferty.
Bookings: Michael Ricketts (28 minutes), Jon Harley (55 minutes), Darel Russell (55 minutes), Paul Gallagher (68 minutes),
Sending-offs:
