Jack Grealish was at his scintillating best as Aston Villa climbed out of the bottom three – though under-pressure manager Dean Smith was still left counting the cost of injuries to £22million striker Wesley and goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
Grealish, who had an early header controversially ruled out by VAR, first set up Wesley to end his 13-game Premier League goal drought and then added a cracker himself before half-time.
But Wesley was carried off in the second half with what looked a serious knee injury and Heaton also left on a stretcher with a leg problem as Burnley launched a fightback through Chris Wood's header.
Villa held on for only their second away win of the season – and their first league triumph at Turf Moor since 1959 – to leave Burnley anxiously looking over their shoulders.
Sean Dyche’s men have now lost six of their last eight and face Leicester, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal next in the league.
In the first kick off the new year, it didn’t take long for a modern problem to impinge on 2020 – VAR.
Aston Villa thought they’d scored after 11 minutes when Grealish timed his run to meet Ezri Ngoyo’s cross after James Tarkowski had mucked up a clearance.
However with the ball on the centre circle ready for the restart, Stockley Park ruled after several minutes that Wesley’s heel had been offside by millimetres.
Villa responded well to the setback with Grealish setting up Wesley whose shot was kept out by Nick Pope’s outstretched boot. Pope then got down well to save from Douglas Luiz.
Both sides were on a losing run; Burnley five in seven and Villa eight from 11.
But the visitors were rewarded for the brighter football by scoring the opener after 27 minutes. Man-of-the-match Grealish played a one-two with Wesley and when the ball returned, he flicked another pass to the No 9 who had broken towards the penalty spot.
Grealish’s ball took a little nick off Burnley defender Charlie Taylor but Wesley reacted well by controlling on his chest before a first-time finish that was only half-blocked by Pope and trickled over the line.
It was Wesley’s first Premier League goal since early October at Norwich but he barely celebrated – perhaps because of VAR – until the goal had been confirmed, which then led to a proper roar from the away section.
Villa looked stylish given they are deep in a relegation scrap.
After 41 minutes, David Trezeguet, Wesley and Douglas Luiz combined well to shift the ball from right to left. Grealish picked the ball up on the angle of the penalty area, feinted inside and delivered a rasping finish into the corner for a second goal.
Burnley fans booed at half-time as their side hadn’t registered a shot on target and Sean Dyche threw on Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Jay Rodriguez at half-time.
The Clarets started to pump the ball forward and put bodies into the box and Rodriguez couldn’t believe it when the ball hit his heel and went wide from a couple of yards. Wood was nearly as close when he took a wild swipe and the New Zealander then failed to outpace the returning Tyrone Mings and fell over attempting to rush his shot.
The gloss over Villa’s performance was tarnished when Wesley left on a stretcher to be replaced by Jonathan Kodija.
Ben Mee’s challenge on Wesley went unpunished but it quickly became clear the £22million summer signing was in pain as he stayed on the ground.
Villa’s anxiety increased when Wood arrived at the far post to powerfully head in Ashley Westwood’s cross after 81 minutes, Burnley’s first effort on target.
To compound their fears, Heaton – a former Burnley favourite – was injured trying to keep the ball out and had to be replaced by Orjand Nyland in the Villa goal.
Referee Michael Oliver signalled nine minutes of injury-time predominantly because of Wesley’s injury but Villa showed grit to see the game out.
