BURNLEY signed off their Premier League Cup campaign on a high with an entertaining 5-3 win against Sunderland.

The Black Cats were top of the table heading into Burnley’s final group game and have been performing well in Premier League 2.

But they were no match for Michael Jolley’s Clarets on a boggy surface at Stockport’s Edgeley Park, and although defeat at Cardiff last time out had ended Burnley’s hopes of qualifying they will take heart from a fine display in their last game of the competition.

Connor Mitchell was called into action on six minutes when a strong run across the box from Black Cats forward Josh Maja ended with a low shot which the Northern Ireland Under-21 goalkeeper did well to turn behind at his near post.

From the resulting corner Dan Casey sent a header goalwards after Mitchell had pushed the initial delivery away, but Jimmy Dunne was well placed to head off the line.

The Clarets took the lead midway through the first half in fine style. Dan Agyei, who had scored a stunning solo strike in a loan spell at Coventry City earlier in the season, picked up the ball up around 10 yards inside his own and burst away from a couple of tacklers before skipping past the last line of defence and sending a left-footed shot inside the near post.

Sunderland were level on the half hour. Luke Molyneux’s shot had been blocked by Dunne but the visitors kept the pressure on and Reece Greenwood found the bottom corner with a shot from inside the area.

Four minutes later the Black Cats were ahead. Joel Asoro led the charge from midfield and played in Maja, who beat the offisde trap and finished past Mitchell.

It was end to end stuff and the Clarets were nearly level moments later. Jamie Thomas latched on to a pass down the left and cut inside before curling an effort narrowly wide of the far post.

Sunderland almost extended their lead when Greenwood approached on Mitchell after a weak back pass and cut it back to Maja, only for Kevin Long to make an excellent block on the line.

Burnley went straight up the other end from that escape to level the scores as Dwight McNeil’s cross was headed home by Agyei.

A ding-bong first half battle ended with a fifth goal. McNeil’s corner was headed goalwards by Dunne and hit the post before bouncing off keeper Talbot and finding the back of the net.

Burnley almost went further ahead early in the second half. Agyei stole possession in the area and squared to Tristan Juneau, who was twice denied from close range by Talbot.

But it was only a temporary reprieve for the Black Cats as McNeil’s corner was flicked home with a scorpion kick by a falling Arlen Birch.

As conditions worsened the game began to turn into more of a battle on a muddy pitch, but Mitchell stood tall to deny Maja in a one-on-one as he latched on to Josh Robson’s clearance.

Burnley made it five on 69 minutes when Agyei’s run across goal was intercepted only for a midfield trialist to send an unstoppable effort into the top corner from 25 yards.

Sunderland continued to search for a way back into the game and Maja saw a close range shot deflected wide and Mitchell got down well to save Elliot Embleton’s 20-yarder.

Agyei was still searching for his hat-trick and sent a shot wide of the near post after being found by McNeil, before 17-year-old Harry Limb saw a close range effort from a corner blocked.

Sunderland got one back with three minutes to go when Long was penalised for hauling back Maja in the area and he stepped up to score from the spot.

There was still time for another sight of goal for Agyei and he cut in from the right and evaded a couple of challenges before seeing an 18-yard effort saved by Talbot.

Burnley: Connor Mitchell, Arlen Birch, Harry Flowers, Kevin Long, Scott Wilson, Tristan Juneau (Tommy Wood 85), Jimmy Dunne, Trialist (Trialist 46), Dwight McNeil, Jamie Thomas (Harry Limb 55), Dan Agyei

Subs not used: Tony Aghayere, Taofiq Olomewewe