Brighton slipped into the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone after being held to a goalless draw by Burnley at the Withdean Stadium.

The Clarets claimed a point after failing to show much in the way of attacking intent on the south coast, while their hosts lacked a cutting edge, a symptom of their struggle for survival this campaign.

Brighton goalkeeper Wayne Henderson shook off a back problem to start for the hosts, his first appearance as an Albion player since completing a permanent signing from Aston Villa.

The visitors, however, were able to field new signing Michael Ricketts in their starting line-up after his loan switch from Leeds earlier this week.

Burnley had been enjoying a training camp abroad as the FA Cup took centre stage last weekend and the players appeared to have their minds on sunnier climes early on as both sides played out a scrappy opening.

Alexandre Frutos served notice of what would be an eye-catching first-half by volleying the first shot of the game over the bar but it was little compensation for some turgid football.

Ricketts, for his part, was chasing down everything but the half chances fell at the other end with Paul Reid getting in a shot.

Frutos was trying his best, switching flanks and pulling the Burnley defence around the pitch, and some good work down the left saw him curl in a dangerous cross but Burnley keeper Brian Jensen plucked the ball put of the air before Dean Hammond could pounce.

Moments later Joel Lynch hit a solid strike wide of the mark, but despite Brighton's pressing, the visitors looked comfortable.

James O'Connor tried his luck from range for Burnley but his curling effort was high above Henderson's goal as half-time approached.

Jon Harley was shown an early yellow card after a foul on Hammond as the second half began and Micah Hyde blazed over the bar with a half chance.

Brighton boss Mark McGhee wasted no time in changing things round, bringing on Colin Kazim-Richards for Sebastien Carole in the 52nd minute as he looked to improve his side's potency.

The hosts almost nicked an opener after Frutos played in a low cross that caught the Burnley defence on the back foot, Gary Hart and Reid both threw themselves at the loose ball but Michael Duff got their first, his sliced interception luckily taken by a nervous Jensen.

Hart was again involved after 67 minutes, finding a yard before playing the ball through for Kazim-Richards but he hammered his shot wildly over the top when he should have done better.

Paul McShane headed over the top after Hart had worked hard to win the corner but Brighton still could not find a breakthrough while the Clarets remained mostly anonymous, if still comfortable.

Reid's tried his luck from a tight angle but could not find his way past Jensen, before Cotterill, subject of an approach from Leicester earlier this week, changed things round by bringing young midfielder Chris McCann on for Wade Elliott

with 10 minutes to go.

O'Connor fired high and wide on a rare Burnley attack as the visitors offered a suggestion that they may just sneak a victory they would not have deserved, but neither side could fashion a winner.

Brighton Henderson, El-Abd, McShane, Butters, Lynch, Reid,Carpenter, Hammond, Frutos, Hart, Carole (Kazim-Richards 53).

Subs Not Used: Kuipers, Mayo, Robinson, Loft.

Burnley Jensen, Duff, McGreal, Sinclair, Harley,Elliott (McCann 80), Hyde, James O'Connor,Garreth O'Connor (Spicer 90), Branch, Ricketts.

Subs Not Used: Karbassiyoon, Noel-Williams, Courtney.

Booked: Harley, Sinclair, Ricketts.

Att: 6,267

Ref: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).