Match analysis: Burnley 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1

Gabor Kiraly was infuriated that he hadn't been given an opportunity to defend Sheffield Wednesday's 30th-minute spot kick.

The Hungarian had used a typical delaying tactic and kicked his studs against the post to clean his boots, but was caught unawares as Deon Burton stepped up to take the spot kick and take advantage as the goalkeeper had his back to play while he slowly got into position.

It left the striker with the chance to hit his 100th career goal in the simplest fashion from 12 yards, after Steven Caldwell had fouled Marcus Tudgay to concede the penalty in the first instance.

As Burton raced towards the away dugout in celebration, each Burnley player turned to the referee in horror and disbelief that the goal had been allowed to stand.

Should Scott Mathieson feel the urge to re-read his rule book, he will see, in black and white, he got it badly wrong.

Rule 14 of the laws of the game states "The Referee does not signal for a penalty kick to be taken until the players have taken up position in accordance with the Law", which is "The defending goalkeeper remains on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked."

Kiraly, most definitely, had not seen it coming.

But through all the frustration glows a certain optimism.

Although leading scorer Andy Gray missed his first Championship game of the season through injury, Ade Akinbiyi was handed his second league start and scored.

Secondly, although Burnley's midfield anguish was heightened with John Spicer making up a trio of suspensions, along with Chris McCann and Joey Gudjonsson, and Alan Mahon still on the treatment table, David Unsworth filled in at left back, while Jon Harley moved into central midfield.

It was quite probably a career debut for the 28-year-old in that position, but he worked relentlessly, box-to-box, and played an instrumental role.

The shake-ups epitomised the squad's ability and willingness to do whatever job was necessary for the good of the team, all the while continuing to make an impression on their new manager.

As a result, the best chance in the opening exchanges fell to the Clarets.

Robbie Blake did well to win a corner with his trickery inside the area and got the better of former Burnley loanee goalkeeper Lee Grant with his left-wing flag kick.

Caldwell was presented with an empty net as the ball sailed over Grant, but perhaps surprised that the 6ft 4ins stopper hadn't been able to claim it, it bounced off the top of the captain's head and over the bar.

Instead, it was at the opposite end that he contributed to the breakthrough.

Although Caldwell argued his case with the linesman who awarded the spot-kick, there was no getting away from the fact he had mis-judged the bounce of a searching ball for Marcus Tudgay, and felled the Wednesday striker as he threatened to burst past him in the area.

But sadly the drama didn't end there. Burton positioned the ball and after the referee blew his whistle controversially rolled it into the unguarded net.

It took stern words from Caldwell to calm Kiraly down, but an immediate equaliser would no doubt have had a better effect on the Burnley stopper's temper, as the Clarets responded in the best possible manner.

Unsworth launched a brilliant crossfield ball for Wade Elliott and the winger pumped it into the six-yard box, where Blake had a close-range header saved by Grant.

The rebound fell invitingly for Akinbiyi, who controlled it before thumping his fifth of the season into the roof of the net, in his first start since October.

Wednesday let their frustrations show as Steve Watson was booked for kicking the ball away for a second time.

But even though Burnley were back on level terms, manager Owen Coyle was still reeling from a penalty that will, no doubt, soon be coming to a television screen near you on a Question of Sport's What happened next?' section.

Coyle made a beeline for Mathieson, and you can bet your last pound he wasn't asking him how many pairs of novelty socks he got for Christmas as he grilled the referee all the way to the tunnel.

Kyle Lafferty looked to banish any lingering resentment straight after the re-start but bent a tasty effort just wide of the far right hand post.

Caldwell, desperate to atone for his costly first-half foul, deserved a goal after making a crunching challenge on Watson in midfield, spraying the ball right to Elliott, then continuing his run to get on the end of the winger's cross.

He got a better connection with his head on this occasion, but still couldn't prevent it from rising over the bar.

Unsworth breathed a sigh of relief when the referee decided not to brandish a second yellow card for a foul on substitute Yoann Folly.

The Burnley defender had been cautioned for a late, clumsy challenge on Wade Small in the first half, and had Mathieson administered similar punishment, Unsworth would have been the fourth Clarets player in three games to receive his marching orders.

Similarly, Burton can consider himself fortunate to see yellow and not red after swinging an arm at Graham Alexander.

Relieved at managing to keep 11 men on the field, both sides began to create chances.

Wednesday were restricted to shots from distance but Kiraly was still called into action to keep out Glenn Whelan.

Grant, though, had to be more aware as Blake worked his magic in and around the area.

After James O'Connor clipped a header wide from Elliott's left-wing cross, Clarke Carlisle, on his return from injury, had a header saved from the striker's corner and Caldwell's follow-up was blocked.

The Burnley captain was thwarted again after receiving substitute Steve Jones' neat cut-back, summing up the Clarets' Turf Moor misfortunes.

"If that was an away game I think we would have won," said goalscorer Akinbiyi.

"We've been playing good football but it's just not going for us at home.

"The only thing we can do is keep plugging away.

"We can't look back."