Burnley FC play out stalemate with Bristol City

Some statisticians sit adamant in their estimation of 74 goals in 80 attempts. That would suggest, since missing his first penalty in a play-off final for Scunthorpe United in 1992 against Blackpool, Alexander has failed from the spot just five times in just over 18 years.

However, it was a much easier chore to decipher the fact that the Clarets skipper’s miss from 12 yards against Bristol City on Saturday was his first since moving to Turf Moor in August 2007. He had previously boasted a 100% record for Burnley in 18 attempts; his first a 70th minute strike in a 2-1 win away at Nottingham Forest just over two years ago.

But Clarets fans had that uneasy feeling that it wasn’t going to be their afternoon when the 38-year-old flashed his 26th minute penalty well wide of David James’ goal.

A familiar air of expectation had flooded Turf Moor once Danny Haynes had sent Tyrone Mears hurtling to the ground after the full-back latched onto Chris Eagles’ clever chipped pass over Jamie McAllister, but it wasn’t to be.

Stunned Burnley boss Brian Laws said: “I think we were all shocked weren’t we?

“It becomes just a formality when Grezza gets a penalty that we expect a goal so I think it shocked everybody, even himself.

“He’s now missed his first one for Burnley, he’s had a phenomenal record but it was always going to come to an end at some stage.

“It wasn’t the goalkeeper that made the save; unfortunately he just chose the wrong execution.

2But he’ll be the first one out there practising again like he normally does and when we get another penalty he’ll be the first one on it.

“He’s disappointed because he knows that, what he believes, was a formality but that might have been the catalyst to kick us on, who knows?

“But I certainly won’t be blaming him for missing the penalty.” Laws watched his side dominate from start to finish but became increasingly frustrated as they failed to convert any of their 28 attempts on goal, 15 of which were on target.

Their task was made even more difficult by a Bristol City outfit which had spent the afternoon slowing down the play, ably assisted by referee Scott Mathieson.

“In all fairness, the visitors’ tactics worked as they left with what they had arrived in East Lancashire to achieve – a point.

Jack Cork went close to breaking the deadlock twice in the first half, either side of Alexander’s penalty miss, but his fierce volley from 25 yards went narrowly over the bar before the Chelsea loan star stabbed a close range effort into the chest of James after being first to pounce on his captain’s spilled free-kick.

After the interval, the Clarets were thwarted by a mixture of misfortune, brilliance from James and the woodwork.

City’s Cole Skuse lifted Alexander’s set-piece on to his own bar as Rodriguez burst into the area.

Then Chris Eagles, who was prevalent in mounting the Clarets attack, constantly causing uncertainty in the City defence by switching flanks, deserved better when he cut in from the touchline after beating two markers only to see his low drive tipped around the post by James.

Eagles then went close again after being fed by an uncharacteristically lacklustre Andre Bikey, but after bending his effort around the former England international stopper the ball just evaded the far post.

His final chance came when Chris Iwelumo guided Danny Fox’s corner to the far post but from just yards out he couldn’t quite get a foot on the ball to steer it into the back of the net.

Fox went on to test James again with a stinging drive from the edge of the area but once again the keeper came out on top before Wade Elliott rattled the crossbar with a header in the dying seconds.

City had chances with Brian Jensen producing a fantastic reflex save from a deflected Marvin Elliott strike early in the second half after good work from Haynes. Liam Fontaine also went close to converting McAllister’s inswinging set-piece but his header just dipped wide of the far post and Jensen had to be at his best to deny Jonathan Stead at the death with a sublime fingertip save at full stretch.

There were endless moments of optimism with passages of one-touch triangular moves particular down the right involving Elliott, Mears and Rodriguez while Cork was on hand to break up any rare City breaks forward.

The attacks were measured and penetrative but lacked ruthless edge in the final stages, forcing Clarets to endure their first goalless stalemate at Turf Moor since Doncaster Rovers in November 2008.