Burnley ended Colchester United's unbeaten start to the season with a confident attacking performance at Layer Road.
Alan Mahon celebrated his first league start of the season by putting the Clarets ahead just before the quarter hour mark.
Andy Gray doubled the lead 14 minutes later and the Clarets looked to be cruising.
Kevin Lisbie pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time, but Gray's second from the penalty spot just after hour mark calmed the nerves.
Adam Virgo set up a nervy finale, but Burnley held firm in the dying minutes to earn their second victory of the season.
Interestingly, new signing Graham Alexander made his Burnley debut in central midfield following the midweek move from Preston. There was also a return for Michael Duff in defence.
And the Clarets were positive from the first whistle.
Robbie Blake and Gray were linking up well, and in the ninth minute the Clarets had strong appeals for a penalty turned down.
Gray released Chris McCann, who in turn fed Mahon on the left. His first time cross looked to be handled by George Elokobi, only for referee Phil Joslin to wave away the appeals.
However, Mahon got his revenge in the 14th minute when he gave the Clarets a deserved lead.
This time Blake created the opening with a cool piece of play on the right and when he rolled in Wade Elliott, the winger's cross was only half cleared to the former Sporting Lisbon midfielder, who rifled an unstoppable volley into the bottom corner.
United's forced response was three corners in a row that ultimately came to nothing.
And in the 28th minute the Clarets doubled their lead. Elliott was again heavily involved, crossing perfectly for the unmarked Gray to volley a first time volley high into Gerken's goal.
A defensive misunderstanding between Clarke Carlisle and Brian Jensen almost allowed gift-wrapped a goal for veteran striker Teddy Sheringham.
But after a narrow escape, the Clarets swept upfield and Gray's attempted dink over Gerken was clawed aside by the relieved keeper.
Brian Jensen was equally adept six minutes before the break, making a spectacular save at full stretch from Mark Yeates' curling free kick to keep the two goal lead intact.
But a minute before the break Colchester grabbed a lifeline. Kevin Lisbie earned a dubious free kick, which was taken at least eight yards further forward than the original 'trip' by Steven Caldwell.
The initial attempt was blocked, but the second ball was won by Elokobi and from his left wing cross Lisbie rose highest to plant a firm header past Jensen.
Understandably, the U's flew out of the blocks form the restart and Lisbie went close with an angled drive.
And the hosts were visibly brighter as they fought a way back into a game that looked beyond them after only half an hour.
Elokobi forced a fine low save from Jensen, but the wind was taken from United's sails just after the hour mark.
McCann pounced on Wade Elliott's header back into the mix and after his initial shot was blocked, his second attempt to skip past the last defender forced a trip.
Joslin had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Gray sent Gerken the wrong way to restore the two goal lead.
A tiring Alexander was replaced by John Spicer with a quarter of the game remaining.
Alexander receives treatment for cramp
But Burnley remained in the ascendancy and Gray was a whisker away from completing his hat trick.
Blake's last action before being replaced by Ade Akinbiyi was to whip over a left wing cross that Gray flicked goalwards, only for Gerken to acrobatically turn the ball over the bar at full stretch.
Akinbiyi tired to tee up Gray for his treble, only to see Gerken dive at his feet and save the day.
And within seconds Virgo set up a grandstand finish with a far post header.
However, the Clarets survived the five minutes of stoppage time with no further alarm to earn three vital points.
Burnley: Jensen, Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Elliott, Alexander (Spicer 67), McCann, Mahon (Harley 84), Gray, Blake (Akinbiyi 76).
Subs: Jones, Unsworth
Booked: Carlisle 46, Blake 55, Alexander 56, McCann 90
Colchester: Gerken, White (McLeod 34), Jackson, Duguid, Sheringham, Izzet (Guttridge 85), Yeates (Virgo 78), Baldwin, Elokobi, Connolly, Lisbie.
Subs: Granville, Davison
Ref: P Joslin
