BURNLEY were unable to capitalise on Danny Ings’ return from injury as they were beaten at home by West Ham United.

Ings and midfielder David Jones were both back in the Clarets starting line-up and played their part in an encouraging first-half display, but goals from Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Carlton Cole took the game beyond them in the second period.

Burnley were bright from the start of the Turf Moor fixture and came so close to taking the lead early on when George Boyd collected Kieran Trippier’s right-wing centre and smashed a half volley against the underside of the bar.

The Clarets then had a goal disallowed as Ings dashed past Alex Song and James Collins before seeing his shot parried by Adrian. Lukas Jutkiewicz tapped in the rebound, but the flag was up for offside.

Valencia nodded wide for West Ham before Jutkiewicz headed over for Sean Dyche’s side at the other end.

Burnley had had the better of the first half but did need the woodwork to deny West Ham as Stewart Downing cut inside on to his favoured left foot and curled a shot against the outside of the post from a tight angle.

The visitors were ahead four minutes into the second half, though, as left back Aaron Cresswell swung in a superb cross and Sakho rose above Jason Shackell to head in from six yards.

It was 2-0 only five minutes later as this time right back Carl Jenkinson advanced and delivered a cross that Valencia directed into the top corner with a bullet header.

A suddenly buoyant West Ham even came close to a third when substitute Cole had a header cleared off the line by Kieran Trippier from a corner.

But Burnley responded on the hour mark as Michael Kightly curled in a corner and keeper Adrian spilled the ball under pressure from Ings. The Clarets striker then went down himself but Boyd was on hand to smash in the loose ball from six yards.

It was almost 2-2 moments later as Trippier’s superb cross was headed inches wide by Ings.

But West Ham made it 3-1 in the 70th minute as Sakho headed Morgan Amalfitano’s left-wing corner back into the six-yard box and Cole nodded in from close range.

Clarets substitute Ashley Barnes came close to pulling a goal back late on when he volleyed against the bar from Trippier’s centre, but Burnley could not find a way back into the game.

Burnley: Tom Heaton; Kieran Trippier, Michael Duff, Jason Shackell, Ben Mee; George Boyd, Scott Arfield, David Jones, Michael Kightly (Nathaniel Chalobah 83); Lukas Jutkiewicz (Ashley Barnes 65), Danny Ings (Marvin Sordell 83). Subs not used: Matt Gilks, Kevin Long, Stephen Ward, Ross Wallace.

West Ham: Adrian; Carl Jenkinson, James Collins, Winston Reid, Aaron Cresswell; Mark Noble, Alex Song (Kevin Nolan 83), Stewart Downing, Morgan Amalfitano; Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia (Carlton Cole 58). Subs not used: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Joey O’Brien, Reece Burke, Matt Jarvis, Ricardo Vaz Te.

Referee: Kevin Friend.

Attendance: 18,936.