HT Everton 0-0 Burnley: Stalemate at the break at Goodison Park

North-west rivals Everton and Burnley fought out a first-half stalemate at Goodison Park.

The nearest either side came to scoring was when Ayegbeni Yakubu saw a close range effort clip a post.

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard saved well from Steven Fletcher and Wade Elliott, while opposite number Brian Jensen turned away a 12-yard effort from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.

Everton made one change from the side that drew at Sunderland on Boxing Day, striker Yakubu replacing Louis Saha, who has a muscle injury.

Burnley, without a victory in eight games, were unchanged from the side which drew with Bolton at the weekend.

Before today's game neither side have won a Premier League match for almost two months.

Everton started brightly, with Leon Osman wasting an early chance following Yakubu's pull back from the line. Then the big Nigerian saw a fierce shot cannon away off Michael Duff's arm, with referee Howard Webb refusing loud penalty appeals.

Burnley's David Nugent fired into the side netting after a poor header from Lucas Neill dropped at his feet.

Then Tim Howard had to beat away a powerful drive from the edge of the box by Steve Fletcher before the Everton keeper had to equally athletic to turn away a drive from Wade Elliott.

Everton went close after 22 minutes when Yakubu met a left-wing cross with a tentative prod that clipped Brian Jensen's right-hand post.

Stephen Jordan was then booked for a 27th minute foul on Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.

The Russian winger then had a great chance to open the scoring after a fine run and pass from Steven Pienaar. Bilyaletdinov stepped inside Jordan to force a low save to his right from Jensen.

Everton kept pressing and Pienaar and Yakubu both went close, while Marouane Fellaini saw a header deflected wide.

John Heitinga arrived from the back to fire over from 18 yards as the Toffees finished the half on top.