A goal from Michael Ricketts on his Turf Moor debut was enough to secure three points for the Clarets against Plymouth Argyle in the Championship in this close encounter.
Burnley just about shaded the game, although they had to produce some brave and desperate defending in the final stages as Argyle chased a late leveller following an improved second half performance.
It wasn't to be for them though and Ricketts' first half strike proved to be the clincher and seal Burnley's first win since the victory over Stoke City on Boxing Day.
The Clarets had the better of the first half though and Argyle stopper Romain Larrieu had to make the first save of the game in the sixth minute, when he stopped a low shot from Garreth O'Connor which was set up for him well from a set piece after Ricketts had been fouled on the edge of the area.
Almost immediately after that, Brian Jensen had to be alert to deny Nick Chadwick after he had broken into the box only for Jensen to get a solid hand to his attempted lob.
Ricketts came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 20th minute, when he controlled Michael Duff's long throw on his thigh before turning quickly and firing an angled shot narrowly wide of the far post.
The former Bolton man didn't have to wait long before he opened his account though, as he collected a pass in the area after a driving run through the middle by Micah Hyde in the 24th minute. He showed great close control to take the ball around the last defender, before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner to give Larrieu no chance.
Jensen made a good stop two minutes before the break when Chadwick got the better of Frank Sinclair when racing on to a ball over the top. The Pilgrims striker hit a low shot at goal, but Jensen was down quickly to turn it away for a corner kick.
That gave the visitors some impetus and they finished the first half strongly, although Lilian Nalis' low shot wide was all they had to show for it as the Clarets went in at the break with their lead in tact.
The partnership between Ricketts and Gifton Noel-Williams looked to be working well, with the latter taking a deeper role and aiming to provide the ammunition for his strike partner. On a number of occasions, passes and flicks through by Noel-Williams came close to providing Ricketts with opportunities.
Plymouth were looking the more likely scorers in the early stages of the second half though and forced some considerable pressure on the Clarets as they went in search of an equaliser by throwing a number of crosses and high balls towards the Burnley area.
Jensen was kept largely quiet by his defenders though, with just a deflected shot from Nalis and a low effort from Micky Evans having to be dealt with by the Dane.
Burnley kept playing their football and worked their way back into it through a series of promising attacks. One of those assaults saw Jon Harley fouled on the left hand side of the area and it was Harley himself who whipped a shot in from the free kick, with Larrieu making a good save.
Argyle made a double substitution with 15 minutes remaining, with attackers Akos Buzsaky and Chris Zebroski thrown into the action as they went looking for a goal. They almost found it too, when Nalis hit a bobbling shot from 25 yards which Jensen did well to palm wide of the post.
Jensen bettered that in the 83rd minute, when Buzsaky's pacy free kick was met by the head of Paul Wotton and he looked to have brought things level only to see the Clarets keeper make a fine save low to his left just inches in front of the line.
The visitors were really pushing on by the time four minutes of added time were announced with the Clarets forced into some strong defending to keep Argyle at bay. With a number of free kicks awarded to them around the area, there was no time to relax for anyone and the constant barrage from the long throw-ins of Tony Capaldi were causing concern.
Burnley held on though and there were cheers of relief as three points were secured for the Clarets.
Burnley: Jensen, McGreal, Sinclair, Duff, James O'Connor, Hyde, Branch, Ricketts, Garreth O'Connor (Elliott, 73) Noel-Williams, Harley. Subs not used: Karbassiyoon, McCann, Spicer, Courtney.
Plymouth Argyle: Larrieu, Barness (Buzsaky, 75) Nalis, Norris, Evans (Zebroski, 75) Chadwick, Doumbe, Capaldi, Wotton, Ward, Connolly. Subs not used: McCormick, Aljofree, Hodges.
Bookings: Jon Harley (87 minutes)
Sending offs:
