THIS wasn’t the firework-filled finish to 2017 that Burnley either wanted or deserved, but the point at Huddersfield was another sign of the astonishing progress they have made in 12 months.

A year ago 2017 dawned with the Clarets unrecognisable on the road to the side that were so impressive at Turf Moor. There were signs of improvement away from home, but they were still struggling to pick up results and wouldn’t claim a win until we were 118 days into the year.

As we welcome in 2018 they now look a much more complete team, as comfortable away from home as they are at home. That is backed up by the results. It’s the incredible transformation away from Turf Moor that has propelled Burnley to a very comfortable seventh place at the turn of the year, closer to the top six than the rest.

A side that picked up just seven points in the whole of last season away from home have 17 already this. And it should be 19.

Burnley’s trip across the Pennines highlighted the gulf in class between the Clarets and the bottom half of the Premier League.

From almost the first whistle Sean Dyche’s side dominated this encounter, so much so that even the half-time announcer at the John Smith’s Stadium was singing their praises at the break.

Inside the dressing room Burnley would have been scratching their heads at how they weren’t ahead. By full-time they’d have been pulling their hair out at how they weren’t given a second half penalty.

Within the first 10 minutes Nick Pope had to push a Collin Quaner drive over the bar. For the rest of the afternoon his gloves was hardly required, with a couple of forays outside his box to clear the sum of his involvement.

If there’s one concern about this remarkable season it is Burnley’s ruthlessness in front of the opposite goal. The defence has made it less of an issue, with just 17 goals conceded and now 10 clean sheets, but only 18 have been scored at the other end and chances came and went here.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson was usually involved in the creation of them, with Kevin Long’s downward header from his free-kick pushed away by Jonas Lossl and Jeff Hendrick flagged offside when he tucked away the rebound.

Gudmundsson then set a chance up for himself, weaving between Scott Malone and Jonathan Hogg before shooting wide when the hard work had been done.

Gudmundsson then teed up Steven Defour, who drilled a shot wide from 20 yards, and crossed for Scott Arfield who glanced a header in the same direction.

On the stroke of half-time Gudmundsson slipped Ashley Barnes in but his shot was blocked by Florent Hadergjonaj, with Arfield unmarked in the centre.

Arfield should have done better early in the second half when he burst into the Town box but saw a left-footed shot pushed away by Lossl.

Burnley should have been handed the chance to make those missed chances irrelevant when Hendrick was brought down by the leg of Lossl after exchanging passes with Arfield on the hour mark, but referee Paul Tierney opted to give nothing, leaving the Clarets still without a spot-kick this season.

Sam Vokes and former Huddersfield man Nahki Wells were introduced off the bench and both had chances to win it. Wells was denied by the legs of Lossl as he slid in to try and convert Vokes’ knockdown, before the Welshman glanced Phil Bardsley’s injury-time cross over the bar.