Two goals in quick succession sent Blues to defeat at Turf Moor as Burnley kept up their impressive start to the Barclays Premier League season on home soil.

It could have been a very different story, though, had midfielder Lee Bowyer not missed an open goal towards the end of a closely fought first-half.

Steven Fletcher put Burnley ahead eight minutes after the break with a low effort before a neat finish from Andre Bikey doubled their lead.

A magnificent free-kick from substitute Sebastian Larsson pulled a goal back deep into stoppage-time, but it proved too little too late for Alex McLeish's men.

Blues, playing against a gusty wind in the first-half, welcomed back James McFadden and Franck Queudrue to the side after injury problems, with Larsson dropping to the bench and Gregory Vignal missing out through injury.

Garry O'Connor replaced Christian Benitez in attack as the Ecuadorian international remained in his native country to be with his father, who was injured in a car crash earlier in the week.

The hosts had wasted little time in making Turf Moor a fortress in their new surroundings having won each of their opening three clashes on home soil.

They went about extending that record during a lively opening as Blues needed a crucial block from Scott Dann to deny Steven Fletcher's powerful drive within ninety seconds before Clarke Carlisle sent a looping header narrowly over having beaten the onrushing Joe Hart to a ricochet in the area.

The strong wind was proving a nuisance for both teams with several passes going astray and it wasn't until midway through the opening period when Blues had their first shot on goal as Roger Johnson sent a low drive crashing into the giant frame of Andre Bikey.

Blues were growing into the game and centre-back Dann almost put them ahead of the half-hour as he couldn't get his head on Keith Fahey's teasing free-kick after finding himself unmarked in the area.

And if Dann's expression suggested he felt he should have done better with that, Lee Bowyer was left kicking himself moments later for spurning arguably the best chance of the half.

McFadden skipped away from Stephen Jordon and angled a clever ball into the area which found Johnson in a dangerous position. He fired the ball across the face of goal for Bowyer, in acres of space and with the goal at his mercy, to somehow direct the ball back across goal with his left boot.

Both goalkeepers were called into action before the break, David Nugent forcing Hart into a decent save low down to his right from 20-yards before O'Connor fired straight at Brian Jensen from a similar position after wriggling free of two challenges.

Half-time: Burnley 0 Blues 0

Alex McLeish made a double substitution at the interval as Larsson replaced Fahey and Liam Ridgewell came on for Queudrue for his first league appearance since breaking his leg in April.

Larsson could have broken the deadlock with his first touch but skewed high and wide from 12-yards after latching onto a loose ball at the back-post.

And Blues were made to pay for their missed chances in the 53rd minute as Burnley opened the scoring - ironically from a Blues attack.

After a free-kick from James McFadden crashed into the wall and Teemu Tainio's follow up was blocked, the home side broke away quickly and Tyrone Mears released Fletcher, who fired the ball into the roof of the net via Hart's trailing right leg.

And with the visitors still reeling from that, Fletcher almost doubled his tally as he sneaked in behind the Blues defence and slotted beyond Hart only to watch his shot bounce agonisingly back off the post and cleared to safety.

But there was no denying Bikey moments later as he powered his way into the box and confidently dispatched the ball into the far corner.

Blues' response was to send of Kevin Phillips in search of rescuing something from the game but Burnley remained dangerous going forward and but for Hart's fingertips, a 20-yard free-kick from Mears would have found the top corner.

They went close fifteen minutes from the end when McFadden headed a flick on from O'Connor comfortably into the arms of Jensen.

And a goal did arrive in the fourth minute of added time when Larsson beat Jensen at his near post with an unstoppable curler from 20-yards.

Full-time: Burnley 2 Blues 0

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Graham Alexander, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell (c), Stephen Jordan, Tyrone Mears, Andre Bikey, Wade Elliott, Robbie Blake (Christian Kalvenes, 90), Steven Fletcher (Chris Eagles, 73), David Nugent (Steven Thompson, 87). Subs (Not Used): Diego Penny (GK), Michael Duff, Kevin McDonald, Joey Gudjonsson.

Goals: Fletcher (53), Bikey (62)
Booked: None

Birmingham City: Joe Hart, Stephen Carr (c), Scott Dann, Roger Johnson, Franck Queudrue (Liam Ridgewell, 46), Keith Fahey (Sebastian Larsson, 46), Barry Ferguson, Teemu Tainio (Kevin Phillips, 67), Lee Bowyer, James McFadden, Garry O'Connor. Subs (Not Used): Maik Taylor (GK), Gary McSheffrey, James O'Shea, Lee Carsley.

Goals: Larsson (90+4)
Booked: Dann (foul), Ferguson (foul), Carr (foul)