Burnley's play off push finally ran out of steam in Norfolk as Dion Dublin's goal earned Norwich victory.

With manager Owen Coyle believing that only a nap hand of wins would keep the Clarets in with a chance of making the top six, this was a do-or-die 90 minutes.

But it took just 65 seconds for veteran striker Dublin to plunge a dagger into Burnley hearts with a simple opener.

And the last rites were called when substitute Ched Evans settled things with a 90th minute finish.

Inbetween. the Clarets had countless chances to earn something from their long trip south.

But Joey Gudjonsson and Kyle Lafferty were both denied by City keeper David Marshall as a promising season hit the buffers.

Burnley were unchanged for the trip to Carrow Road, with Robbie Blake and Wade Elliott supporting Kyle Lafferty at the spearhead of a 4-3-3 formation.

But disaster struck after only 65 seconds when the Clarets fell behind to an awful goal.

Jamie Cureton looked to have wasted a great opening after opting to cross when he sprung the offside trap.

However, with the ball only stabbed away by skipper Steven Caldwell, Darren Huckerby pounced and danced to the by line before picking out Dublin, who slotted home from a few yards out.

Graham Alexander needed to head another dangerous Huckerby cross over his own crossbar as the Canaries went for the jugular.

However, eventually the Clarets settled and Lafferty found room to drive straight at David Marshall with their first move of promise.

Brian Jensen sustained a head cut in the 15th minute, making a brave save to deny Darel Russell when boots were flying.

But after a lengthy stoppage, a change of shirt and a huge dollop of Vaseline to the wound, he was able to continue.

There was another let off for the Clarets in the 19th minute when a sublime Dublin flick released Russell, who mis-kicked with just Jensen to beat.

But finally Burnley forced Marshall into evasive action just before the half hour. Good work from Lafferty saw him pick out Joey Gudjonsson and the Icelandic midfielder forced the City keeper into a fine save with a 30-yard hammer.

Marshall then sprinted from goal to deny Elliott after Gudjonsson picked him out with a peach of a pass.

And four minutes from half time, Burnley perhaps should have been level. Robbie Blake, who was growing into the game, took advantage of John Otsemobor's slip to race forward and slide the ball into Lafferty's path.

It cried out for a first time hit and the Northern Ireland international obliged, but only found the side netting with an angled effort.

Boss Owen Coyle would have had mixed feelings at half time, given the nature of the goal and the response form his side.

And he sent the same 11 out to repair the damage done by Dublin's opener, albeit with Blake now operating as an orthodox striker alongside Lafferty.

However, the game should have been over in the 53rd minute when Matty Pattison outwitted Jon Harley on the by-line and pulled the ball back to 199-goal Cureton, who blew his big moment with a horrible swipe.

Andrew Cole replaced Chris McCann just before the hour as Coyle rolled the dice for the first time.

But Norwich continued to turn the screw and Cureton and Jason Shackell both wasted good chances by heading over.

Suddenly though, out of the blue, the Clarets should have silenced Carrow Road with an equaliser.

Elliott's chip sent Lafferty clear and the striker bided his time but agonizingly saw his bobbling shot turned around the post by Marshall.

After Alan Mahon replaced Gudjonsson, Ade Akinbiyi for Blake was Coyle's last gamble with 18 minutes remaining - the former Norwich striker joining Lafferty and Cole in attack.

But despite a late rally, the clear cut chance never materialized and Norwich settled the encounter with Ched Evans' 90th minute finish.

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Caldwell, Unsworth, Harley, O'Connor, Gudjonsson (Mahon 69), McCann (Cole 59), Elliott, Lafferty, Blake (Akinbiyi 77).
Subs: Kiraly, Randall

Booked: Harley 41, Alexander 42, Blake 52, Elliott 56

Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell, Huckerby, Dublin (Doherty 90), Cureton (Evans 66), Pearce, Fotheringham, Russell, Bertrand, Pattison.
Subs: Croft, Camara, Gibbs