Nathan Tella could not add to his run of five goals in Burnley's previous two league gamesChampionship leaders Burnley moved 14 points clear at the top of the table and extended their unbeaten league run to 18 games with a goalless draw at home to Sunderland.
Both sides spurned opportunities in an uninspired stalemate, with Anass Zaroury firing wide as the Black Cats threatened to condemn Burnley to their first home defeat this season.
The result did little for 11th-placed Sunderland's play-off hopes as they failed to score for the first time in 20 league matches, although they were entitled to rue their luck when Amad Diallo's deflected strike hit the crossbar in the 69th minute.
Abdoullah Ba had the ball in the Burnley net with four minutes remaining but was denied by an offside flag as Sunderland became the first team to keep a clean sheet at Turf Moor this campaign.
Patrick Roberts and Daniel Neil tested home goalkeeper Ari Muric during an impressive first-half showing from Sunderland, while Ashley Barnes missed two inviting chances for Burnley.
In-form Nathan Tella could not rediscover his recent clinical finishing for the hosts, and the lively Manuel Benson and Josh Brownhill also misfired when well-placed after the break as neither side could find a winner.
The Clarets now need a maximum of eight points from their final eight matches to secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Vincent Kompany's side are 17 points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough - the team they visit in their next league game on 7 April.
Sunderland remain 11th after their longest run of scoring in games in the second tier since 2005 came to an end.
Tony Mowbray's side are six points adrift of the final play-off position occupied by Millwall, who could stretch that to nine points at West Brom on Saturday.
Line-ups
Burnley
Formation 4-2-3-1
49Muric
14Roberts5Harwood-Bellis36Beyer29Maatsen
24Cullen8Brownhill
17Manuel23Tella19Zaroury
10Barnes
49Muric14Roberts5Harwood-Bellis36Beyer29MaatsenBooked at 57mins24CullenBooked at 53mins8Brownhill17ManuelSubstituted forda Silvaat 83'minutes23Tella19ZarourySubstituted forGudmundssonat 67'minutes10BarnesSubstituted forObafemiat 79'minutesSubstitutes
4Cork7Gudmundsson11Twine15Peacock-Farrell18Ekdal22da Silva45ObafemiSunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Patterson
32Hume13O'Nien6Batth11Gooch
24Neil39Ekwah
10Roberts21Pritchard20Clarke
28Gelhardt
1Patterson32Hume13O'Nien6Batth11Gooch24Neil39EkwahSubstituted forMichutat 64'minutes10RobertsSubstituted forBaat 76'minutes21PritchardSubstituted forLihadjiat 76'minutes20ClarkeSubstituted forCirkinat 88'minutes28GelhardtSubstituted forDialloat 64'minutesSubstitutes
3Cirkin12Bass16Diallo17Ba22Lihadji25Michut45AndersonReferee:Jarred GillettAttendance:21,462Live Text
Match ends, Burnley 0, Sunderland 0.
Second Half ends, Burnley 0, Sunderland 0.
Connor Roberts (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland).
Foul by Nathan Tella (Burnley).
Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Sunderland. Dennis Cirkin replaces Jack Clarke.
Michael Obafemi (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Abdoullah Ba (Sunderland).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
Foul by Nathan Tella (Burnley).
Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Sunderland. Jack Clarke tries a through ball, but Abdoullah Ba is caught offside.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jordan Beyer.
Substitution, Burnley. Vitinho replaces Benson Manuel.
Attempt missed. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Burnley) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jóhann Gudmundsson with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Lynden Gooch.
Attempt blocked. Benson Manuel (Burnley) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Brownhill.
Attempt missed. Josh Brownhill (Burnley) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jóhann Gudmundsson with a cross.
