LONDON: Burnley began life back in English football's second tier with a convincing 4-1 win at Luton yesterday as manager Scott Parker marked his first game in charge of the Clarets with a convincing victory.
Luton finished above Burnley as both teams were relegated from the Premier League last season but the home side were well beaten in this Championship clash at Kenilworth Road.
First-half goals from Josh Brownhill and Wilson Odobert put Burnley in command. Although Tahith Chong pulled one back for the Hatters soon after the interval, any hope of a Luton recovery evaporated when Dara O'Shea headed in from a corner before Vitinho's powerful effort made it 4-1.
It took Burnley just six minutes to open the scoring. Debutant left-back Lucas Pires, a pre-season signing from Brazilian side Santos, produced a weighted through ball that allowed Brownhill to take a touch to shoot between the legs of Thomas Kaminski.
It was a similar story for the second goal, with Burnley's other full-back, Connor Roberts, producing an excellent pass over the head of defender Joe Johnson and into the path of Odobert, who made no mistake with his finish.
Luton almost scored in the first minute of the second half when Elijah Adebayo's header hit the crossbar.
Burnley missed several chances to extend their lead and it seemed they might pay for their wastefulness when Alfie Doughty's header back across the face of goal allowed Chong to tap in from close range.
But O'Shea's 72nd-minute header restored Burnley's two-goal lead and Vitinho hammered in the visitors' fourth late on as dejected home fans started to leave Kenilworth Road. — AFP