IT was a tale of two penalties as Burnley squeezed past Barnsley and into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Clarets sub Chris Wood converted a 90th minute spot kick after a foul on Matej Vydra for the only goal of the game at Turf Moor.

It was the second penalty awarded by referee Simon Hooper but the first, also to the Clarets after a foul on Vydra in the first half, was reversed by VAR with the striker having just started his run up.

The Clarets haven’t had one in 63 league games and the decision to give one midway through the first half was a soft one with Vydra going down under Dimi Cavare’s challenge.

With VAR in play, as it will be in all Premier League games next season, the officials appeared satisfied and Vydra was about to take the spot kick only for Hooper to blow his whistle and signify an offside in the build up.

The Czech man was judged offside as he got on the end of Steven Defour’s through ball with strike partner Sam Vokes also beyond the last defender, albeit arguably not interfering with play.

The decision left the crowd, players and Clarets chief Sean Dyche miffed and gave the Tykes a let off.

The hosts perhaps shaded the opening 45 minutes but clear chances were at a premium.

Kevin Long was denied in first half stoppage time when Adam Davies kept out his powerful header while at the other end Cam McGeehan saw a header chalked off. VAR was not needed for that one with the Barnsley man a yard offside.

Nick Pope, back in goal for Burnley after a lengthy injury absence, was untroubled in the opening 45 minutes while Dwight McNeil, starting his third successive game for the Clarets, was bright on the ball.

Indeed the teenage winger was close to opening the scoring within the opening 30 seconds of the second half. Charlie Taylor centred an excellent delivery and McNeil, arriving at pace, headed wide from six yards when he probably should have scored.

Taylor, playing further forward on the left wing, then produced another inviting cross but Vokes, on the stretch, couldn’t get any power on his header.

The Clarets, with McNeil and Taylor providing the impetus, continued to probe with Vydra wasting one opportunity before heading over Stephen Ward’s tempting centre.

Ward completed an hour on his return to the team after injury before Johann Berg Gudmundsson was introduced, with McNeil switching to the left.

The 19-year-old continued to provide a threat, driving forward but seeing a shot blocked as the Clarets, who sent on Chris Wood and Jack Cork from the bench for the final quarter of an hour, looked to find a late winner.

They had plenty of possession but couldn’t find a breakthrough with Barnsley able to keep the home side at arms length.

Indeed the Tykes came close to a late winner when Alex Mowatt curled a free kick just past the post before Burnley did make the breakthrough.

Liam Lindsay was clumsy in his challenge on Vydra and Wood, after a lengthy delay to avoid a repeat of the first half reversal, fired home from the spot.