16.05.2015 18:23 h

Stoke hit club record points tally after Burnley stalemate

Stoke set a club record Premier League points tally after a dour 0-0 draw against relegated Burnley on Saturday.

Mark Hughes's side reached 51 points at Turf Moor to pass their previous best tally in their seven years in the Premier League.

The result also ensured Stoke will have successive top-half finishes in the English top flight for the first time in 40 years.

Burnley, whose home supporters were bidding farewell to Premier League action, made the early running, but the failings that led to their relegation being confirmed last weekend were on display once again.

It was the latest in a long line of misfiring performances from Burnley, who have scored only once in their last eight matches.

Clarets striker Danny Ings was desperate to get onto the scoresheet in what is expected to be his final appearance on home soil before a likely close-season exit, but he was unable to find a way past Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Early on, Ings forced Butland into a decent stop from Kieran Trippier's cut back, with a superb block from Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross denying Scott Arfield from the rebound.

Butland was showing why Hughes had kept faith with him in the Stoke goal as he produced his best save of the day to palm away David Jones' volley.

But their failure to punish Stoke allowed the visitors into the game and they created two chances which should have seen them go in front before half-time.

First a quick counter attack saw Jon Walters cross for Mame Diouf, who inexplicably put his header wide at the far post and then Walters also missed the target from the edge of the area soon after.

In a tepid second half, Burnley keeper Tom Heaton made a fine save to deny Diouf from close range after Charlie Adam's cross found its way through and then solid defending from Jason Shackell stopped Diouf heading home at the near post.