At least it was a point

When you are in this sort of form you sometimes need a bit of luck, something to go your way, and we got that with Wade Elliott's first goal in over fifteen months. Wednesday keeper Mark Crossley got down to his shot but couldn't hold it and turned to see it bounce into the net.

Would that give us the lift we needed? We simply didn't get chance to find out as Wednesday equalised three minutes later, and once again, as at QPR, we were undone from a corner. Twice last week, and now again as Deon Burton got to the ball unchallenged to head home from close range.

There was a lift before kick off with Andy Gray named in the starting line up for the first time since, well since we last won a game last November. He returned as Steve Cotterill reverted to a 4-4-2 system and there were also recalls for Wade Elliott, Steve Jones and goalkeeper Danny Coyne whilst at the back Steve Caldwell got his first start and also wore the captain's arm band.

Stephen Foster, Chris McCann and Kyle Lafferty, who all started last week, found themselves on the bench, Mike Pollitt was preparing for Wigan's game at Arsenal, whilst Alan Mahon was out altogether with a re-occurrence of his groin injury, and that is now set to keep him out for a few weeks.

Without it ever being a bright opening we did have our opportunities. Ade got in a weak header, Jones mis-kicked when presented with a chance following a cross from Wade and a Joey Gudjonsson corner hit the bar.

At the other end though we were twice thankful to goalkeeper Coyne for keeping us level. His first save was top drawer, getting down to his right to tip the ball away and the second he got across to bravely block a shot.

It was hardly gripping stuff though, neither side were playing attractive football, it was all too narrow and too much long ball being hit. We did get somewhat excited about ten minutes before the break when a Sheffield Wednesday defender handled the ball in his own box. What this usually means is the referee points to the penalty spot, but this is Burnley, we don't get penalties and the consistently poor Nigel Miller joined the other band of referees reluctant to break with tradition and give us a spot kick.

The last action of the half with Ade bringing the best out of Crossley, but this is one I missed due to trying to get down to the pitch in readiness for Clarets Mad's attempts at Pie & Chips.

At least the second half got off to a bright start with the Elliott goal, the ball dropping to him after headers from first Gray and then Ade after a poor mistake by a defender, but then it all went flat with the awful defending once more on a corner. Could Coyne have got to it? I'm not so sure, but I am still wondering what Jon Harley was actually doing as Burton headed home.

We did try and get back at Wednesday, and both Gray and Elliott had chances, with Crossley twice saving from the right winger. But the longer it went the more you sensed Wednesday might just grab all three points. They got plenty of joy down our left hand side where Jones had become anonymous and Harley was having something of a nightmare. Thankfully Wade Small isn't very good and couldn't take advantage.

Had they had any quality then I'm sure they would have gone on and won it but when they realised they weren't going to do it they decided to sit back and settle for the point. It could have proved to be a fatal decision but to be honest we didn't look as though we had another goal in us. The nearest we came was when late substitute Chris McCann got in a good cross that just went across goal without anyone looking to get on the end of it.

It was pretty dismal stuff, but it was a point and a point nearer safety. I don't look at the clubs at the top end of the league any longer, just a quick glance and nothing more, but I am now concentrating on those near the bottom.

We kicked off seven points clear of the relegation positions, we remain seven points clear, and there's no doubt that's where we are going to be looking in the foreseeable future. This was pretty dire stuff, and the supporters are now voting with their feet. The attendance was boosted by a sizeable following of Wednesday fans, it will be very interesting to see just how many turn up for the next home game against Leicester on a Tuesday night.

Man of the Match – well it certainly wasn't James O'Connor. That announcement was probably the only thing that raised a smile all afternoon. My choice is Coyne, without his first half saves we would probably have lost this game.

Elsewhere, Elliott did OK, Gray got in some more time on the pitch and at the back both Duff and Caldwell played well. Elsewhere on the pitch there were some very worrying problems, and they need to be resolved very quickly.

The teams were;

Burnley: Danny Coyne, Michael Duff, Steven Caldwell, John McGreal, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott, James O'Connor, Joey Gudjonsson (Eric Djemba-Djemba 77), Steve Jones (Chris McCann 83), Ade Akinbiyi, Andy Gray (Kyle Lafferty 76). Subs not used: Stephen Foster, Wayne Thomas.

Sheffield Wednesday: Mark Crossley, Frankie Simek, Lee Bullen, Steve Watson, Tommy Spurr, Wade Small, Kenny Lunt, Yoann Folly, Chris Brunt, Deon Burton (Leon Clarke 88), Steve MacLean (Marcus Tudgay 88). Subs not used: Chris Adamson, Mark Beevers, Peter Gilbert.

Referee: Nigel Miller (Co Durham).

Attendance: 12,745.