Burnley are still waiting for their first points of the season, after slipping to another narrow defeat, this time against promotion favourites Sheffield United at Turf Moor.

The Clarets more than matched the Blades throughout the game, but were caught cold by an early goal and United's second was down to sheer luck on the visitors' behalf before Ade Akinbiyi brought the Clarets back into the season with his first of the campaign.

After that, Burnley put pressure on the Blades and could have easily taken a point out of the match against a team who looked strong at the back and competent going forward and will not be far from the promotion shake up next May.

Burnley started well and put pressure on the Blades from the first whistle, but it was actually United who forced the first shot on goal when Danny Webber struck an angled drive at goal which Brian Jensen saved well.

United then took the lead in only the fourth minute, when Webber whipped a low cross in from the right. No-one made a clearance and Neil Shipperley was there to convert from close range for his first goal in a United shirt.

Burnley's early efforts came from Micah Hyde and Garreth O'Connor, who both drove low shots wide from outside the area.

The Clarets came close in the 28th minute, when Wade Elliott played a ball for the over lapping Frank Sinclair down the right. He delivered a cross into the area and Gifton Noel Williams stabbed the ball just wide of the post.

Another good move involved Elliott, when he chipped a left footed cross into the area for Noel Williams but unfortunately his header went just over the bar following earlier good work from Ade Akinbiyi in the area.

Akinbiyi then saw a good effort fly narrowly over the bar, when he superbly backed away from a Graham Branch throw-in before executing an acrobatic over head kick which landed on the roof of the United goal.

Burnley were enjoying a decent spell by this time and enjoying the better of the game, but United always looked dangerous on the break particularly through the lively Webber and it was the former Watford man who gave the Blades a two goal lead in the 39th minute. A corner from the right was headed weakly goalwards by Chris Morgan, but Jensen's punch out hit him on the side of the head and bounced back towards goal. Jensen and two defenders couldn't stop it and Webber managed to scramble it home on the line.

The Clarets were up against it as they emerged for the second half and with United playing with confidence going forward and looking sturdy in defence, it was always going to be a hard challenge.

Burnley certainly showed more attacking instinct in the second half though and had a couple of half chances, notably an Akinbiyi header from Elliott's cross which was saved by Kenny and a Sinclair shot which went over the bar from an angle.

At the other end, Webber had Jensen scrambling across his line in the 65th minute when he turned well on the edge of the box before firing a left footer wide of the post.

Morgan then made a brave block to deny James O'Connor, who lined up a shot after being set up by his name sake Garreth.

Noel Williams then headed wide, following a cross from Akinbiyi on the right as the Clarets chased their way back into the match.

The goal Burnley deserved finally arrived in the 71st minute, when Hyde played a superb ball between two defenders on the right. Sinclair raced onto it and into the box before pulling a ball back for Noel Williams. His shot looked to be going home, but Akinbiyi made sure by turning the ball in from close range to open his account for the season.

Burnley were forced into a change with 10 minutes remaining when the impressive Sinclair pulled up with a stretch whilst supporting an attack and he was replaced by Kyle Lafferty who took up a forward position with Elliott dropping back.

A flowing move from Burnley almost brought an equaliser when Elliott's ball from the back was knocked down by Akinbiyi for Noel Williams. He played a pass into the path of Garreth O'Connor and after he took it past his man on the left, Kenny made a great save to keep his low shot out.

Only three minutes were added at the end, a matter which was more than frustrating for the Clarets given the time spent treating a number of United injuries and substitutions, but unfortunately a Burnley equaliser couldn't be found.

Burnley: Jensen, Thomas, McGreal, Sinclair (Lafferty, 80) James O'Connor, Hyde, Branch, Akinbiyi, Elliott, Garreth O'Connor, Noel Williams. Subs not used: Coyne, McCann, Duff, Karbassiyoon

Sheffield United: Kenny, Bromby, Harley, Morgan, Jagielka, Ifill (Gillespie, 85) Shipperley, Webber (Kabba, 85) Nalis, Montgomery, Tonge (Kozluk, 80) Subs not used: Quinn, Barnes.

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