IT was a night of mixed fortunes for Blues boss Jim Magilton after his side were held at home by Burnley.

Derek Davis

IT was a night of mixed fortunes for Blues boss Jim Magilton after his side were held at home by Burnley.

Magilton was happy with his side's performance and with the moment of magic by full debut making Giovani Dos Santos but disappointment with just one point and also at losing Luciano Civelli to a serious knee injury.

Wade Elliott opened the scoring for the Clarets but after missing two great chances the on-loan Spurs striker Dos Santos scored the equaliser.

Magilton said: “I don't know anyone else at the club capable of producing that at home for us this year. Gio is very positive and has that ability so I'm pleased he kept going.

“He drifted in and out of the game maybe due to a lack of games and will be a threat for us.

“Although I could have wrung his neck in the first half after that miss.”

Both teams had many chances to add to the scoring in a cracking match for the fans if not the managers.

He said: “It was probably a fair result. It is the old adage about goals change games and we had two great chances and had we taken then it might have been a different story.

“We fell asleep for their goal and paid the price. Okay people might have been expecting Civelli to score but we had enough people behind the ball and it was a lack of responsibility and that is a disappointing aspect.”

Although not pleased with dropping points Magilton praised his team's effort.

He said: “They are showing a great determination to get results and it was a great finish from Gio and we had three great chances to win a game and if you don't take them then a side as competent and confident as Burnley will hurt you - and the b*****ds duly obliged.”

The result will not help either side in their aspiration with Town desperate to climb into the top six but can't get to ninth just yet, while Burnley have automatic promotion ambitions.

Magilton said: “We have dropped two points at home again but you can't fault their effort and determination so we will see where that point takes us.”

Civelli collapsed in time added on with a knee injury and even though he gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he left the pitch clutching an oxygen mask, the initial prognosis is not good.

Magilton said: “Luca's injury is serious. He is in pain. The medical people will assess him and we will see but it is a real blow for us and him because he has been doing so well.”

Clarets boss Owen Coyle said: “This may turn out to be an important point. I'm slightly disappointed we did not get all three points after going ahead.

“It was a fantastic team and any neutral would have enjoyed two good football teams trying to play the right way.

“We scored a terrific goal through Wade and should have added a couple more before they equalised but Richard Wright made a couple of outstanding saves.

“They needed to win to close the gap on us and their boy scored a wonderful equaliser.

“That was the kick up the backside we needed and we had three good chances towards the end so I'm disappointed not to get all three points.”

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk