Andrew Cole's strike midway through the first half on his full debut looked to have set the Clarets on their way to a third straight home win.

But a massive deflection from Johnnie Jackson's free kick deceived Brian Jensen, and earned the U's a share of the spoils.

Owen Coyle will be disappointed to have missed out on a chance on breaking into the top six, but Burnley lacked the cutting edge to break down a workmanlike Colchester side.

Mark Randall also came off the bench to make his first appearance at Turf Moor, but it was a case of missed opportunities for the men in Claret.

Click here to view our photo gallery from the game

Click here to view your pictures from the game

CLOCKWATCH

4 mins: Wade Elliott's neat jinking run ends with a delicate pass through for Andrew Cole, which is only stolen off his toes at the last minute by Adam Virgo.

16 mins: Robbie Blake plays a raking cross-field pass out to Wade Elliott, who jinks past his man with ease before shooting into the arms of Colchester keeper Dean Gerken.

20 mins: Kevin Lisbie's cross picks out Clive Platt in acres of space in the middle of the box, but the former Rochdale striker shins his shot against the post, with Brian Jensen beaten.

23 mins: GOAL!! Joey Gudjonsson picks out Andrew Cole with a great ball over the top, and after the ball hits the ankles of Chris Coyne, Cole fires in past Dean Gerken. Burnley 1-0 Colchester.

36 mins: Johnnie Jackson fires in a shot from the edge of the area, but fires it straight at Brian Jensen.

38 mins: GOAL!! David Unsworth slides in on Johnnie Jackson on the edge of the box, and Jackson picks himself up to send in a free kick into the net past Brian Jensen, who is stranded after a huge deflection off the wall. Burnley 1-1 Colchester.

40 mins: Robbie Blake comes within inches of giving Burnley the lead again, but his free kick from the left cracks off the face of the post and away to safety.

Half-Time: Burnley 1-1 Colchester.

47 mins: Scott Vernon let fly from the edge of the box, but the ball is safely gathered in by Brian Jensen, low to his right.

55 mins: Kyle Lafferty embarks on a burst down the left, but after cutting inside his marker, his end shot is straight at Dean Gerken.

67 mins: Kevin McLeod brings the ball down on his thigh on the edge of the area, but his effort at a shot goes high and wide.

73 mins: Ade Akinbiyi is fouled on the edge of the box, but when the referee waves advantage, Wade Elliott crosses for Kyle Lafferty, but the Northern Ireland international misses his kick and the chance is gone.

81 mins: Mark Randall spreads the play out to the right to Wade Elliott, but his neatly chipped cross is just out of reach of the sliding Andrew Cole.

90 mins +2: Graham Alexander's corner is played low to the edge of the box, but Mark Randall hits his shot into the floor and the ball is gathered by Dean Gerken.

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Varga, Unsworth, Harley, Elliott, J. O'Connor (Randall 72), Gudjonsson (Caldwell 52), Lafferty, Blake (Akinbiyi 61), Cole.
Subs: Kiraly (GK), Spicer.

Colchester: Gerken, White, Coyne, Virgo, Ifil, McLeod (Guttridge 74), Izzet, Jackson, Duguid, Platt, Lisbie (Vernon 26).
Subs: Cousins (GK), Watson, Sheringham.

Attendance: 15,376

Referee: Steve Bratt (West Midlands)