Ten-man Burnley were well and truly buried at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace secured their play off spot in style.

The Eagles romped to a three goal lead inside 36 minutes, once Clarke Carlisle saw red for an early foul on Scott Sinclair that led to Ben Watson opening the scoring from the penalty spot.

Victor Moses made it two soon after and Ben Soares tap-in then ensured that Burnley's disastrous defending was punished as the game was put beyond them before half time.

Sinclair made it four just after the hour mark with another goal that was far, far too easy for Owen Coyle's liking.

And when Clinton Morrison added to the tally with a quarter of the game remaining, Burnley's humiliation was complete.

It was an horrific end to the season, especially for Michael Duff, who made his long-awaited return from injury at Selhurst Park, ironically against the side that he sustained his serious knee injury last September.

In midfield, there was a start for Mark Randall for the first time since the trip to Stoke.

Illness and injury meant that 10-goal Robbie Blake was the only fit striker available to Owen Coyle, forcing a reshuffle that saw Randall operate on the left side of a five-man midfield that saw Graham Alexander sitting centrally in front of the back four.

However, Coyle's plans were thrown up in the air as early as the fifth minute when disaster struck.

Carlisle inexplicably allowed a long punt form Julian Speroni to float over his head and when Sinclair pounced, the Clarets defender's clumsy challenge saw him instantly sent off.

Watson made no mistake from the spot, finding the bottom corner, while Carlisle was still trudging back to the dressing room contemplating a two-match ban at the start of next season - one as an instant ban, the second as a result of it being his second dismissal of the campaign.

Three minutes later, it was game over as Victor Moses reacted first to Danny Butterfield's header to scuff his shot past a cruelly exposed Brian Jensen.

Duff instantly reverted to his preferred role as centre back and Alexander dropped to right back as Coyle looked to plug the gaping holes.

But with Blake now increasingly isolated as confidence flowed through Palace veins, any hopes of a lifeline looked forlorn.

Just after the half hour, Jensen got down well to his left to claw away Watson's wicked free kick.

And the Dane soon denied Sinclair with his feet as the Eagles again carved open the crestfallen Clarets.

However, moments later it was Speroni's turn to be tested for the first time. Blake typically weaved his way past two defenders and his goalbound drive was parried away by the Argentinean.

From the resulting corner, Elliott and Blake combined brilliantly for the latter to drill a low ball across the six yard box that Duff was a bootlace away from converting at the far post.

A goal then could have given Burnley the leg up they desperately craved.

Instead, after 36 minutes, the game was well and truly up as Soares made it three.

The midfielder started the move by feeding Morrison, who rounded Jensen but was forced well wide.

However, the Palace striker still had time to spin and pick out Soares' dart into the six-yard box for the 21-year-old to prod home from close range.

The Clarets could have been forgiven for wanting their season to end immediately at that juncture.

Yet almost instantly, Speroni was forced into evasive action, superbly turning over Blake's 25-yard rocket before the break finally brought relief for the visitors.

Joey Gudjonsson replaced Mark Randall at the restart as shell-shocked Burnley looked to salvage some pride.

But the red tide continued to flood forward and it took a magnificent last ditch challenge from Steven Caldwell to deny Morrison his customary goal against the Clarets after Shaun Derry and Sinclair combined to tee up yet another clear-cut chance.

With Palace sensing their top-six place was secure as the half wore on, Selhurst Park got ready to party.

And Sinclair uncorked the champagne atmosphere just after the hour, waltzing through the Burnley back line and drilling his second past a stunned Jensen.

In the 65th minute, Morrison finally - and predictably - did get his name on the scoresheet.

Fed by Watson, the Republic of Ireland marksman took aim and found the far corner with a delightful angled drive.

With the game long gone, Alex MacDonald was given another chance to impress Coyle with a 20-minute run out.

Alan Mahon then replaced Chris McCann for the final ten minutes.

But by that stage, it was academic as the Clarets sunk without a trace to end their season on a downer.

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Harley, Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, J O'Connor, Randall (Gudjonsson 46), Elliott (MacDonald 70), McCann (Mahon 81), Blake.
Subs: Kiraly, Jordan

Booked: Elliott 63
Sent off: Carlisle 5.

Palace: Speroni, Hill, Hudson, Morrison (Scannell 72), Watson, Sinclair, Soares, Butterfield, Fonte, Derry (Fletcher 59), Moses (Ifill 32).
Subs: Craig, Scowcroft

Att: 23, 950 (833 Burnley)