Taylor is the headmaster

While the Clarets controlled long periods of the game and created two good chances, a point against a side who are showing great resilience under their new manager Steve Parkin, could be one more than other promotion rivals gain at Oakwell.

Weather conditions did not play into anyone's hands, the wind swirled around inside the South Yorkshire stadium making life for defenders particularly uncomfortable.

And Northamptonshire referee Richard Beeby seemed bent on matching the gusting wind by blowing into his whistle at ever opportunity, rarely allowing the game to flow.

Still chances came and while the Clarets found their way barred by the imposing figure of Barnsley keeper Kevin Miller, who made key late saves from Alan Moore and Kevin Ball, Barnsley had two goals disallowed.

Striker Mike Sheron was the first to suffer and defender Chris Morgan, who had three stitches in a cut eye, the next, but Barnsley boss Parkin conceded a point had been fortunate.

"I couldn't really be sure with Mike's offside, but I thought Chris was unlucky," said the former Rochdale chief.

"Chris got up early and in no way, shape or form did he push the defender.

"But, despite a bright start, we had too many players off the boil and we are happy with a point because they were the stronger side."

It was a point on which Clarets boss Ternent concurred: "We created enough chances to win the game but didn't.

"But against a side on a run like Barnsley who haven't lost for 12 games you have to feel it was a good performance. So we just have to take what we did here into our next game and try and get the three points."

The next outing sees the Clarets in South Yorkshire again tomorrow night to take on Rotherham and they will hoping to just be that touch more incisive in front of goal.

And hopefully they will also avoid the kind of false start that put them initially on the back foot at Oakwell.

The Tykes had the ball in the net after only three minutes when on loan keeper Marlon Beresford could only scoop away a low drive from Bruce Dyer, the impressive Darren Barnard returned the ball into the danger area where an unmarked Sheron headed in.

Sheron turned to celebrate what would have been his fifth goal in four games, but referee Beeby correctly blew for offside to the Clarets relief.

Three minutes later Burnley were behind.

A clumsy challenge by Arthur Gnohere, who again looked less than comfortable at times, on Dyer handed the Reds a free kick 25 yards out and dead ball specialist Barnard stepped up confidently to curl one of his left-foot specials into the net via Beresford's left-hand post.

Soon after Glen Little limped off clutching a knee and it looked as though the travelling fans were in for a truly frustrating afternoon.

However, Little returned and the reaction to the goal in the Barnsley camp seemed to be to sit back while the Clarets switched on.

On 17 minutes Burnley went close when left-back Chris Barker attempted to blocked a Little cross and forced Tykes keeper Miller to turn the ball round a post.

Three minutes later they created a first clear cut opportunity as Beresford's wind-assisted kick put Gareth Taylor directly though on goal but his first time shot was well saved by Miller.

Had he scored that would have been Taylor's second goal of the season scored by foot, the other being the penalty against Sheffield Wednesday at Turf Moor, but he had to settle for being the head boy again.

The Welsh international administered the blow to Barnsley nine minutes before half-time and his diving header was an apt finish to a very tidy move.

Little and Paul Weller had created space on the left and it was Weller who delivered the perfectly weighted ball for Lee Briscoe to drive into the box and then clip over the perfect cross for Taylor to head home.

There was a sense of dj vu early in the second period as Barnsley appeared to have regained the lead through Morgan but once more the goal was ruled out.

This time Beeby's decision that a foul had been committed was less than clear cut.

But the Clarets survived and, with Alan Moore now providing the thrust on the left after Tony Grant had given way at half-time due to a hamstring problem, they preceded to control the game.

Weller looked to open the Barnsley defence with some intelligent work, while Alan Moore and Little tested and tortured the Tykes full-backs but still could not find a clear route through.

In the end the best the Burnley's chances arrived when Little was removed and Brad Maylett tried his hand down the right flank for the last seven minutes.

It was the young winger who delivered a chance for Alan Moore but while his shot was well placed the Republic of Ireland international could not beat the agile Miller.

And Miller was there again in the final minute as Ball, who had broken his nose after half an hour of the contest, produced a bullet header as he raced into the box to meet a cross. The effort went straight at the Barnsley keeper.

So a point was all the Clarets got, but if they manage to take three at Millmoor tomorrow then the last seven days will have produced seven points from nine after three awkward trips and that - in anyone's terms - is a decent return.

BARNSLEY...1

Scorer: Barnard 6

BURNLEY...1

Scorer: Taylor 38

At Oakwell, attendance ...14,411

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