A second-half goal from Paul Gallagher was enough to give Stoke a victory over Burnley in a low quality contest at the Britannia Stadium.

The Clarets, who have lost six on the bounce, were the better side before the interval without ever really looking like getting a goal.

And Gallagher, on a season-long loan deal from Blackburn, showed his class six minutes after the break with a composed, low finish that gave City their second league win of the year against a Burnley side that has gone 495 minutes without a goal.

When these sides met on Boxing Day, they both occupied play-off places but they have each won just once in the league all year.

However, the Clarets went into the game with the additions of Sunderland's Andy Gray and Manchester United's Phil Bardsley, while the Potters' off-field problems continue to dominate with the suspension of director of football John Rudge and assistant manager Jan de Koning.

Add to that the continued antipathy towards their former manager Steve Cotterill, this was always going to be scrappy.

With the play generally restricted to midfield battles with Stoke's Gallagher and Burnley's Garreth O'Connor each causing moments of concern with crossed free-kicks.

In the 20th minute, Sambegou Bangoura had the first real opportunity of the half but glanced his header narrowly wide of the far post from Josip Skoko's free-kick from the right.

Clarets midfielder Graham Branch lifted the mediocrity with a run that beat two players but Bardsley took too long over his cross and when the ball eventually fell to Chris McCann, his shot was easily blocked by Clint Hill.

McCann flashed a header wide from a Branch cross in the closing stages of the half, while at the other end a Paul Gallagher shot was blocked by Wayne Thomas.

The start of the second period was no better but it was the hosts that made the breakthrough in the 52nd minute.

Dave Brammer's cross to the far post found an unmarked Gallagher moving towards goal and he scored with a low finish on the half volley.

While Michael Ricketts had one chalked off for offside at the other end, Stoke were in the ascendancy and were untroubled by the visitors' attempts to get back into the game.

As the Clarets continued to press, they finally had a shot on target with 17 minutes left but Branch's effort was easily held by Potters goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.

Gallagher had another couple of long-range strikes deflected wide and substitute Hannes Sigurdsson also passed up the chance of a second, heading over from a Skoko corner.

Cotterill even threw defender Thomas forward in the closing stages but the visitors never looked like finding an equaliser.

Teams

Stoke Simonsen, Broomes (Buxton 45), Hoefkens, Duberry, Hill,Skoko, Brammer, Russell (Chadwick 62), Sidibe,Bangoura (Sigurdsson 80), Gallagher.

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Mbuyi.

Booked: Russell, Gallagher.

Goals: Gallagher 52.

Burnley Jensen, Bardsley, Thomas, Duff, Harley,McCann (Noel-Williams 79), James O'Connor, Branch (Spicer 85),Garreth O'Connor (Elliott 64), Ricketts, Gray.

Subs Not Used: Karbassiyoon, Lafferty.

Booked: Ricketts, Harley, Bardsley.

Att: 12,082

Ref: M Fletcher (Worcestershire).