Joe Cole marked his first Premier League start for Aston Villa with a goal, which has given them a deserved 1-0 half-time advantage over Burnley at Turf Moor.
Villa had previously seen two efforts cleared off the line, but their pressure eventually paid dividends when Cole swept home Andreas Weimann's cross.
A fifth-minute header from Jores Okore looked destined for the net before a last-ditch intervention from Dean Marney, who was also on hand to block an Ashley Westwood shot from underneath his own bar.
Cole was instrumental in Villa's positive forward play, and chances continued to come their way as Gabriel Agbonlahor squandered a one-on-one and Tom Heaton kept out Tom Cleverley's long-range shot.
The Clarets stopper could do little to prevent Cole from becoming just Villa's third Premier League scorer of the season as the former England midfielder stayed onside to convert from close range on 39 minutes.
Referee Graham Scott was officiating his first top-flight game and lost control of a feisty contest as he booked five players in the latter stages of a half in which Burnley threatened a few times through Danny Ings.
