Two goals in five first half minutes from Wade Elliott and Kyle Lafferty hand Owen Coyle's side the points.

But they were pushed all the way by the Tykes, who pulled one back almost immediately through captain Brian Howard.

Elliott slotted the ball under Luke Steele from six yards for the first just after the half hour, before Lafferty curled in a wonderful second.

Howard tapped home at the second attempt two minutes before the break, and came close to levelling when Jon Macken hit the bar from 30 yards out.

Joey Gudjonsson also hit the woodwork, striking the outside of the post with a fierce drive, but Burnley had done enough to earn all three points.

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CLOCKWATCH

3 mins: Joey Gudjonsson lets fly from fully 40 yards out, but his shot is straight down the throat of Luke Steele.

7 mins: Chris McCann's beautifully flighted cross is headed over by Kyle Lafferty with the aid of a deflection, and from Robbie Blake's resulting corner, Steven Caldwell's header is cleared off the line by Diego Leon.

9 mins: This time it is Robbie Blake's turn to send a header over, after Wade Elliott's clever wingplay.

15 mins: Robbie Blake's free kick from the left is inches away from connecting with a sliding Steven Caldwell at the back post.

20 mins: Robbie Blake's free kick sails over the head of Luke Steele into the net, but the goal is disallowed by referee Colin Webster for a foul on the goalkeeper by Chris McCann.

25 mins: Diego Leon plays a lovely ball through for Daniel Nardiello, and with only Steven Caldwell for company, he bears down on goal only to shoot wide of the far post.

27 mins: Jamal Campbell-Ryce plays a neat ball through for Daniel Nardiello, but he sees two successive shots blocked by the Burnley defence before Brian Jensen mops up the danger.

31 mins: GOAL!! Robbie Blake plays a lovely ball through for Wade Elliott, who, six yards out, slips the ball neatly under Luke Steele. Burnley 1-0 Barnsley.

36 mins: GOAL!! Kyle Lafferty cuts in from the left on his right foot, and curls a spectacular shot past the despairing dive of Luke Steele into the far corner of the net. Burnley 2-0 Barnsley.

43 mins: GOAL!! Daniel Nardiello races past Graham Alexander on the left, and crosses for Brian Howard to force the ball home at the second attempt, after his initial shot was saved on the line by Brian Jensen. Burnley 2-1 Barnsley.

Half-Time: Burnley 2-1 Barnsley.

53 mins: Chris McCann finds Robbie Blake on the left, who cuts inside before drilling a fierce drive just wide of Luke Steele's near post.

56 mins: Robbie Blake makes space for a shot on the edge of the box, which Luke Steele can only gather at the second attempt, with Kyle Lafferty waiting to pounce.

65 mins: Stephen Foster is booked for a foul on Chris McCann, and when Robbie Blake's resulting free kick is half-cleared, James O'Connor cushions a volley just wide of the target.

67 mins: Kyle Lafferty is played through with a lovely ball over the top, and when he feeds Robbie Blake, Blake's neat flick for Wade Elliott ends with a low shot which flashes wide.

70 mins: Jonathan Macken picks the ball up on the right, before cutting inside an unleashing a vicious drive which clips the top of Brian Jensen's crossbar.

77 mins: Burnley come within inches of doubling their lead when Joey Gudjonsson's well-struck drive from 30 yards out strikes the outside of the post, with Luke Steele beaten.

85 mins: James O'Connor wriggles free from a challenge on the right, and when Andrew Cole loses the ball under his feet, O'Connor is denied by Luke Steele.

Full-Time: Burnley 2-1 Barnsley.

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Caldwell, Unsworth, Harley, Elliott (Mahpn 90), J. O'Connor, McCann, Gudjonsson, Lafferty (Akinbiyi 75), Blake (Cole 78).
Subs: Kiraly (GK), Randall.

Barnsley: Steele, Foster, Nyatanga, Souza, Kozluk, Campbell-Ryce (Coulson 77), Howard, Hassell, Leon (Odejayi 63), Macken, Nardiello.
Subs: Ferenczi, Van Homoet, Devaney.

Attendance: 11,915

Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne and Wear)