Oxford United's nine-game unbeaten run came to an end at Turf Moor, after a 1-0 defeat from a Michał Helik own goal.
The margin of defeat was narrow and Oxford certainly made their hosts work for the three points, but in the end the victory was enough for Burnley to climb to second in the Championship.
Gary Rowett made four changes to the side that drew with Bristol City on Saturday, with Sam Long replacing Peter Kioso in defence, Alex Matos making his first start for the U's in place of Rúben Rodrigues, Tyler Goodrham taking Siriki Dembélé's place, and Tom Bradshaw playing up front instead of Mark Harris.
Oxford started with intent and won a corner with just 30 seconds on the clock. Three minutes later, Bradshaw glanced a header wide from a Przemysław Płacheta cross. Burnley's first response, in the sixth minute was to win a corner as Jaidon Anthony's shot was blocked behind by Ciaron Brown. From the delivery Zian Flemming should have done a lot better than to shoot over from the edge of the six yard box.
Burnley should have taken the lead in the 12th minute, when Flemming's backheel from an Anthony cross fell nicely for Lyle Foster, but he shot beyond the far post with just Jamie Cumming to beat.
Cumming then saved brilliantly from Flemming's shot after the Oxford goalie was caught in possession, redeeming himself in the process. Shortly after, Foster was denied by Helik, who cleared off the goalline, as the home side looked to increase the pressure.
The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute, when Josh Cullen broke into the area and his shot was unfortunately turned into his own net by Helik. Given the Clarets' home defensive record - the last time they conceded at Turf Moor was 21 December - Oxford now had a huge challenge.
United almost restored parity just two minutes later, though, when a Greg Leigh header went just the wrong side of James Trafford's right-hand post from a Helik header, but Oxford were unable to find a goal before the break.
A hailstorm of Biblical proportions threatened to interrupt the second half, but apart from Hannibal's lecture and yellow card, there was little else of note in the first 25 minutes, when a Burnley break almost led to a second goal but for Leigh's timely intervention and Cumming's save from Foster from the resultant corner.
In the 79th minute, Cumming saved full length to deny Foster and two minutes later had to be alert to beat away a shot from substitute Jeremy Sarmiento.
Thereafter, possession mainly belonged to the U's, who tried in vain to find a way to get beyond Burnley's massed defence.
And so the unbeaten run came to an end, but United went down fighting. No game on Saturday, but back on the road next Tuesday with a trip to Derby.
UNITED: Cumming, Long (Romeny 87), Brown, Vaulks (Dembélé 46), Płacheta (Phillips 76), Brannagan, Matos, Goodrham (El Mizouni 77), Leigh, Helik, Bradshaw (Harris 61)
Unused subs: Ingram, Rodrigues, ter Avest, Kioso
Attendance: 18,187 (including 413 from Oxford)
