Cardiff City were made to rue their wastefulness in front of goal as they slumped to a fourth successive Premier League defeat courtesy of a 2-1 home reverse to Burnley.
Neil Warnock s men came into the match on the back of games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, and although there were flashes of promise, they paid the price for their profligacy.
Cardiff were vastly superior in the first period without capitalising and were duly punished after the break when Burnley took the lead through Johann Gudmundsson s header.
The home side kept their focus and deservedly levelled through Josh Murphy at the end of a fine move, but Burnley rallied and ultimately consigned Cardiff to another defeat through Sam Vokes winner 20 minutes from time.
Despite their recent woes, Cardiff began the encounter brightly and an early Callum Paterson pass across the face of goal caused panic, but Josh Murphy could not reach it.
The former Norwich City youngster did go close in the 17th minute, playing a one-two with Greg Cunningham before hitting the post from a tight angle.
Burnley found themselves clinging on by half-time, with Kenneth Zohore forcing Joe Hart into a smart save, before Paterson saw a close-range header cleared in front of the goal-line by Matej Vydra.
Sean Dyche s men took the lead against the run of play five minutes into the second half, as Gudmundsson rose above Greg Cunningham to beat Neil Etheridge with a header at his near post.
But just nine minutes later, Cardiff were level – Murphy slamming home from 16 yards after Bruno Ecuele Manga s pin-point cut-back.
Parity did not remain, however, and Burnley left with all three points as Vokes steered a header into the bottom-right corner from Gudmundsson s cross in the 70th minute.
That s how to celebrate your 100th appearance
— Premier League (@premierleague)
What it means: Burnley finding their feet again
Burnley started the season with a draw and four consecutive defeats in the league, with their brief Europa League exploits perhaps explaining their difficult start. But, after a 4-0 win over Bournemouth last time and Sunday s character-affirming triumph in Wales, Dyche s side look to be getting back to their usual selves.
Murphy a livewire
Cardiff have had difficulty as an attacking threat so far this term, but they at least looked bright on occasion against Burnley and Murphy was vital to that. The winger was a decent outlet on the left, with his pace causing problems and he looked the most threatening around the visitors goal, hitting the post in the first half before getting a deserved goal after the break.
Lowton the weak link
Murphy was Cardiff s best attacking threat, though there can be little doubt that was partly down to him being up against Matt Lowton, who had immense difficulty keeping up with the former Norwich City youngster.
Key Opta facts
23 Callum Paterson won 23 aerial duels today against Burnley the most of any player in the since 2003-04. Vertigo.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
Cardiff have failed to win each of their opening eight games of a season in all competitions for just the second time (W0 D2 L6), following the 1964-65 season.
Cardiff are winless in their last 11 games in the Premier League (D3 L8), conceding 26 goals and scoring just six themselves in this run.
Burnley have recorded back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since April, having gone 10 games without a victory prior to their 4-0 win against Bournemouth last week.
With Cardiff, Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town all yet to win, this is just the third time in Premier League history that as many as three teams have failed to record a victory through their opening seven games of a campaign (also in 2004-05 and 2012-13).
Only Ashley Barnes (22) has scored more Premier League goals for Burnley than Sam Vokes (15), who scored the winner on his 100th appearance in the competition at Cardiff City Stadium.
Each of Cardiff s four goals in the Premier League this season have been assisted by defenders (two by Sean Morrison and one each for Bruno Ecuele Manga and Joe Bennett).
What s next?
Burnley face another struggling side next Saturday as they host winless Huddersfield Town, while Cardiff travel to Tottenham on the same day.
