Burnley ran riot at Carrow Road, putting on a four-star show to ignite their promotion push ahead of the international mini-break.

A brace from Andy Gray and further goals from James O'Connor and Alan Mahon put the sheen on a polished performance that propelled the Clarets up to third place in the Championship table.

And the margin of victory was nothing more than Steve Cotterill's side deserved against a Norwich City team struggling for confidence and down to 10 men for the final 30 minutes of a thoroughly entertaining clash.

However, by then the damage was done as a sensational first half performance from the Clarets put them two goals to the good and out of reach.

O'Connor opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a smart finish and Gray doubled the advantage just before the break with a trademark header.

The striker added a third immediately following the red card. And the comprehensive win could have been more emphatic as City fell apart in the closing stages.

The Clarets made just one, enforced change for the trip to Norfolk. Wayne Thomas's red card against Southampton - and subsequent four-match suspension - opened the door for Frank Sinclair to regain his place in the starting line-up.

And Sinclair, who also regained the captaincy in the skipper's absence, slotted into the right back role with Michael Duff slotting into the centre alongside the vastly experienced John McGreal.

And McGreal was called into action as early as the fourth minute when Earnshaw opened his legs to race past James O'Connor.

However, the Clarets were the width of the woodwork from opening the scoring two minutes later. Frank Sinclair floated a free kick into the City box and while Gifton Noel-Williams appealed in van after falling under a suspect challenge, Michael Duff took advantage of the distraction to slam the ball off the inside of the post from close range.

What a let off that was for Norwich! But the Clarets were soon the fortunate ones when City broke with pace. Lee Croft, Darren Huckerby and Rob Earnshaw made it three versus one in favour of the Canaries, but thankfully Croft chose the wrong pass and Earnshaw rifled his shot into the side netting from a tight angle with the unmarked Huckerby screaming in exasperation.

The game was remarkably open and in the 22nd minute, Burnley forced their sixth corner of the game after Dion Dublin headed Steve Jones' cross just wide of his own goal.

And in the 27th minute, another terrific Burnley move should have brought them the lead. Noel-Williams' smart dummy from Sinclair's through ball allowed Andy Gray to slide Micah Hyde clear, but the midfielder struck his shot straight at Paul Gallagher with just the City keeper to beat.

The Clarets were certainly showing the nationwide television audience just why they arrived at Carrow Road as the only unbeaten Championship team on their travels.

And they capped a stunning opening half with the opening goal in the 32nd minute. Noel-Williams fed Jones on the right and the flame haired wide man pulled the ball back across the penalty area for James O'Connor to pick his spot with a smart, low finish.

City's response was predictable and eight minutes from half time, the Clarets were indebted to Brian Jensen for an instinctive save when Huckerby's curler deflected off James O'Connor's head and wrong footed the alert keeper.

But the natives were certainly restless when Burnley sensationally doubled their lead in first half stoppage time. Elliott picked out Gray with a hanging cross and the in-form striker found the bottom corner from 12 yards with a knock-out header.

Earnshaw sounded an instant warning that Norwich meant business in the second half with a free kick that was just too high.

The frustration in the home ranks grew when, just before the hour mark, Welsh international then headed over the bar from Croft's clever dinked cross.

And City were really up against it on the hour when Gary Doherty was sent off for a professional foul on Gray.

The veteran centre back could perhaps count himself unlucky, but the letter of the law gave referee Phil Crossley little option when, in a prone position, he brought the Clarets striker down 25 yards from goal.

And punishment was almost instantly meted out as the Clarets took full advantage of their numerical advantage to make it 3-0.

Jones, enjoying his best performance in a claret shirt, played a neat one-two with Noel-Williams and crossed to the unmarked Gray, who coolly slotted home his ninth goal in 18 appearances.

Noel-Williams and substitute Alan Mahon could both have extended the lead as the hosts' heads dropped.

But City finally gave their supporters something to cheer nine minutes from time when Huckerby found Earnshaw and the pint-sized hitman beat Jensen from 18 yards.

However, Alan Mahon put the icing on Burnley's cake in the final minute, latching onto Gray's astute ball and rifling the ball past a dispirited Gallacher.

Burnley: Jensen, Harley, Duff, McGreal, Sinclair, Elliott (Mahon 75), Hyde, J O'Connor, Jones (McCann 87), Gray, Noel-Williams (Lafferty 87).
Subs not used: Foster, G O'Connor

Booked: Sinclair 39, J O'Connor 56

Norwich: Gallacher, Fleming, Huckerby, Croft (Hughes 71), Dublin (Thorne 65), Earnshaw, Safri, Boyle (Shackell 63) Colin, Doherty, Robinson.
Subs not used: Camp, Jarvis

Sent Off: Doherty 60.

Ref: P Crossley