JAY Rodriguez was spot on to make sure Burnley go into the new season on a winning note.

The Clarets rounded off their six-game pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win over Premier League side Sunderland, with Rodriguez's 31st minute penalty being enough to separate the teams on a sunny afternoon at Turf Moor.

Ross Wallace tried to break the deadlock against his former club with a shot from distance which has been a feature of his pre-season.

But after being denied by the woodwork at Altrincham and Bristol Rovers his 18th minute effort here found goalkeeper Keiren Westwood's hands.

Rodriguez had big penalty appeals turned down a minute later, after being bundled over by Titus Bramble in the box as he shaped to shoot.

Burnley's number nine was tripped by Bramble on the half-hour as he burst onto Martin Paterson's ball into the box.

Referee Colin Webster had no choice but to award a penalty on this occasion, and Rodriguez recovered to take it, beating Westwood with an excellent strike straight down the middle.

While good defending meant Sunderland were largely restricted to half chances, Wallace went close again for the Clarets early in the second half.

Alex MacDonald chipped into Westwood's hands soon after replacing matchwinner Rodriguez.

Burnley: Jenson (Grant 46); Trippier (Long 67), Bikey (Edgar 46), Mee (Duff 46), Fox (Easton 46); Elliot (Hewitt 72), McCann (McKee 72), Marney (Bartley 45), Wallace (Knowles 72); Rodriguez (MacDonald 62), Paterson (Austin 45).

Subs not used: Stewart, Harvey.

Sunderland: Westwood; Elmohamady, Brown (Larsson 68), Bramble, Bardsley; Richardson, Gardner (Vaughan 70), Cattermole, (Malbranque 46), Colback, Gyan (Sessegnon 46), Wickham (Dong-Won 46).

Subs not used: Mignolet, Ferdinand, Laing.