BURNLEY'S second half onslaught was in vain as Crystal Palace held on for a point at Turf Moor.

The Clarets looked out of sorts in the opening half hour and fell behind to a 15th minute Clinton Morrison header.

But showing real character, Steve Cotterill's side levelled through Ade Akinbiyi before the break.

And despite dominating possession after the break and carving out a whole host of decent chances, the winning goal just would not come to leave the Clarets waiting for those long overdue three points.

Burnley welcomed back Jon Harley, operating in an unfamiliar role on the left side of midfield, in front of Chris McCann.

And there was a return at right back for Michael Duff, who replaced the injured Wayne Thomas.

And it was the Burnley defence that was worked first, when Danny Coyne palmed John McGreal's back header straight to James Scowroft. Thankfully, McGreal saw the danger and backtracked to head the resulting cross clear.

In the 15th minute, more defensive confusion led to Palace taking the lead. Gabor Kiraly's long punt upfield was allowed to bounce over the Clarets defence and with Coyne advancing off his line, Morrison looped a header over the stranded Welsh goalkeeper and into the net.

Ade Akinbiyi tried to spark Burnley immediately, pulling a ball back into the six yard box that strike partner Andy Gray looked destined to score from until Leon Cort stuck out a long leg to deflect the ball for a corner.

The 34th minute brought Kiraly's first save as Akinbiyi weaved his way into a shooting position only for the baggy-trousered Hungarian to tip over his rising, angled drive.

And four minutes later, Burnley conjured up a glorious equaliser. Gray's neat lay off found Duff and his wicked cross was perfect for Akinbiyi, who headed home his first league goal since returning form Sheffield United in January.

Joey Gudjonsson soon fired over as re-ignited Burnley tried to turn up the heat on Palace.

But the break arrived with the scores all-square.

Gray tried to change all that within 30 seconds of the re-start. Spinning on the edge of the box, he managed to get away a right-footed drive that Kiraly saved well down to his left.

And 60 seconds later, Akinbiyi was presented with a glorious chance to put the Clarets ahead. Palace stood and watched as Harley pumped a high ball into the visitors' box, but Burnley's goalscorer could only plant his free header weakly at Kiraly from eight yards.

Harley then tricked his way into the box and fired a ball straight across the six-yard box as the Clarets continued their onslaught.

And such was the measure of Burnley's early dominance that when Michael Duff's similar low cross from the right was desperately hacked clear, there were still only seven second half minutes on the clock.

Just when Palace must have thought they had weathered the storm another chance fell to the feet of Akinbiyi just after the hour mark.

Duff was again the architect, breaking up a rare Eagles raid and sliding in the big striker, who fired tamely across goal with just Kiraly to beat.

Midway through the half, the Clarets carved out yet another opportunity to grab that elusive victory.

Elliott's deep cross found Harley, whose form header back across the six-yard box was just too high for the lurking Gray.

Lewis Grabban and Morrison fired Palace's first efforts of the half well wide with just over 10 minutes of an increasingly tense match remaining.

And despite the introduction of attack-minded Steve Jones in the 80th minute, Palace came closest to winning it through Tom Soares' 90th minute curler.

Burnley: Coyne, Harley, McGreal, Caldwell, Duff, Elliott, Gudjonsson, J O'Connor, McCann (Jones 80), Gray (G O'Connor 90), Akinbiyi.
Subs: Djemba-Djemba, Spicer, Foster

Booked: Gudjonsson 74, J O'Connor 86

Palace: Kiraly, Lawrence, Hudson, Cort, Scowcroft, Freedman (Grabban 64), Morrison, Soares, Butterfield, Fletcher, Spence (Watson 67).
Subs: Ward, Speroni, Martin

Booked: Scowcroft 21, Watson 83

Ref: E Ilderton

Att: 10,659