BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill has made no secret of his delight that goals are continuing to flow this season.

Robbie Blake and Chris McCann made their first mark last night to earn the Clarets their second consecutive away win and condemn Sheffield Wednesday to their sixth straight defeat.

But it was the clean sheet Cotterill had craved that proved most satisfying. And it was no coincidence that it occured on a night when he felt his back four clicked, as a unit, for the first time this season.

And, combined with the first Championship strikes of the season for Blake and McCann, the Clarets moved up to sixth, hitting the magical double figures mark just five games in.

It was a tentative start that both sides made. Understandably so, perhaps, with Wednesday desperately striving to make sure their worst start to a league season in their 140-year history didn't stretch beyond the opening five games, while Burnley weighed up a potential backlash from that.

Seven minutes had past before the first attempt at goal, but Andy Gray was disappointed to drag the ball wide from the edge of the box after Blake controlled Lafferty's deflected cross that looped high in the area.

Wednesday retaliated and Frank Simek was allowed time and space to roam into the area before the block eventually came from the ever-reliable Steven Caldwell.

Wade Small worked an opening after riding Stephen Jordan's tackle midway inside the Burnley half, but he opted to pass instead of shoot after trotting to the edge of the box unchallenged, and the chance went begging as the ball rolled through for Gabor Kiraly, who was back in goal in place of Brian Jensen for his first start in over four weeks after injury.

The Hungarian stopper could not relax for long as Akpo Sodje sprayed the ball right for onrushing strike partner Francis Jeffers. Michael Duff charged across to provide cover, while Kiraly stood up and kept the ball out with the bottom of his left boot. Although a good stop, a man of Jeffers' pedigree really should have done better from around 10 yards out.

And it was a miss that he was immediately left to regret as Burnley broke, Wade Elliott pumped a ball in from the right that was only half cleared. Blake got it under control on the edge of the box, swung his left boot and beat the diving Lee Grant.

Blake might have had a second after combining with Lafferty on the left, but couldn't work the ball onto his stronger left foot and, from the edge of the box, made it a comfortable save for Grant in the end.

Lafferty too peppered the goal, twice running in from the left, dragging a shot wide across goal from 18 yards out then seeing Grant parry a more close-range effort from which Steve Watson shielded the ball to prevent a follow-up for the unlucky Irishman.

His youthful enthusiasm then got the better of him as he hastily snatched at an Andy Gray knock down and skied the ball over the bar.

But the latter effort came around 10 minutes before the break, after Wednesday had tried desperately to get back on level terms.

But with the weight of five straight Championship defeats on their shoulders, they lacked the courage of their convictions.

Kenny Lunt could neither find any one of a handful of team-mates lurking inside the area or test Kiraly himself with two long range free kicks, and both times the Hungarian stopper cradled the lofted ball in his arms.

Sodje then volleyed over from Frank Simek's right-wing delivery, Small was unlucky to see the ball spin out of his reach as he slid into the area to try to meet Etienne Esajas' attempted cross-shot, while Simek's demands for a penalty after his sprint into the box was blocked out by Stephen Jordan fell on deaf ears, much to the right back's frustration.

But Burnley looked comfortable for the rest of the half with their slender 1-0 lead never under any real threat.

The Owls were forced into a defensive change at half-time after Steve Watson picked up a first-half knock and was replaced by Richard Hinds at the start of the second period.

And without their experienced captain they were stung on the break for the second time.

Simek burst out of the traps to drive into the box but his route to goal was intercepted by Alexander, who made a firm and timely challenge.

Burnley were soon back at the opposite corner flag, where Simek went from hero to villain as far as Wednesday were concerned as Blake robbed him of possession wide on the left and drove into the penalty area. Out of the corner of his right eye he spotted McCann ready and waiting, slipped the ball back and the midfielder positioned himself well to side-foot it underneath Grant.

As early as the 48th minute you could sense there was no way back for Wednesday.

Despite that, after succumbing to a late Blackpool equaliser on Saturday, the Burnley defence knew they could ill afford to switch off, and although Carlisle produced a good tackle to thwart Jeffers, he conceded a free kick 20 yards out for a late challenge on Esajas either side of Wednesday changing their front two, as Marcus Tudgay and Deon Burton replacing Jeffers and Sodje on the hour.

>From the free kick that Carlisle gave away, Lunt fared better from closer range, and Kiraly made a brilliant save to tip the ball over the bar.

Small became more lively in attack and forced another stop from Kiraly, albeit more comfortable. After using his pace to get past Caldwell, he lacked the power to drive the ball beyond the Burnley goalkeeper, before being unfortunate to fire just wide from just outside the area.