Burnley 3-0 Birmingham: Anass Zaroury opens scoring in the first minute on return from the World Cup

Burnley 3-0 Birmingham: Anass Zaroury opens scoring in the first minute on return from the World Cup

Anass Zaroury took less than a minute to announce his return from Qatar as Burnley sprinted out of the blocks.

He has made a healthy habit of coming off his left-wing position to score this season, and when Manuel Benson – who equally spreads terror down the right flank – combined with Roberts to carve open the dozing Birmingham defence, Zaroury popped up close to the penalty spot to fire home the full back’s cross.

The Clarets then took full control of the match, containing the Midlanders’ attempts to gain a foothold and constantly threatening to open them up down the flanks with Benson and Zaroury in a dangerous mood.

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Anass Zaroury made a stunning return from the World Cup to set Burnley on their way

Benson and Roberts combined again, with the Belgian playing a one-two off his Welsh teammate and then firing over the bar.

Birmingham’s attempts to add a physical element to the game did not pay off either, with Troy Deeney on the end of a painful ankle rap from Josh Cullen that earned the Burnley man a red card.

Hannibal Mejbri sought some vengeance with a clumsy hack at Roberts that saw him also get yellow and in the angry aftermath Tahith Chong shoved Jack Cork to become the third entry in ref Darren England’s book.

It was a matter of time before Burnley’s patient, methodical build-up paid dividends again, and in the 44th minute, they secured the second goal.

Roberts started it again, but this time he also finished it, playing a neat one-two with Josh Brownhill before firing a left-footed shot low into the corner.

Zaroury broke the deadlock in the first minute as the Clarets maintained their promotion push

Birmingham almost grabbed a lifeline in first half added time, Juninho Bacuna curling a 25-yard free kick just wide of the angle of Aro Muric’s post and bar.

But Burnley stepped it up again after the break, Benson twice firing close and Jay Rodriguez almost diverting Zaroury’s driven, inswinging cross past Ruddy with an improvised backheel.

Birmingham’s frustration boiled over as Troy Deeney was lucky to escape a red card for a wild lunge at Roberts.

Burnley set about killing Birmingham’s interest in the game, with Benson carving inside from the right and firing shot inches over Ruddy’s bar.

The Clarets went close again as the marauding Zaroury cut in from the left and curved a cross towards the penalty spot. Jay Rodriguez had to swivel and adjust, managing to get the faintest of backheels to the ball, but Ruddy read the flight of the improvised shot and grabbed it at the second attempt