AN injury-hit Burnley side succumbed to a convincing defeat at West Bromwich Albion this afternoon.

The Clarets went into the game without central midfield duo Dean Marney and David Jones, with regular strikers Danny Ings and Sam Vokes already absent, and were outclassed in a demoralising fixture at the Hawthorns.

Craig Dawson, the defender Burnley tried to sign in the summer, headed West Brom ahead on the half hour mark as he rose highest at the back post to meet Chris Brunt’s corner.

It was 2-0 on the stroke of half time as Graham Dorrans flicked on James Morrison’s corner and Saido Berahino nodded in at the far post.

Berahino netted his second of the game in the 56th minute when he ran on to Dorrans’ pass and fired past Tom Heaton, before Lukas Jutkiewicz saw a header saved by Ben Foster.

But Burnley created little and Dorrans added a fourth goal for West Brom in the final minute as he converted from Cristian Gamboa’s cutback.

Burnley: Tom Heaton; Kieran Trippier, Michael Duff, Jason Shackell, Ben Mee; Ross Wallace (Ashley Barnes 46), Scott Arfield, Steven Reid (Nathaniel Chalobah 46), George Boyd, Michael Kightly; Lukas Jutkiewicz (Marvin Sordell 67). Subs not used: Matt Gilks, Kevin Long, Michael Keane, Stephen Ward.

West Brom: Ben Foster; Andre Wisdom, Craig Dawson, Joleon Lescott, Sebastien Pocognoli (Cristian Gamboa 83); Graham Dorrans, Craig Gardner (Claudio Yacob 86), James Morrison, Chris Brunt; Stephane Sessegnon (Georgios Samaras 74), Saido Berahino. Subs not used: Boaz Myhill, Gareth McAuley, Youssouf Mulumbu, Sebastian Blanco.