BURNLEY'S quest for a first away win looks destined for failure as defensive errors have again proved their undoing.

The Clarets were stung on 18 minutes when Scott Parker's quickly taken free kick from the halfway line caught the backline napping, and Jack Collison was alert to burst inside from the right and finish well in a one-on-one with Brian Jensen.

Burnley had actually begun the game brightly, but were far less clinical than the Hammers, who have only one home win under their belt this season.

Andre Bikey had the first chance with just five minutes on the clock, and won a corner after having his initial shot saved by Rob Green.

Clarke Carlisle had a header from a corner cleared off the line soon afterwards, and it needed a solid cover tackle from Manuel Da Costa to stop Steven Fletcher in his tracks.

But when Junior Stanislas added to Collison's opener just after the half-hour, when he was allowed too much time to tuck a shot in-off the left post, there seemed no way back for the Clarets.

The visitors' misery was compounded three minutes before the break when Robbie Blake dragged Collison back in the penalty area, and Carlton Cole scored from the spot.