Chelsea could only extend their lead at the top of the Premier League by a single point as they were held to a 1-1 draw by battling Burnley.
Pedro’s early goal was cancelled out by a stunning Robbie Brady free-kick which meant that the Blues failed to win away from home for the second time in succession.
They won’t be too disheartened with their draw, though, as the Clarets largely restricted them to half-chances and proved exactly why they boast such a good record at Turf Moor.
Chelsea made a commanding start, creating the first clear chance as Diego Costa’s ball bisected the Burnley centre-halves and Eden Hazard’s low shot was held by Tom Heaton.
The Blues shifted the ball around quickly early on, breaking at speed to slip into a seventh-minute lead.
Hazard spread play out to Victor Moses, who leaped the challenge of Brady and then put in a low cross. On the move, Pedro took control and fired across Heaton and into the corner.
The leaders dropped the intensity of their play only slightly but that’s all Burnley needed to prise their way back into the contest.
Nemanja Matic made an innocuous foul 25 yards out leaving Brady, on home debut, to wrap his left foot around the free-kick which curved in past Courtois’ early dive.
The Clarets had some success in bypassing the Chelsea midfield and created two good chances either side of half-time.
Matthew Lowton forced Thibaut Courtois into a save with his legs before Andre Gray failed to take advantage of errors from Nemanja Matic and David Luiz and should have done better with his effort just after the interval.
The snow thickened on the restart and this hampered the visitors, although the accuracy and incisiveness of their passing would improve with the introduction of Cesc Fabregas.
Errors that had initially creeped their way into Chelsea’s game went on to characterise it in the second half, coming close as they did through Cesar Azplicueta’s long-range drive and a curling effort from Pedro.
The second half was an insipid affair ruined by the conditions and although Conte looked keen to force the issue with a late switch to 4-2-4, he won’t be too disappointed to have come away with a point that Burnley celebrated like a win.
