ALAN Irvine felt West Bromwich Albion had been the first to truly open up the Burnley defence this season as his side claimed a 4-0 victory at the Hawthorns.

Irvine warned before yesterday’s Premier League fixture that the Clarets would provide a tough test, after three consecutive clean sheets.

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But in the end the match proved one-sided as a brace from Saido Berahino as well as goals from Craig Dawson and Graham Dorrans gave the hosts victory, to leave Burnley hoping that Sky viewers had chosen to watch the Ryder Cup rather than the game at the Hawthorns.

“I thought it was a tough game, we just had to play really well in order to open them up,” Irvine said.

“Burnley have had a really good start to the Premier League in terms of the defensive side of things in particular.

“Nobody has been able to carve them open like we did.

“I watched three games that were all 0-0 and they were very good defensively.

“But our players moved the ball really quickly, really sharply, we passed it well and our movement was really good.

“When we got players in between them we got turned, which is really important.”

Irvine admitted the decision by Sean Dyche to vary his formation in the absence of injured midfield pair Dean Marney and David Jones had taken him by surprise but he was pleased with how his side reacted.

Irvine added: “The only thing that surprised me about Burnley was the change of shape that they had but of course I wasn’t sure whether Marney and Jones would be fit or not.

“I wasn’t surprised with them not being fit that they changed shape.

“That was just something that gave us a little bit extra to think about prior to the game.”

Yesterday’s win was West Brom’s third successive win, after triumphing at Tottenham in the league and beating Hull City in the Capital One Cup.

“It’s been a great week and I’m delighted for the players,” Irvine said. “But I’m not going to get carried away, it’s three games that we’ve played this week and we’ve had three very good performances and very good results.

“But the minute you get carried away in this game it comes back and bites you.”

Irvine also backed calls for England under 21 international Berahino to be considered for selected for Roy Hodgson’s senior squad.

“I think if he keeps on playing like that and keeps on scoring goals, he’ll get those rewards,” Irvine said of Berahino.

“Roy won’t be looking and thinking he’s too young or anything like that, he’ll put him in if he feels he’s the best player for the position.

“He’s been a pleasure to work with and he’s got a great future.”