CLARETS fans would have loved a penny for the thoughts of Jason Shackell.

Booed from the first whistle and reminded of the cost of his multi-million move to Derby County a year before the end of his Burnley contract, the defender was left counting reflecting on two second half errors which gave his old club advantage in the promotion race.

But while they will have enjoyed his role of pantomime villain, beating promotion rivals meant much more than any kind of payback.

Burnley had already put a marker down with three straight away wins and they rubber-stamped it by taking three big points off big-spending Derby.

A lead against the run of play, through Richard Keogh’s own goal, was short-lived.

Jacob Butterfield equalised in exquisite fashion.

But Burnley hit the levels of intensity they had shown against MK Dons and Brentford in previous Championship wins, and shone in front of the television cameras in the second half, with a helping hand from a former team-mate.

Andre Gray skipped past Shackell before being brought down by Keogh and converting the spot kick, sending Scott Carson the wrong way.

Shackell then conceded a second penalty by practically grabbing Lowton’s high ball with both hands to stop it from reaching Gray.

Duties switched to Sam Vokes, such is the arrangement between the strikers, and the Wales international calmly tucked it away.

Scott Arfield wrapped things up with the aid of a huge deflection off the hapless Shackell who could only watch in sheer despair as the ball looped over Carson and into the net.

Job done.

By their own admission Burnley have yet to put a performance together for the 90 minutes. But fans would forgive the first half with the scintillating second half display.

The night did not get off to the best of start with a floodlight failure before kick-off, prompting fears of a delay in proceedings.

Crisis was averted when power was restored but it was Derby who had the early spark, dominating possession and chances.

As such, Burnley’s goal just before half-hour came against the run of play. Lowton’s excellent centre was turned into his own net by the masked Keogh, under pressure from Gray.

But the Clarets had no time to enjoy it, let alone capitalise on it, as Butterfield restored parity with an outstanding volley just 26 seconds later.

Based on their performance for the opening 29 minutes, it was arguably the least Derby deserved.

Burnley had gone into the game high on the confidence of their recent road trips, while Derby’s had taken a knock with a run of four Championship games without a win.

But it was Burnley stopper Heaton who was put to the test first, keeping Chris Martin’s shot out.

Burnley then moved the ball quickly down the left to Arfield, whose low ball into the box was dummied by Gray and ran through to George Boyd, who was wide with a shot on the turn.

Heaton had to be alert again to beat away an Ince drive, while Carson saved from Vokes at the other end.

Apart from the boos, Shackell was having a relatively quiet time on his Turf return at that point, and went close with a header.

There were half chances for Burnley in return; not enough to warrant taking the lead until Lowton’s dangerous delivery caused chaos for Keogh. No Championship player has more own goals since August 2011 then Keogh. But a full-stretch Butterfield soon spared his blushes.

After Arfield had earlier appeared to by tripped in the box by Christie, further Clarets penalty appeals were ignored by referee Michael Oliver, despite a clear handball by George Thorne.

But Oliver made up for it in the second half, with not one spot kick but two, before Arfield’s deflected effort killed the game, and completed Shack-hell.