Project restart proved a false start for the Clarets on a tough night at the Etihad Stadium.
Facing Manchester City first up after a 107-day absence from competitive action due to the Covid-19 shutdown was always going to be a daunting task.
And that job was made even harder with Burnley boss Sean Dyche stripped of a handful of senior players and forced to name teenagers Max Thompson and Bobby Thomas, along with two goalkeepers, on his bench.
Even at full strength, the Clarets have suffered at City in recent seasons.
And so it was perhaps no surprise that the defending champions, already into their second game of the delayed run-in, were able to comfortably extend their unbeaten home league run against the Clarets to 16 matches once they had struck twice just before the break to lead 3-0 at half time.