FOUR-MIDABLE Burnley won on the road again as the promotion bandwagon gathered pace at Wolves.

First half goals from Robbie Blake, Kyle Lafferty and Clarke Carlisle sealed a sensational opening 45 minutes that left Molineux stunned.

Blake opens the scoring

And after Wanderers, who had equalised in the 24th minute, grabbed a lifeline through a penalty on the hour mark, fans saw the steely side of Owen Coyle's side as they stood firm to leap to seventh in the Championship with a fourth successive away win.

Coyle was able to name an unchanged side for the fifth successive game.

And the resurgent Clarets, with successive wins away to Leicester, Watford and Charlton behind them, took the first half by the scruff of the neck.

There was an early storm to weather and Stephen Elliott had half a chance for Wolves in the eighth minute when he failed to meet a deep cross with a firm enough header that bounced harmlessly wide.

Gabor Kiraly was tested soon after when Gibson's wicked cross-cum-shot almost caught out the in-form Hungarian.

But in the 16th minute the pattern for the first half was set and Burnley should have taken the lead with a glorious chance.

Wade Elliott's cross was only half cleared to Alan Mahon, whose blistering drive cannoned back off the inside of the post. The ball struck keeper Wayne Hennessey and fell invitingly to Gray, who seemed certain to score from three yards out only for the Wolves stopper to somehow block his effort.

But it took only two more minutes for Hennessey's luck to run out. Blake was fouled on the corner of the box and his free kick was meat and drink, but as the ball skidded off the slick surface Hennessey inexplicably allowed the ball to slip through his grasp and bobble into the net.

In the 24th minute Wolves got back on level terms. Clarke Carlisle could only half clear Stephen Ward's drilled cross, but at the second attempt he found Gibson and the on-loan Manchester United midfielder found the net off the inside of the post.

But Burnley were not to be downhearted and the game exploded again on the half hour.

Davis Unsworth found Elliott, who bamboozled former Blackburn Rovers defender Michael Gray and dug out a magnificent, inswinging cross to the far post, where Lafferty arrived like an express train to finish with aplomb.

Four minutes before the break it was almost 3-1 after Burnley carved Wolves open yet again.

Mahon's fantastic reverse ball released Gray and his turn and rising shot looked a certain goal until Hennessey somehow deflected it onto the top of the crossbar.

It mattered not though as, from the resulting corner the Clarets extended their lead.

Blake showed terrific skill to turn his man near the corner flag and his hanging cross to the far post was met by Carlisle, whose firm header found the net via Darren Ward's outstretched arm.

Carlisle celebrates with Lafferty

That stunned Molineux and the half time whistle brought boos ringing from three sides of the ground.

Wolves emerged for the restart a good three minutes before their Burnley counterparts, no doubt following a dressing room dressing down from Mick McCarthy.

But the pattern of play was the same and Mahon's mazy solo brought a fine save from Hennessey.

Molineux the resulting free was now terrified every time the Clarets went on the offensive and a flying Jon Harley was then unceremoniously dumped to the floor by Neil Collins - Blake curling the free kick just wide.

But Wolves were thrown a lifeline just before the hour mark. Referee Steve Tanner spotted a shirt tug by Gray from a Bothroyd free kick and despite the protests, pointed to the spot, where Stephen Elliott made no mistake.

Suddenly it was game on again in a breathtaking game.

Joey Gudjonsson replaced Mahon to offer some welcome fresh legs as the frantic pace continued.

And when Gray stabbed Blake's cross wide with 20 minutes remaining, it was the first chance Burnley had created since the opening seconds of the half.

McCann fired over from 25 yards as the Clarets tried to get back on the front foot.

And with the clock ticking down and nine minutes remaining Gudjonsson's jackhammer of a free kick forced Hennessey into a fine save.

A fine block with minutes to go kept an increasingly desperate Wanderers at bay. And the final whistle was met with joy by the hundreds of Clarets fans who made the trip to the Black Country.

Burnley: Kiraly, Alexander, Unsworth, Carlisle, Harley, Elliott, Lafferty, Mahon (Gudjonsson 68), McCann, Blake (J O'Connor 83), Gray (Akinbiyi 88)
Subs: Jensen. Jones

Booked: Carlisle 80

Wolves: Hennessey, D Ward, Collins, Olofinjana, Henry, Bothroyd (Keogh 73), S Ward (Jarvis 71), S Elliott, Gibson (Eastwood 60), Foley, M Gray.
Subs: Edwards, Ikeme.

Booked: Collins 56

Ref: S Tanner.

Att: 20,763