Burnley 4 Sunderland 1: WATCH HIGHLIGHTS – Andre Gray’s first Premier League hat-trick and Ashley Barnes’ penalty sunk Black Cats whilst Jermaine Defoe netted consolation goal

ANDRE GRAY's first Premier League hat-trick and a penalty from Ashley Barnes saw off Sunderland as David Moyes' side crumbled at Turf Moor.

After a scrappy start to the match both sides struggling to maintain possession but the hosts took the lead on the half hour mark through Gray.

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It came from terrible defending which saw John O'Shea and Papy Djilobodji challenge for the same ball which ricocheted off the latter's shoulder and the forward ran on to score with the game's first shot on target.

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With the Black Cats all over the place, Sean Dyche's side nearly doubled their lead when Matt Lowton picked out Stephen Ward with an early cross but he lashed his shot wide across goal.

A miserable first 45 minutes was made worse when Victor Anichebe became the second player to pick up an injury alongside Lamine Kone, when the striker went down clutching his hamstring whilst tracking back George Boyd.

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Gray was slipped in one-on-one but Vito Mannone - who returned to Moyse's side at Turf Moor - denied the striker

Barnes was on hand to fire in the rebound but Dijobodji slid to make a tremendous block, but the assitant put his flag up wrongly with neither Gray or Barnes being offside.

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But Gray punished another Sunderland mistake to bag his second on the 51st minute after Mannone sprinted off his line before being beaten to the ball and Gray rounded the keeper and scored an open goal.

Two minutes later the 25-year-old then sealed his hat-trick after Sunderland were caught napping on the ball and Ashley Barnes slipped in Gray who slotted his shot past Mannone.

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The Clarets then took a four-goal lead when Barnes fired home calmly from the spot after Seb Larsson clumsily brought down Scott Arfield.

Defoe scored a consolation goal in the 71st minute when Adnan Januzaj's chipped pass evaded Ben Mee and the English striker clinically took his chance.

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STATS, FACTS, GOALS & LOLS

• Moyes went with four attacking players in a bold move, with Fabio Borini and Januzaj starting.
• Kone gave Sunderland and Ivory Coast a scare when he smashed into the adverts and had to go off with a knee injury.
• Didier Ndong was a sub despite the Black Cats being desperately short of midfielders. His decision to go to the African Cup of Nations has not helped his cause.
• Mannone started his first Sunderland game since August and did not have a save to make until Gray beat him on the half hour.

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• Gray's goal was just his second in the Premier League and first since he scored against Liverpool in the second week of the campaign.
• Mee made his 200th senior appearance for Burnley since joining them from Manchester City - their next opponents.
• Anichebe added to Sunderland's woes with a hamstring injury, pulled dramatically as he ran back to help his defence.

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• Gray's hat trick was his first in the Premier League and a year after his last and only other senior one against Bristol City,
• Sunderland fans turned on owner Ellis Short and the board before Burnley's supporters mocked Moyes with cries of 'you're getting sacked in the morning.'

BIG PICTURE

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SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Burnley: Heaton 6; Lowton 7, Keane 6, Mee 6, Ward 6; Boyd 7, Defour  7 (Berg Gudmundsson 68, 6), Marney 7, Arfield 7; Barnes 8 (Tarkowski 85, 5), Gray 9 (Vokes 78, 6).

Unused subs: Bamford, Robinson, Darikwa, O'Niell.

Bookings: Marney.

Goals: Gray (3), Barnes.

Sunderland: Mannone 5, Jones 7, Djilobodji 7, Kone 6 (Ndong 24, 6), Van Aanholt 7, O'Shea 6 (Love 72, 6), Larsson 5, Borini 6, Januzaj 7, Anichebe 5 (Pienaar 45, 6), Defoe 6

Unused subs: Rodwell, Khazri, Mika, Manquillo.

Goals: Defoe.

STAR MAN: ANDRE GRAY 9

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WHAT THEY SAID

Burnley boss Sean Dyche: "This has been a good week for sure, the end of a good calendar year for us at Burnley.

"Andre Gray got his hat-trick today, great for both himself and the team."

Sunderland captain John O'Shea: "Unacceptable today, not good enough. Away from home you have to be resilient together, but the goals we conceded were not acceptable and the players have to take responsibility.

"The dressing room is not a good place at the minute but we know we can quickly turn this around. We have to have the attitude that we fight together.”