Huddersfield 0-0 Burnley: David Wagner's side hold on to extend their unbeaten run to four games as the visitors are denied a second-half penalty
- Burnley had the ball in the back of the net in the first-half but Jeff Hendrick was offside from a free-kick
- Jonas Lossl made a string of important saves to keep the scores level in the first half as Burnley looked on top
- The visitors will feel like they should have had a second half penalty but their protests were waved away
At the end of a year to remember for both sides came a match to forget – although it will take Sean Dyche some time to rid his mind of just how Burnley failed to come away with three points.
The high-flying visitors, who end 2017 dreaming of Europe, bossed this Roses clash for long periods and should have had a penalty when midfielder Jeff Hendrick was clearly brought down in the area by Huddersfield keeper Jonas Lossl in the second half.
It was a stone wall Donald Trump would have been proud of, but for reasons only known to himself referee Paul Tierney waved play on and the spoils were shared. 'Obvious,' was how Dyche described it. He was being diplomatic.
Jeff Hendrick appeared to be brought down in the penalty box as he rounded Huddersfield keeper Jonas Lossl (right)
Burnley boss Sean Dyche reacted furiously as his side were denied a penalty by referee Paul Tierney in the second half
Hendrick had the ball in the back of the net but the goal was ruled out with the midfielder drifting offside from a free-kick
The frustrated Clarets manager added: 'The only thing I will comment on is that he goes down naturally – he's not playing for it. The keeper catches his trailing leg. It's just a definite penalty, he doesn't throw his arms everywhere - but that can't make it not a penalty.'
When David Wagner entered the press room and claimed he did not see the incident, you feared an Arsene Wenger moment.
But the German went on to admit his jaded side, who will end the year in an excellent 11th place, got away with one.
'I have spoken with Jonas and he said there was contact so it looks like we were lucky,' said an honest Wagner. 'They had more chances, they were the better side.
'We were not at our best. I'm very happy and very delighted that we have this point.'
Huddersfield boss David Wagner (left) greets Burnley boss Dyche (right) ahead of their Premier League macth
Burnley striker Ashley Barnes (right) started upfront for the away side and held the ball up well in the early stages
Huddersfield's Laurent Depoitre (right) is tackled by Burnley defender Kevin Long as neither side made a breakthrough
Jeff Hendrick controls the ball in midfield and was a bright spark for the away side as he looked for the ball in behind
Both managers, Wagner (left) and Dyche (right) react in the first half of the match as the shout out instructions to their teams
With Hendrick, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Steven Defour running the show, the Clarets underlined why their stunning first half of the season is no fluke.
At the break, the winner of the Terriers' lottery competition came onto the pitch to pick a prize. He turned around the card which meant he walked away with the grand total of two car mats. It reflected a first half which left those in the home sections with a feeling of anti-climax.
Lossl had been impressive on a number of occasions but the hero could – and should – have been the villain on the hour mark.
Did Dyche get an explanation from the official? 'I think he (Tierney) said he felt Hendrick lost his footing – well he did because the keeper caught his foot.
'I thought ref did a good job but just not on that incident. I don't think we've had one this season in the Premier League.'
Barnes (left) is stopped in his tracks from a tackle by Christopher Schindler (right) as the away side turn on the pressure
Host's midfielder Aaron Mooy (left) watches on as Burnley's Johann Berg Gudmundsson flicks the ball on
Jack Cork (left) tries to dispossess Jonathan Hogg (right) as Huddersfield fail to make many first-half opportunities
Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl made some important saves for the home-side to keep the scores level at half-time
Barnes takes a shot as Burnley looked threatening in the first-half but he could not find an opener in a goalless first half
With both sides cancelling each other out – there was more life in the MCG pitch at the last Ashes Test than in the closing stages of this one - Dyche turned to former Huddersfield man Nakhi Wells.
The striker, who departed these parts for Burnley for £5m in August, was given a warm welcome by the home support but they were almost cursing him when he got on the end of Sam Vokes's towering header.
Wells's sliding, close-range toe poke, however, was comfortably held by Lossl and the 11th-placed Terriers, who have performed above expectations in the top flight, added another point to an impressive tally which now stands at 24.
Dyche chose to stay over in Huddersfield on Friday night instead of making the 25-mile trans-Pennine journey on Saturday morning. You would imagine, following Mr Tierney's intervention, he could not get out of here quick enough on Saturday night.
Scott Arfield was unlucky not to score the opener as Burnley continued to test Lossl in goal in the second half
Lossl (right) tells Hendrick (left) to get up after appearing to bring down the Burnley man in the penalty box
Both teams paid respect to players and supporters who have passed away in 2017 with a minute's applause before kick-off
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