LIGHTENING struck twice as Burnley beat Charlton at the happy Valley to complete a fantastic few days on the road.

The classy Clarets followed up the midweek victory at Watford with another sensational three points away to a side with genuine Premiership ambitions.

Andy Gray's deflected early header was followed by a cool Chris McCann finish as the Clarets stunned Alan Pardew's men inside the opening 13 minutes.

McCann makes it two

Andy Reid gave Charlton hope with a smart volleyed finish before half time.

But after weathering a second half storm, Gray made it 13 for the season from the penalty spot after Danny Mills stupidly handled.

And that finally killed off Charlton's resistance to cap a whirlwind first week in charge for new boss Owen Coyle.

Coyle stuck with the same side that stunned league leaders Watford in their own back yard.

Kyle Lafferty shook off a leg injury to retain his place on the left side of midfield, which meant that Vicarage Road hero Joey Gudjonsson was again named among the substitutes.

Lafferty was straight into the action, heavily involved in an early move that eventually saw Wade Elliott's mazy run halted.

Alan Mahon then blazed over the angle from outside the area as Owen Coyle's side settled quickly.

And in the seventh minute, the Clarets grabbed the lead.

Blake was fouled on the corner of the box and his wicked delivery was met by the head of Gray, whose flick deflected wickedly off Mills and flew past Nicky Weaver from point blank range.

Handy Andy does it again with a little help from Danny Mills

Thirteen minutes in the advantage was doubled in stunning fashion.

Again Blake was the tormentor in chief with another perfect delivery and this McCann was totally unmarked to head home from eight yards.

Following that blistering start, the primary aim was to slow the pace of the game and allow the former Premiership side's stunned supporters' impatience to grow.

But Matt Holland should have done better with a misdirected diving header midway through the half after good work on the right by Luke Varney.

However, offensively Burnley were on fire. Blake was causing absolute mayhem from dead ball situations and in the 27th minute he came within a whisker of earning his own rewards.

Lining up a free kick, this time on the right, he spotted Nicky Weaver straying from his near post and it took an almighty scramble for the ex-Manchester City stopper to claw Blake's disguised shot round the post.

Blake really should have made it three within seconds, this time plucking Lafferty's far post cross out of the air but blazing over with the goal at his mercy.

And that could have been a turning point of the game after the magnificent opening half hour by the Clarets.

Charlton were desperate for a lifeline and it arrived in the 36th minute.

Andy Reid pulled the trigger after a cross from the right was deflected over everyone and to the feet of the Addicks skipper, who gave Kiraly no chance with a superb volley.

Sensing a Lazarus-style revival, Charlton picked up the pace and from a seemingly unassailable position, Burnley were arguably relieved to hear the half time whistle.

Predictably, Charlton flew out of the blocks straight from the restart.

Kiraly grabbed frantically at the second attempt as Athletic forced Burnley back to the edge of the 18-yard line with an early spell of pressure.

And the Hungarian acrobatically parried away Reid's 57th minute thunderbolt before gratefully grabbing Chris Iwelumo's headed follow up.

It was frantic stuff from the home side, who were pouring forward in numbers in seek of a leveller.

Zheng Zhi's clever reverse ball sent Darren Ambrose clear in the box, but thankfully his shot was straight at Kiraly.

And immediately it needed a desperate last-gasp tackle from Alexander to deny another clear-cut chance as the Clarets were kept on the ropes.

Burnley attacks had now totally dried up and Joey Gudjonsson replaced Mahon just after the hour mark to beef up the midfield.

Charlton though continues to seek the head of Iwelumo at every opportunity and only a linesman's flag denied the former Colchester striker an equaliser when he latched onto a flick to head home off the crossbar midway through the half.

But within 60 seconds, Gray finally put daylight between the two sides again with a clinical penalty.

Game over!

The irksome Mills needlessly handled Wade Elliott's cross and Burnley's ice-cool top scorer made no mistake from 12 yards.

Kiraly superbly turned over Varney's speculative shot from the corner of the box as Charlton tried in vain for a response.

And Charlton soon ran out of steam to leave the visiting fans celebrating wildly after an amazing few days on the road.

Burnley: Kiraly, Alexander, Carlisle, Unsworth, Harley, Elliott (Jones 90), McCann, Mahon (Gudjonsson 64), Lafferty, Blake (Akinbiyi 90), Gray.
Subs: Jensen, J O'Connor.

Booked: Unsworth 21, Gudjonsson 86

Charlton: Weaver, Sodje (Bougherra 78), Zheng (Sam 78), Reid, Holland, Ambrose, Varney (McLeod 85), Powell, Iwelumo, Fortune, Mills.
Subs: Randolph, Semedo.

Booked: Varney 18, Mills 68, Reid 88

Ref: R Shoebridge