NOT with all his gadgets and gizmos would James Bond have fancied Burnley's mission at 3.45pm on Saturday.

Three goals behind in the den of arguably the strongest Championship team - it's a challenge to make even 007's eyes water.

The Clarets were stung by the worst possible start, two down within seven minutes as Jason Koumas and Nathan Ellington found the target for West Brom.

And following an encouraging reaction - from which Steve Jones and Michael Duff came close to fashioning a comeback goal - Burnley fell further behind to Darren Carter's tap-in third.

This was never going to be the easiest of tasks for Steve Cotterill's men.

Blessed with an embarrassment of riches at their disposal, Albion are firm favourites to reach the Premiership's promised-land come May next year.

It is riches Cotterill can only wish he had at Turf Moor. The Baggies strength comes in to stark focus when assessing the quality of players outside their starting line-up.

Hungary captain Zoltan Gera was injured, Steve Watson and former Claret Richard Chaplow sat on the bench, while manager Tony Mowbray could afford to leave out Wales international John Hartson from his 16-man squad.

With that in mind, Burnley certainly won't be the last team finding themselves on the wrong end of a result against the West Midlands outfit.

Defeat was compounded with the sending-off of Frank Sinclair and a foot injury scare to Jon Harley.

The left-back - replaced with over half-an-hour of the game remaining - will be X-rayed to determine the full extent of the problem.

It will prove a massive blow if Harley has suffered a similar injury to that which kept him out for two months during his time at Sheffield United in 2003/04.

For veteran Sinclair, his red card for two cautions capped off a miserable afternoon on his 100th Clarets appearance.

The 34-year-old toiled keeping up with the pace and runs of Koumas, who proved a thorn in Burnley's side on the left flank, but Sinclair was not the only Claret off colour.

Despite that, the Clarets showed good character and deserve credit for taking the game to the home side for decent spells in both halves.

If the result was decided at the interval, Burnley still warranted a consolation and perhaps more for their endeavour and chances created in and around the Albion penalty box.

But it is time to forget this result, move on and concentrate on a swift return to winning ways against Birmingham in five days time.

Cotterill kept faith with the same starting line-up that was unlucky not to reap any rewards at leaders Cardiff last week.

Micah Hyde was available after completing a one-game suspension, but teenager Chris McCann kept his place in central midfield after his excellent display in South Wales.

At an altitude of 551 feet, the Hawthorns is the highest ground among those of all 92 Premier League and Football League clubs.

And certainly the Clarets were staring at an uphill battle after seven minutes on the clock.

Albion - desperate to end a run of five games without a victory - predictably made an early onslaught and broke the deadlock on five minutes.

Ellington was given too much time to penetrate the Clarets defence as he picked out a flying run from Koumas.

The Welsh midfielder - who bagged a double for his country against Liechtenstein in midweek - continued where he left off after racing clear of Sinclair and Wayne Thomas.

One-on-one against Brian Jensen, Koumas found the bottom corner despite the former Baggies goalkeeper managing a finger to the ball as he sprawled low to his left.

Troubled deepened less than 120 seconds later as Ellington turned from provider to scorer.

Diomansy Kamara ran to the edge of the box before feeding the former Wigan striker for a 20-yard strike that located the same bottom corner.

The Clarets - having previously conceded just five goals on the road this season - could only look at themselves in disbelief.

But the visitors re-grouped, livewire Jones cutting inside from the left to flash his side's first attempt on goal, while Russell Hoult was at full stretch to palm away James O'Connor's free-kick arrowing in on the top corner.

The deficit looked certain to be halved when from a short-corner routine between Sinclair and Wade Elliott, Michael Duff arrived at the back post to finish off a perfect cross.

But from close range, Duff headed over before sinking to his knees in anguish.

Not long after, his Northern Ireland colleague Jones, the most threatening player in a yellow shirt, was denied by Curtis Davies' diving block.

Albion spurned opportunities at the other end. Kamara fired wide of the upright, while Jensen was at his best thwarting Nigel Quashie's low effort and later Koumas as the former Tranmere man went clear one-on-one again.

But the Baggies grabbed a third before the break when Jensen palmed Ellington's angled effort into the air and Carter tucked away from a yard out.

Down three goals and with Albion more than happy to sit on their advantage, it always looked unlikely Burnley would mount a second-half comeback.

Gray was presented with the best chances. He looked to the stars after seeing one goalbound effort bounce off Davies for a corner.

And in the final minute, Hoult pulled off a point-blank stop from Burnley's leading scorer with his right foot.

Earlier, Sinclair received his marching orders from referee Richard Beeby.

Although his first-half foul on Koumas deserved a caution, his second yellow was very harsh.

Beeby booked three others in a Clarets shirt - and two from Albion - but it was never a dirty game.

With Harley substituted, Burnley finished with teenagers McCann and Kyle Lafferty carrying out full-back duties.

What was your view on the game? Submit your comments below.