Burnley 3 Barnsley 0: Barnsley unable to cage Eagles as Burnley stroll to victory

The 24-year-old former Manchester United winger, who is starting to find the net on a regular basis, scored twice and was joined on the scoresheet by Chris Iwelumo as the Clarets turned on the style in a one-way second period.

He curled home his first in superb fashion from the edge of the box before dispatching his second from the spot. Iwelumo's eighth goal of the season and eighth at Turf Moor ensured Burnley's unbeaten home record remained intact.

The hosts played some good football during the early stages but the visitors could have forged ahead.

Hugo Colace dinked a lovely ball over Andre Bikey for Goran Lovre, but Leon Cort came racing back and produced a superbly-timed sliding tackle to deny the Tykes midfielder.

After Barnsley had enjoyed a good spell of possession, there was a coming together between Jay Rodriguez, who had overrun the ball, and Stephen Foster in the box, but referee Andy Haines correctly waved away the home side's appeals.

Tyrone Mears then skipped between Jason Shackell and Jay McEveley, but having done all the hard work, the Clarets full-back failed to find one of several team-mates in support.

Dean Marney thumped goalwards on two separate occasions but Luke Steele comfortably dealt with both, while at the other end Lovre forced a smart stop out of Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen. The home side went close again when Steele dropped Eagles's cross, but Iwelumo's lobbed effort was cleared to safety by Foster.

With just three second-half minutes gone, Kieran Trippier wasted a glorious chance after Brian Easton, making his league debut, was robbed of the ball.

The Manchester City loanee advanced towards goal but dragged wide of the far post from a tight angle.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the 50th minute and it was Eagles, who oozed confidence throughout, angling past Steele from 25 yards. Iwelumo nodded down Easton's cross, Wade Elliott had the composure to lay the ball off and Eagles did the rest, curling home his fifth goal of the season in fine style.

Colace would have undoubtedly got an effort on goal two minutes after but for Mears's defensive header.

Iwelumo's header from Eagles's cross was clawed onto the crossbar by Steele, before the ball struck the raised arms of Nathan Doyle and the lineman flagged for a penalty.

After a slight delay while Barnsley protested the decision, Eagles beat Steele with pace and power, picking out the bottom right-hand corner.

Rodriguez then hit a post via Steele's back before Iwelumo wrapped things up nine minutes from time, drilling home after the ball broke kindly in the box.

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Cort, Bikey, Easton, Elliott, Marney (Alexander 89), Cork, Eagles (Wallace 79), Iwelumo (Paterson 84), Rodriguez. Unused substitutes: Duff, Edgar, Thompson, Grant.

Barnsley: Steele, Hassell (O'Brien 69), Foster, Shackell, McEveley (Potter 61), Trippier, Doyle, Lovre (Wood 74), Hammill, Colace, Gray. Unused substitutes: Preece, Dickinson, Arismendi, Butterfield.

Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear).