MANY of life's relationships are built on first impressions.

You can sense, already, that the bond between Burnley and Owen Coyle will be strong.

The new manager only met his players a little over 24 hours before the game against Stoke City, but he has been immediately impressed by what they have to offer.

The only thing missing on his Clarets debut was a goal, yet even for a man as prolific as Coyle was as a player, that wasn't hard to swallow.

Instead, he commended a clean sheet - their third in four games, the energy they sustained for 90 minutes and the creativity that kept Steve Simonsen by far the busier of the two goalkeepers.

In return, the supporters lauded their new leader, standing to applaud him as he emerged from the tunnel to a rapturous Turf Moor reception, after the players had run out in their commemorative 125th anniversary blue and white striped kit - the club's principal colours from 1882 to 1890.

Coyle's response, at the time, was one that exuded focus as he strode forward with purpose ready to face his first match in charge head on.

A more visible ack-nowledgment was reserved for after the first 45 minutes, clapping his hands above his head as he walked towards the tunnel for his inaugural half-time team talk.

Then, at the end, with a clean sheet and point from a game his side more than deserved to win, he saluted the three sides of the ground occupied by the Burnley faithful.

Those supporters have now not seen a home win for over a month, but on Saturday it certainly wasn't for the want of trying, and it's a solid start on which Coyle is determined to build.

"We're always trying to improve the football club, I'm always trying to improve myself, and it's the same with players, I'll try to improve them.

"We'll take stock of everything but I'm very pleased with how they went about their business today," said the former St Johnstone boss, who went about his own business in a visible and vocal fashion, prowling the technical area and frequently turning to consult with first team coach Steve Davis and the rest of the backroom staff, who had played a significant role in preparing for this game with the new boss only appointed two days beforehand.

Late changes almost instigated a late win. Joey Gudjonsson, who had not made a first team start since August and had even been missing from the bench for two months, was brought in from the cold and responded with two venomous strikes, only to be thwarted by the sharp reactions of Simonsen.

Gudjonsson had replaced Alan Mahon, who had also been denied by Simonsen, at the end of the first half, while the introductions of Ade Akinbiyi for Kyle Lafferty and Steve Jones for Robbie Blake helped to maintain some late pressure.

On this occasion it wasn't enough to get the better of a poor Stoke side, who were badly missing suspended striker Ricardo Fuller. Neither were the persistent efforts of Wade Elliott, who was always on the look-out for an opening, whether it was from wide on the right or cutting inside, setting up chances, or going for goal himself.

"I thought he looked a matchwinner all day, quick feet, and with that he worked so hard for the team," said Coyle, who has earmarked 'wingers' as a key area.

As a striker he thrived on the supply from either flank.

So it was fitting that Burnley's first chance, in the first minute, was created by the foot of Elliott. His delivery was only partially blocked, Andy Gray claimed the rebound but his shot lacked the necessary power to trouble Simonsen.

On the opposite side, Blake's brilliant ball with the outside of his boot set Lafferty away, the Northern Ireland international's drive was initially fumbled but claimed by Simonsen at the second attempt.

Burnley showed further invention with a clever free kick that was squared through Mahon's legs for David Unsworth to run on to, but the central defender lashed it wide.

Chris McCann then tried to deflect Blake's strike from the edge of the box beyond Simonsen, but instead of wrong-footing the keeper, he killed the ball dead.

The Stoke stopper then denied Mahon a certain goal as he got down quickly to tip his vicious volley from outside the area around the post.

A Blake curler proved more elementary for Simonsen, while Gabor Kiraly made his first save a minute before the break as he palmed away a Rory Delap drive.

Burnley opened the second half in a similar fashion as they had the first. Blake seized an early opportunity, but Simonsen got down to save his effort from the edge of the box.

McCann then stung the keeper's hands with a well struck drive from distance, but the former Everton and Tranmere Rovers stopper managed to keep control of the young Irishman's rocket.

Simonsen wasn't, however, able to deal with a Blake free kick moments later. The ball dipped over his reach as he advanced off his line, but frustratingly it wouldn't drop in time for McCann to connect with his head at the far right hand post.

Coyle has stated he wants his teams to harbour the belief that if they are locked in a draw, they have the ability to go on and win the game no matter what. Evidently, he will need longer than just the one day's training he has had with them to instil that mentality, as they were almost stung on a rare break.

Substitute Jon Parkin, who had replaced the virtually redundant Vincent Pericard in the 52nd minute, burst onto a ball that had evaded the midfield and defence. But Unsworth got back quickly enough to put in a well-timed challenge, and even managed to avoid conceding a corner with Parkin being the last to touch the ball.

The ascendancy was soon back with Burnley, and Mahon instigated arguably the best move of the game. After winning possession in midfield, he threaded a delightful ball through for Blake to burst on to, the striker squared for Lafferty but his shot rose agonisingly over the bar.

Gray then tricked his way between Stephen Wright and Delap but again lacked the power in his low shot.

Three late changes helped to keep the Clarets on the front foot and McCann was unlucky to flick a header from Elliott's brilliant cross just wide of the left hand post.

In the final two minutes, Gudjonsson saw two thunderous shots cannon off Simonsen's hands, securing Stoke's first clean sheet in 11 outings.

"We gave it a bit of freshness with Ade, Jonah and Joey coming on, and he popped up with a couple of great strikes," said Coyle.

"He's capable of that, and if he continues to do that then he's going to be a real goal threat for this football club."