*Substitute Emile Heskey scored a late equaliser as Aston Villa snatched a point at Burnley.*

Heskey headed home a James Milner cross after Brian Jensen had unconvincingly punched the ball clear from a corner.

Steven Caldwell had earlier beaten Richard Dunne and Brad Friedel to a Robbie Blake free-kick to put the home team in front.

Brian Jensen denied Gabriel Agbonlahor while Friedel saved a long-range strike from Steven Fletcher.

The success of Burnley’s debut season in the Premier League has been constructed on their home form and the Clarets came close to securing their sixth win in seven matches at Turf Moor before Heskey struck his first goal for Villa since 18 April.

Burnley played with a tenacity and commitment that allowed them to dominate large periods of a match played in blustery and wet conditions.

Martin O’Neill’s Villa had thrashed Bolton 5-1 in their previous fixture but lacked any of the cutting edge they showed against Gary Megson’s side on a miserable Lancashire afternoon.

However, they improved after the break and Heskey’s header ensured Villa continued their record of scoring in every game since their 2-0 defeat to Wigan on the opening day of the season.

Villa had not won in 22 league and cup matches at Turf Moor dating back to 1936 and their prospects of ending that sequence suffered when Caldwell struck.

The visiting team had looked comfortable enough during an unexceptional opening nine minutes but neither Friedel nor Dunne could prevent Caldwell from heading his first goal of the season.

Friedel, booed throughout the match after a previous spell at Blackburn, tried to punch the ball clear while Dunne, fresh from the disappointment of the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup heartbreak, challenged Caldwell aerially.

Their failure to clear the danger is indicative of the fact that Villa have not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since 19 September.

The Clarets quickly threatened to extend their lead after hitting Villa on the break but the move was undermined by a poor pass from Chris Eagles.

The home team did not allow Villa any time on the ball and O’Neill’s outfit had nothing to show for their endeavours until Steve Sidwell dragged a low strike wide just before the half-hour mark.

Villa’s wing duo of James Milner and Ashley Young were largely peripheral figures, while in contrast Burnley’s wide men were heavily involved.

Blake had supplied the delivery for the opening goal and delivered a corner that the unmarked Andre Bikey disappointingly headed wide while Chris Eagles forced a save from Friedel with a low strike.

Villa finally showed some attacking threat before the break - Ashley Young failing to hit the target from long distance after Brian Jensen had rushed out unsuccessfully from his goal, while the otherwise excellent Graham Alexander skewed a clearance narrowly wide.

Tyrone Mears missed with a Burnley free-kick after the restart and Villa were almost level seconds later when Burnley failed to deal with Friedel’s long clearance and Agbonlahor forced a good fingertip save from Jensen.

Villa’s increasing emphasis on attack opened up the match and Blake’s swerving strike almost deceived the Villa keeper as both teams searched for the game’s crucial second goal.

The atrocious conditions ensured set-pieces were always likeliest to produce goals and a brilliant whipped-in free-kick from Ashley
Young was met by Sidwell but he could not keep his header on target.

Friedel stopped Fletcher’s crisp left-foot strike before Heskey claimed a share of the spoils for his team.

A further boost for Villa came with the introduction of substitute Stewart Downing for his first appearance for the club following his summer move from Middlesbrough.

*Burnley manager Owen Coyle:*

“I thought we were well-placed to get the three points. We were outstanding in the first half.

“We passed and moved the ball and created numerous opportunities and scored a good goal.

“Brad Friedel had one or two exceptional stops in the game. He was outstanding and on another day it may have resulted in more goals.

“But we always knew in the second half Villa were going to come back at us.”

*Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill:*

“Turf Moor is a notorious place to come to, particularly this season, and it took us a long time to get going.

“In the second half we played very strongly and in the end I thought that we deserved an equaliser.

“It was a great goal for Emile and I am delighted for him and with him.”