Luca Koleosho's goal was his second in four league appearances this season
Luca Koleosho’s textbook breakaway strike ensured Burnley got back to winning ways as Leeds United suffered a first Championship defeat of the season.
Koleosho made the most of Manor Solomon’s unfortunate slip and sprinted 70 yards before drilling a low shot across goal and beyond goalkeeper Illan Meslier to end a two-game winless league run.
Burnley, who had lost on seven of their previous nine visits to Elland Road, had keeper James Trafford to thank for notable saves from Wilfried Gnonto and Ethan Ampadu.
The visitors ended the game with 10 men after Bashir Humphreys was sent off deep into stoppage time after picking up a second yellow card.
Leeds bossed possession and territory throughout a feisty match and should have led inside a minute when Mateo Joseph shot wide when clean through.
The miss set the tone for an increasingly frustrating afternoon, with the hosts wasteful with the few real chances they created and a packed and well organised Clarets defence withstanding relentless second-half pressure.
While Leeds dominated the ball, with about 75% possession in the first half and almost 72% overall, Burnley were equally - if not more - threatening in attack.
The hosts should have been ahead after 45 seconds, but Joseph dragged his shot wide after racing through from the halfway line following a Maxime Esteve blunder.
Trafford got his angles spot on then, as he did to deny Gnonto from close range, but other than that he had very little to do before the break.
Leeds did have a decent claim for a penalty ignored when Joe Worrall rode his luck with a tackle from behind that won the ball but could easily have resulted in a spot-kick.
Scott Parker’s side grew in confidence from the moment Koleosho made the most of Solomon's slip.
They defended deep with great organisation and discipline, and the pace and direct running of Jaidon Anthony and Hannibal Mejbri posed problems at the other end of the pitch.
A Zian Flemming strike was saved by Meslier, Anthony sent a low effort wide and Worrall headed over from a corner.
Trafford was unsurprisingly more involved as the pressure ramped up after the interval, making a brilliant fingertip save to keep out a Joseph curler, and deflecting Ampadu’s strike over.
But although the Leeds fans stayed with their team, they could not inspire any late drama and preserve their unbeaten start to the campaign.
'It was everything we stand for'
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke:
"It’s the most frustrating thing in football when you go back to the dressing room and you can’t explain how you didn't win.
“After the international break I didn't expect us to be as dominant as we were. I'm really happy with our dominance and how we started the game but, in the decisive moments, we weren't effective enough.
“We should have scored in the first two minutes and we should have had a penalty as well.
“Credit to Burnley – although they had an 85-yard sprint, it was a really good finish into the bottom corner.
“We had the better and easier chances but we didn’t take them and this is where we have to be self-critical."
Burnley boss Scott Parker:
"It's a massive three points, especially at such a tough place to come and where we are in the stages of our development as well.
"The foundation that got us the result was everything we stand for as a team – grit, determination and battling spirit to a man.
"We showed every bit of that, which was the reason we got the three points, and it was a brilliant finish from Luca.
"Not many players can run 60 or 70 yards up the pitch at full pace with the calmness Luca showed to execute the finish. I'm delighted for him and thought he was brilliant in his moments."
