Burnley went down 3-1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers on a disastrous day at Turf Moor.

Two goals in two first half minutes, the first a simple finish from from Seyi Olofinjana and the second from Michael Gray following a poor back pass from Clarke Carlisle put Mick McCarthy's side in the driving seat.

Gabor Kiraly then let a Sylvan Ebanks-Blake shot squirm under his body to hand Wolves a 3-0 lead just after half time before Ade Akinbiyi pulled back a late consolation for the Clarets.

Minus Andrew Cole, out injured, the Clarets began well and created the first chance in the fourth minute.

A quick break on four minutes released Wade Elliott, who fired in a first-time cross which Akinbiyi got good contact on, but couldn't steer inside the near post.

But out of the blue, it was the visitors who took the lead on 14 minutes.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's reverse pass released Olofinjana, who was given far too much time to weave his way through the Clarets defence and slot past Kiraly.

Things went from bad to worse two minutes later when Carlisle left his goalkeeper short with a back pass. The Hungarian raced form his goal, but only fired his hurried clearanc off Gray and into the gaping goal to gift Wolves a 0-2 lead.

Burnley's best response came on 26 minutes when a Robbie Blake corner fell nicely for Kyle Lafferty, but his goal-bound volley was well blocked by a Wolves defender.

Graham Alexander then had a great effort tipped around the post by Wayne Hennessey on 33 minutes as the Clarets looked to for a lifeline.

The Clarets had a couple of half efforts as the half wore on, but Owen Coyle would have been massively disappointed to go in two down at the break against a side who rarely threatened.

The second half saw Burnley again huf and puff, but again any hope of a comeback was undone when Burnley handed Wolves a third goal on a plate on 55 minutes.

This time Ebanks-Blake played a one two with Andy Keogh and shot from the edge of the area, then wheeled away in delight as Kiraly allowed the shot to squirm under his body and into the net.

The gaffer moved Robbie Blake to the left and switched Lafferty into a central striking role, which instantly pepped up the attack.

Akinbiyi latched onto a Lafferty flick-on on 72 minutes, but his snatched shot was straight at Wayne Hennessey in the Wolves goal.

A couple of minutes later and it was Lafferty's turn to try his luck, but the Northern ireland star's clever turn and shot just curled wide of the far post.

The Clarets did finally pull a goal back on 76 minutes when Akinbiyi smashed home at the second attempt after his header at the back post was well saved by Hennessey.

Ade scores a consolation

That goal gave the Clarets a lift and they continued to push forward looking to set up a grandstand finish.

But despite the pressure Burnley couldn't drag themselves back into the game and the majority of those inside Turf Moor went home hugely disappointed as another chance to break into the top six went begging.

Burnley: Kiraly, Alexander, Carlisle, Varga (Unsworth 71), Harley, Elliott, Gudjonsson (Mahon 56), O'Connor, Lafferty, Akinbiyi, Blake.
Subs: Jensen, Randall, Spicer.
Booked: O'Connor (foul 38), Lafferty (foul 65)

Wolves: Hennessey, Ward, Collins, Olofinjana (Eastwood 85), Henry, Keogh, Potter, Foley, Gray (Gibson 70), Elokobi, Ebanks-Blake (Kyle 83).
Subs: Jarvis, Stack.
Booked: Elokobi (time wasting 78)

Attendance 13,076