IT was a case of what might have been as missed chances cost Burnley dear at Barnsley.

Martin Devaney's first half goal proved enough to inflict the first defeat of the Christmas programme on the Clarets.

But manager Steve Cotterill must have wondered how his side failed to earn a reward from a red-blooded Roses clash.

Stephen Foster struck the post in the first half and, despite a second half assault, Gifton Noel-Williams was refused a blatant penalty before Steve Jones saw his effort cleared from a gaping goal by some last-gasp defending.

Burnley made one change to the team that drew at home to Derby County at the weekend.

Danny Coyne's hamstring strain, suffered against County, led to Brian Jensen taking the gloves for the Boxing Day bout. And with Frank Sinclair and John McGreal joining long-term absentee Andy Gray on the sidelines, the Clarets were again down to their last 16 available players.

You had to be an experienced Burnley fan to remember the last victory at Oakwell, way back in 1932. And with the Tykes looking to bounce back after successive defeats, this always promised to be another tough test.

However, Burnley began brightly and Chris McCann forced an early save from Nick Colgan with an instinctive volley from 25 yards.

Brian Jensen was equally alert in the eighth minute when Daniel Nardiello rounded Jon Harley and stung the Dane's gloves with a rising drive.

And as the Tykes continued their offensive seconds later, Jensen was perfectly placed when Paul Hayes steered a header towards the bottom left hand corner of goal.

However, Burnley really should have grabbed the lead in the 15th minute when Michael Duff capitalised on Robert Atkinson's slip inside his own six-yard box, but failed to beat last man Colgan with a fierce, low shot.

And the Barnsley goalkeeper made an even more impressive save moments later.

This time Gifton Noel-Williams sent Kyle Lafferty clear and the teenage striker, looking for the top corner as the angle narrowed, was denied by a terrific one-handed parry.

The action was non-stop and Barnsley hit back with a sensational 30-yard drive from Sam Togwell that smacked the crossbar with Jensen beaten all-ends up.

And the Clarets were indebted to Jensen yet again midway through the half when Stephen Foster clearly played Antony Kay onside and the youngster failed to beat the Dane's beastly frame!

But even Jensen could do nothing to deny Devaney as the half hour approached.

Nardiello found the gap between the two Burnley centre backs and the Tykes' midfielder's scuffed shot wrong-footed the Clarets keeper to open the scoring.

The lead could have lasted less than a minute as Foster's towering header from Elliott's hanging corner bounced off the inside of the right hand post before being hacked off the line.

But the Clarets were struggling to contain the lively Devaney and as half time approached the goalscorer was inches away from doubling the lead with a flashing drive that was just wide.

There were no changes at the break as Burnley looked for a way back into the game. And the Clarets were convinced they should have been given a golden chance to equalise on the hour mark.

Noel-Williams simply had to score from a few yards out when Lafferty drilled the ball into the danger zone.

However, the ball was somehow deflected for a corner off a prone arm with the enraged striker claiming in vain for a blatant hand ball.

A glaring miss followed when Jones outpaced Bobby Hassell and rounded Colgan, only to stumble and see his weak shot towards a gaping goal cleared by the retreating defender.

Burnley were now pushing all the buttons, although the advancing Claret tide was halted with 17 minutes left when Kyel Reid broke clear, only to be denied by last man Jensen.

Alan Mahon and Micah Hyde replaced a tiring Lafferty and Harley for the final 15 minutes as Steve Cotterill tried to capitalise on the mounting possession.

But the ball steadfastly refused to drop Burnley's way and all the second half pressure was in vain.

BURNLEY: Jensen, Foster, Thomas, Duff, Harley (Hyde 76), Elliott, McCann, J O'Connor, Jones (G O'Connor 83), Lafferty (Mahon 76), Noel-Williams.
Subs: Spicer, Branch.

Booked: Duff 62

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Togwell, Hayes (Knight 87), Austin (Heckingbottom 35), Kay, Reid, Nardiello (Richards 87), Devaney, McCann, Atkinson
Subs: Williams, Letheren.

Booked: Kay 86

REF: I Williamson