ALAN Shearer described Burnley's performance at Chelsea on the opening day of the Premier League season as 'absolutely superb'.

Discussing the game on Match of the Day Shearer praised the Clarets' approach at Stamford Bridge and the quality of football they played in the opening 45 minutes, when Sam Vokes scored twice either side of a stunning volley from Stephen Ward to put Burnley 3-0 ahead against the 10-man champions, who had seen Gary Cahill sent off.

"We shouldn't the the sending off take away from their performance because they were absolutely superb. The first 45 minutes they showed more hunger and more desire," Shearer said of Burnley's display.

"You would think with big Sam Vokes up-front they would go direct with 10 men but this (move) started with the goalkeeper, went out to the full-back, it was one and two touch, they work it out to the right hand side with one and two touch football. It's a lovely ball in, David Luiz turns his back and Sam Vokes is off and running for the season, it's a very good finish.

"They could put the free-kick in the from the halfway line but they play a little one-two, Ward follows his pass and it's one hell of a strike.

"This time it's right hand side, again they could put it in but they want to play football, they put it in, there's no pressure on the ball and it's a free header. What a performance that was in the first 45 minutes, they dominated Chelsea, they were superb."

Cahill was sent off inside the first 15 minutes for a foul on Steven Defour before Cesc Fabregas was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the final 10 minutes, and Shearer felt both decisions were the right call by referee Craig Pawson.

"I thought the ref got most of those big decisions correct," Shearer said as he analysed the game, which was shown first on Saturday night's show.

"I don't want to see these tackle given a red card but that's the law, he loses control of the ball, he's high, he's dangerous, he's running at Defour at pace, the referee has a very good view of it. He's endangering his opponent so the referee gets it right, it's a red card.

"I don't think he can have too many complaints at all. It's the law and has been for a long time now, he has to get a red card for it and even Gary knows himself because he doesn't really argue with the referee.

"Cesc Fabregas here, if you show dissent and clap at the referee like that you know it's a yellow card, so why do it? He's on a yellow card already so he dives in, he doesn't get the ball, he's late, it could have been a straight red but he shows him a yellow and a red and that's the correct decision as well.

"He gets Jack Cork, he's late and it's the right decision again. Chelsea capitulated in that first half."