OWEN Coyle praised Burnley’s fighting spirit after they salvaged a point against play-off rivals Cardiff City last night.

The Clarets took the lead against the run of play through Robbie Blake, only for the Bluebirds to hit back through Jay Bothroyd and Wayne Routledge either side of half-time.

But Steven Thompson came off the bench in the second half to hit a crucial equaliser against his former club.

And, although Coyle acknowledged a below-par performance from his Carling Cup heroes, he was pleased with the way they battled to keep their unbeaten home run intact.

“We’re delighted to get a point out of it after being 2-1 down in the second half,” he said.

“I thought Cardiff looked a very good side but we certainly never got to the standards and levels we’ve set before.

“We’re at our best when we play with loads of energy. The effort and everything was there, but I thought we were missing that spark tonight for whatever reason. Maybe it's just a game too far; it's been a hectic period for the lads.

"We've certainly not played the way we can but they were brave enough to keep going.

"It would be very easy at 2-1 down to feel sorry for yourself but this group doesn't know when it's beaten.

"I thought the courage, hunger and desire they showed to push on in the game got us back to two each, and I thought we could have gone on to win the game because we were the team pushing on in the last 20 minutes.

"I've got to say I think that would have been very harsh on Cardiff because they looked a good side with some very good players. But for my own group I've got nothing but praise tonight.

"It could be a very good point."

Although Sheffield United's 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest reduced the gap on fourth-placed Burnley to two points, Thompson's 76th-minute goal - his second since arriving from Cardiff three months ago - extended the Clarets' unbeaten home run to 13 league and cup games.

"It was important to keep that going," said Coyle.

"We're obviously trying to make Turf Moor something of a fortress so that when teams come here they know they're in for a difficult night.

"I think Cardiff probably didn't realise that until the last 20 minutes.

"We kept trying to win the game, and I think that was a very good sign.

"Cardiff are a good side and I've got no doubts they will be in the shake-up at the end of the season.

"But given everything we went through I was very pleased with the way we kept on carrying the fight."