Peterborough United 2 Burnley 1: Howe in appeal for backing after Sinclair double sinks Clarets

The recent striking recruit from Macclesfield Town was handed a first start and responded with his first two goals for the club.

That was enough to sink struggling Burnley and leave Ferguson all smiles, but he was anxious to stress it was not a one-man show.

Sinclair needed only three minutes to repay his manager’s faith with the opening goal, collecting Lee Tomlin’s pass and rifling past Brian Jensen.

Only a last-ditch goal-line clearance from defender Ben Mee prevented him doubling his lead soon after and Ryan Tunnicliffe headed another excellent Posh chance into the side netting.

Burnley then lost Jensen to a groin injury before coming alive in the attacking third. Goalkeeper Paul Jones denied Charlie Austin, Jay Rodriguez, Chris McCann and David Edgar during a frenetic couple of minutes.

But it was the hosts who struck again when Sinclair caught full-back Kieran Trippier dithering, held off a couple of challenges and coolly slotted past substitute goalkeeper Lee Grant.

Any thoughts of a Posh stroll were dispelled when Keith Treacy halved Burnley’s arrears in the last minute of the first half with a 25-yard screamer, but the visitors were unable to equalise.

Burnley chief Eddie Howe said: “Managers are judged on results and ours are not very good at the moment. I’m accountable for that and am prepared for whatever criticism comes my way, but we really need the fans to stick with us and back the players.

“I really thought we should have won this game. Our passing and movement was excellent but we paid the price for two lapses of concentration.”

Peterborough United: Jones, Little, Bennett, Zakuani, Alcock, Frecklington (Wootton 85), Tunnicliffe, McCann, Boyd (Taylor 77), Sinclair, Tomlin (Rowe 59). Unused substitutes: Lewis, Kearns.

Burnley: Jensen (Grant 17), Trippier,Edgar, Mee, Easton, Wallace (Stanislas 61), McCann, Marney (Bartley 72), Treacy, Rodriguez, Austin. Unused substitutes: Hines, Amougou.

Referee: J Waugh (South Yorkshire).

Man of the match: Emile Sinclair.