“YOU’LL always be a Claret!”

Burnley’s travelling supporters at Villa Park left match-winner Danny Ings in no uncertain terms just what he means to them.

The sentiment was reciprocated in his performance, his last in a Burnley shirt.

With nothing riding on this game for either team - Burnley relegated two games beforehand, Villa safe the previous weekend - it was a story of beginnings and endings.

There was a full debut for Fredrik Ulvestad, on the back of the Norwegian midfielder’s first appearance from the bench in the final home game, against Stoke.

But as one Clarets’ career was just starting out, you could not escape the fact that another was drawing to a close.

Ings will depart for pastures new in the summer, in all likelihood Liverpool, but not before the out-of-contract striker added to his already impressive goalscoring return.

There was a final career appearance for Steven Reid too, days after announcing his retirement.

As Burnley bowed out of the Premier League, for at least another year, the Republic of Ireland international came on to help see out the win as an 87th minute substitute for Ings, whose tank was running on fumes after giving everything.

There were tears at the end as the realisation dawned that this final game of the Premier League season would be his last as a professional.

Aston Villa’s season is ongoing, with Saturday’s FA Cup final with Arsenal to come, and ahead of it Tim Sherwood made three changes to his side.

Burnley made two, with Ulvestad replacing Matt Taylor in the line-up, taking his place alongside David Jones in the middle.

The switch allowed Scott Arfield to return to the wing for the first time since Dean Marney’s injury in February.

At the back, Michael Keane made his first start since March, ahead of Michael Duff, and his aerial prowess, allied to Jason Shackell’s steel, kept Villa’s chances to a premium in the first half.

Ulvestad was equally ultra composed, moving the ball quickly but sensibly as the Clarets looked to work the ball from back to front.

And the 23-year-old was influential in the goal, keeping the ball alive to allow Ashley Barnes to head on for Ings to glance across Jed Steer and in for his 11th goal of the season.

There might have been another for the striker before the half-hour.

George Boyd charged down the right flank and got the better of Nathan Baker to deliver a decent ball for Ings towards the left of the box. But with the chance of a second opening up for him, the striker leaned back and disappointingly cleared the bar.

Burnley had enjoyed a bright opening, but hadn’t had it all their own way.

Tom Heaton, fresh from his first England call-up, was sold short on Kieran Trippier’s back pass but darted out to clear under pressure from Gabby Agbonlahor, who had a shot blocked by Jason Shackell in the box, while Ron Vlaar stabbed wide from a knockdown in the box.

Barnes’ afternoon was brought to a premature end when Fabian Delph jumped all over him as they competed for Kieran Trippier’s long, high ball, and the striker landed awkwardly on his right knee.

Barnes tried to run it off but he got only a matter of yards from the touchline before he had to turn back and head down the tunnel in some distress.

Sam Vokes, who this season made his comeback from a cruciate knee ligament injury, came on to replace him, and it is to be hoped that Barnes is not facing a similarly serious and lengthy lay-off.

The show went on, and Burnley found themselves with more defending to do with Christian Benteke and then Ashley Westwood both going close.

The pressure intensified on Burnley in the second half as Villa hunted the equaliser.

Everything but the kitchen sink was launched in Heaton’s direction, but international recognition has left the Clarets’ keeper feeling 10 feet tall. He appeared just as imposing in between the sticks.

The 29-year-old twice denied Agbonlahor, palmed away Delph’s curling effort from distance, was just seconds later was at full stretch to tip over a Charles N’Zogbia shot.

Boyd might have doubled Burnley’s lead in the meantime, but could not beat Steer in trying to chip the goalkeeper from Ings’ clever through ball that met his run into the box. The winger had earlier tried to turn provider for Vokes.

You have to go back to February 1, 2014, for the last time Vokes and Ings were on the scoresheet together.

There was not to be a fariytale ending for the dynamic promotion double act. Vokes’ wait for a Premier League goal is prolonged.

There was an ovation for a flagging Ings, and a thumbs up in return, when he made way for Reid’s last run-out.

Emotions ran high at the full-time whistle.

It was the beginning of the end for both, but Ings will take heart from his rousing send-off, and signing off in style.