BURNLEY made a statement of intent in the race for promotion with a 3-1 over ambitious Nottingham Forest, stretching their unbeaten home run to 20 games.

All the Clarets goals came in a one-sided first half, with Forest needing a second half penalty to try to get back in the game.

Burnley could have gone into the lead with a greater advantage than the one provided by Scott Arfield and two-goal Sam Vokes.

Sean Dyche's side burst out of the traps and scored after only the 12th minute when Arfield nutmegged former Clarets defender Danny Fox on the edge of the box and fired past Karl Darlow.

Vokes doubled their advantage in the 25th minute when he met Kieran Trippier's terrific cross with a thumping header for his 17th of the season.

His 18th followed 10 minutes before the break, although it needed the help of a deflection off Jamaal Lascelles to take it over Darlow.

There had been other chances for Burnley in a seriously one-sided half.

Michael Duff had the ball in the net from David Jones' free kick, but the flag was raised for offside.

Forest, who had top scorer Andy Reid added to their mounting injury list with a calf strain before the game, were vastly improved in the second half.

After a quiet first half Tom Heaton had to be at his best to top Lascelles' effort from a corner onto the bar, while Trippier headed off the line from the same player soon after.

A penalty for Duff's trip on substitute Simon Cox was initially saved by Heaton, but taker Djamel Abdoun headed in the rebound.

Burnley had to withstand spells of pressure.

But top scorer Danny Ings might have restored the three-goal cushion and increase his 42-goal partnership with Vokes.

However, Ings' record of not going more than two games without scoring all season came to an end.

A 1-0 win for third placed Derby County, who the Clarets host next weekend, keeps the gap to second place at two points.