DANNY INGS' double and Kieran Trippier's late strike condemned Town to defeat and took the gloss off Martin Paterson's two goals on his first return to previous club Burnley.

Town were competitive throughout, but found former Bournemouth frontman Ings, who now has 19 goals for the season, too hot to handle.

Paterson levelled up the Championship clash midway through the first half, then ensured a tense finish, but Burnley deserved the win which avenged a 2-1 away loss to Town in November.

Like Paterson, Burnley's Scott Arfield was up against their former clubs at historic Turf Moor, which has hosted football since 1883.

In the first match of 2014, Town were again missing 12-goal top scorer James Vaughan, absent for a third game because of his knee injury.

Manager Mark Robins kept the same starting side and substitutes on duty for Sunday's 5-1 drubbing of Yeovil.

Burnley, who dropped out of the automatic promotion paces after drawing 0-0 at Wigan, had left-back Ben Mee back after injury.

Sean Dyche's side, whose success this season has surprised many pundits, went into the game with only two wins, but just two defeats, in their last 10 games.

With popular former Town and Burnley striker Steve Kindon looking on, they got off to a great star, taking a sixth-minute lead through Ings with their first real attack.

Arfield had made a couple of darting runs down the right, but the goal came from the left, with the home team's leading scorer latching on to David Jones' pass.

With the offside trap sprung, Town keeper Alex Smithies tried to narrow the angle, but Ings was able to slot the ball home.

It was a real setback for Robins' side, and Burnley had further chances through Sam Vokes, who shot over from Ings' lay-off, and Arfield, who put a snap shot wide.

But a tactical change, from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3, paid off in the 20th minute, with Adam Hammill, switched from right wing-back to the left side of the forward line, winning a corner.

The same player flighted the flag kick in for defender Murray Wallace to get a crucial touch to Paterson, who nodded home.

The strike came in front of the home end, and the in-form Town man kept his celebrations muted, but will have been delighted to grab another.

Now it was Burnley's turn to find a response against a Town side forced to bring on Anthony Gerrard for struggling centre-back Joel Lynch.

And the Clarets stepped on the gas, with Jones brining a fine save from Smithies with a turn and shot from Trippier's lay-off.

Then, when Jonathan Hogg's misplaced pass let in Ings, Wallace's foul resulted in a yellow card and free-kick which Jones smashed against the bar.

Hammill did well to block Keith Treacy's well-struck follow-up shot, but Burnley grabbed the second goal their supporters craved in the 41st minute.

Once again Ings was the marksman, receiving Tripper's pass and creating space to fire past the helpless Smithies with a firmly-struck shot from 10 yards out.

Hammill had a low shot held by keeper Tom Heaton late in the half, but Town needed to find a more clinical touch in the second half.

It was Burnley's Vokes who had the first opportunity, his shot on the turn saved by Smithies, while the visitors replaced Hogg with Duane Holmes in the 53rd minute.

Town, who had Paterson booked for diving, were pushing forward, but Burnley looked lively on the counter, and it took a great chase and tackle by Adam Clayton to dispossess Dean Marney.

Vokes then bulldozed his way past Paul Dixon, but from his cross, Marney's drive was off target before Ings shot over when well placed.

Burnley were forced into a defensive change on 70 minutes, when Mee limped off to be replaced by Daniel Lafferty.

Holmes was as usual looking lively for Town, and he worked well to set up Ollie Norwood, but the midfielder's low shot didn't have the power to trouble Heaton.

Meanwhile Ings was hungry for a hat trick, and drilled a low 78th-minute effort into the side-netting.

The hosts finally established a two-goal cushion in the 79th minute, when Vokes' pass freed Tripper, who skipped past the diving Smithies and scored from a tight angle.

Burnley made two changes to try to shut up shop while Sean Scannell replaced Adam Hammill for the visitors.

However Town made sure the home fans had a nervy finish when Paterson stretched to touch home Dixon's ball into the box and make it four goals in three games and five for the season.