The Clarets slipped to a disappointing end to 2005, suffering a 2-1 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday at Turf Moor on New Year's Eve.
The struggling Owls put in a battling and hard working display to bring Burnley's run of six straight home wins to a frustrating end.
They took a two goal lead before Garreth O'Connor's seventh goal of the season made the final 10 minutes more interesting. It just wasn't to be Burnley's day though, with the ball not bouncing in favour of the Clarets all afternoon.
The character and spirit shown by Burnley in the second half will have given Steve Cotterill some satisfaction though as Wednesday really had to fight to hold on to the points in the dying stages.
Burnley were caught out within five minutes of the kick-off, when John Hills cut inside from the left and delivered a cross to the far post. The Clarets failed to cut it out and Chris Eagles was on hand to prod home from inside the six yard box.
The visitors were on top straightaway and with a vocal away following right behind them, Burnley had Brian Jensen to thank when he saved well to deny Chris Brunt's 25 yard shot.
Burnley came close with their first meaningful attack in the 11th minute, when Wade Elliott did well on the right to beat his man and cross from the right. The ball floated to the back post where Graham Branch met it powerfully with his head only to see his effort go over the bar.
The Clarets were let off the hook in the 16th minute, when Eagles' cross from the right deflected off Jon Harley before looping up and over Jensen. It looked destined for the back of the net, but fortunately for Burnley it bounced off the foot of the far post and out to safety.
Another blow was dealt in the 18th minute when John McGreal had to be substituted, with Wayne Thomas replacing him at the back.
Jensen had to make another smart save in the 33rd minute, when Burton O'Brien burst into the box from the left and fired in a powerful shot at goal which the Clarets keeper did well to turn around the post.
Burnley were glad of the half time whistle when it arrived following a minute's added time, after seeing the visitors enjoy the best of the first 45 minutes.
The break saw Burnley make their second change, with Garreth O'Connor introduced in place of Branch and he made an instant impact as he swept a fine pass across the pitch to Elliott. He then crossed to the far post where O'Connor had made up ground to find space but his header back across goal was cleared behind.
From the resulting corner, taken by O'Connor, Micah Hyde leapt highest to head at goal and he was unfortunate to see Hills clear the ball off the line from right underneath the crossbar.
Gifton Noel Williams then had a half chance in the 54th minute, when Michael Duff's cross from the right was headed into his path by James O'Connor but he was quickly closed down by two Wednesday defenders and the chance was snuffed out.
Within a minute of that Burnley found themselves two goals behind though, when Brunt's corner from the right was headed firmly home by Owls skipper Graham Coughlan to give the visitors even more of a cushion.
Burnley continued to try and work their way back into the game and a spell of good pressure ended with a James O'Connor shot going narrowly wide of the post, with Wednesday looking desperate to clear the pressure.
The Clarets were by now enjoying their best spell of the game, but were still struggling to test Nicky Weaver in the Wednesday goal. With plenty of possession in and around the Wednesday half, Burnley stuck with their patient approach whilst the visitors were content to defend and hit the Clarets on the break.
With 10 minutes remaining, Burnley made their final substitution with Danny Karbassiyoon replacing Harley on the left as they changed formations to press forward more in the dying moments.
The 82nd minute saw Burnley have the perfect chance to get back into it, when Garreth O'Connor neatly controlled Thomas' long ball to race into the area. He rounded Weaver and was promptly tripped by the big keeper for a penalty. No action was taken against Weaver by the officials, but O'Connor himself stepped up to give the Clarets a chance by drilling home a low spot kick.
With the impetus of the goal behind them, Burnley began to exert some real pressure on Wednesday who had made a string of defensive substitutions in a bid to kill the game off, but it wasn't to be as the strugglers held on to take three valuable points in their battle against the drop.
Burnley: Jensen, McGreal (Thomas, 18) Sinclair, Duff, James O'Connor, Hyde, Branch (Garreth O'Connor, 45) Akinbiyi, Elliott, Noel Williams, Harley (Karbassiyoon, 80). Subs not used: McCann, Grant.
Sheffield Wednesday: Weaver, Simek, Gilbert, Coughlan, Wood, O'Brien, Brunt, Corr (Diallo, 81) Hills, Adams (Whelan, 66) Eagles (Bullen, 70). Subs not used: Partridge, Reet.
Bookings: John Hills (6 minutes)
Sending offs:
