BURNLEY paid for a wretched first-half performance as they slipped to a third straight Premier League defeat with Aston Villa taking all three points on the first day of the new year.

Having seen a Jack Grealish header ruled out for a marginal offside decision against Wesley in the 11th minute, the visitors saw both score in the first period to put them in command.

The Clarets pulled one back through Chris Wood's header 10 minutes from time but were unable to find an equaliser and Villa celebrated a first league win at Turf Moor since 1936 as the hosts’ recent struggles in front of goal continued.

Boss Sean Dyche was impressed by his side's second-half display in defeat by Manchester United on Saturday and made only one change - Robbie Blake replacing Jeff Hendrick out wide.

These are the type of games Burnley have made a habit of winning during the past three-and-a-half seasons but they were lacklustre from the start, misplacing passes and giving Villa too much time and space.

It was the perfect environment for Villa to grow in confidence and they came close just prior to Grealish's disallowed goal, with Wesley shooting narrowly wide.

Burnley had managed just two shots on target in their previous three games and showed few signs of improving that statistic. Dwight McNeil shot over the bar and Wood headed wide but neither effort came close to troubling former Claret Tom Heaton on his first return to Turf Moor.

Another defensive mistake played in Grealish, who teed up Wesley for a shot that Nick Pope did well to save with his feet, and the Burnley keeper then got down sharply to keep out Douglas Luiz's follow-up.

It was no surprise when the breakthrough arrived in the 27th minute, with Villa taking full advantage of more hesitant Burnley defending as Grealish clipped a ball in for Wesley to control on his chest and volley between the legs of Pope.

Grealish then thumped in a fine second in the 41st minute, with no doubt this time that the goal would count.

Dyche showed his displeasure by making two changes for the second half - Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Jay Rodriguez replacing Brady and Ashley Barnes.

It had the desired effect, although Luiz should have made it three, shooting tamely at Pope having again been given far too much space by Burnley's defence.

Burnley at least looked a dangerous attacking presence now and Rodriguez should have pulled one back from in front of goal in the 49th minute but could only nudge James Tarkowski's cross wide.

Wood then volleyed wide with the outside of his boot and sliced another effort off target before Wesley's afternoon ended on a stretcher following a firm but fair challenge from Ben Mee.

That was not the only black mark on Villa's day, with Heaton also needing to be carried off after hurting his right knee in attempting to keep out Wood's powerful header.

The popular keeper was applauded by all sides of the ground, but Burnley were unable to seriously test replacement Orjan Nyland despite nine minutes of added time.