On a difficult night for the young Clarets a strong Aston Villa side ran out comfortable 4-1 winners at Aston Villa’s Bodymoor Heath Training Ground.

The home side were keen to impress in front of the new management team of Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister who oversaw a 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in their first game in charge on Saturday.

Former Welsh international Mark Delaney is Villa’s Under-23 coach. The Midlands side featured a number of players who won the FA Youth Cup last season.

Michael Jackson made three changes from the side that beat Barrow on penalties in the Lancashire Senior Cup. Three experienced players made way as Jake Rooney came in for Bobby Thomas, Ethen Vaughan for Anthony Glennon and Mark Helm for Dale Stephens. Former Manchester United midfielder Helm captained the side.

There was an early chance for Owen Dodgson. His fierce sixth-minute shot was well saved by Villa goalkeeper Filip Marschall.

Two players with first-team experience combined to give Villa the lead in the 14th minute when Cameron Archer crossed for Jaden Philogene-Bidace to fire home.

There was nearly a scare for the home side in the 20th minute when former Fleetwood Town defender Josh Feeney headed the ball beyond his keeper. The ex-Cambridge City stopper did well to gather the ball in time.

Villa extended their advantage 20 minutes before half-time when Sam Waller miskicked attempting a clearance leaving former Northampton Town forward Caleb Chukwuemeka with the simple task of touching the ball into the empty net.

The Clarets got back in the game eight minutes before the break. Michael Mellon forced a fine save from Marschall and from the resulting corner Jacob Bedeau headed home at the second attempt.

Philogene-Bidace got a third Villa goal in time added on. He finished well after a tricky run across the Burnley box. The England-U20 forward also hit the bar in the first half.

There was a change of strip for the second half. The officials re-emerged in lime green after their black tops clashed with Burnley’s navy blue third kit.

Burnley nearly got the quick response they needed but Joe McGlynn’s header was narrowly wide from a fine Dodgson cross.

Mellon went close with 20 minutes left. Substitute Max Thompson pulled the ball back. Mellon was at full stretch as he tried to convert but a defender got the crucial touch.

Villa sealed the points with two minutes left. Waller saved well from Archer but the rebound fell kindly for substitute Tristan Goodridge who made no mistake.

Villa picked up their first win in four games and are third in the table. Burnley dropped to eighth after their second successive defeat but are only one point off the play-off places.

Next up for the young Clarets is a home fixture against Stoke City on Friday at Leyland (7pm).

Burnley: Waller: E.Vaughan, Rooney, Bedeau, Armstrong: Costelloe (Thompson), Helm, Woods, Dodgson: McGlynn, Mellon (Hugill). Subs: Allen, Williams, Gallagher-Allison.

Aston Villa: Marschall: Ealing, Feeney, Bogarde, Swinkels: Lindley, Iroegbunam: Caleb Chukwuemeka (Goodridge), Carney Chukwuemeka, Philogene-Bidace: Archer. Subs: Zyche, Thorndike, O’Reilly, Barber.