Captain Cullen on target as Burnley beat Sunderland

Josh Cullen and Jaidon Anthony were on target as Burnley beat Sunderland in a battle of two newly-promoted sides at Turf Moor.

Clarets skipper Cullen scored the first after collecting the ball on the edge of the box following a clever flick from Anthony, curling a low shot into the far corner two minutes after half-time.

Anthony then raced onto Cullen's pass and rounded the goalkeeper to double the hosts' lead and make sure of the win late on.

After a 3-0 defeat at Tottenham in last weekend's opening game of the Premier League season, Scott Parker's side have their first points on the board.

Burnley thought they had gone in front in the first half when Lyle Foster pounced on a mix-up in the Sunderland defence and finished smartly - but the goal was ruled out with Foster adjudged to have fouled Jenson Seelt in the build-up.

While the home side enjoyed the territorial advantage for much of the first period, Sunderland had the better chances.

Eliezer Mayenda's tame effort from six yard out pushed away by Burnley keeper Martin Dubravka after Dan Ballard's header back across goal - the defender's last action before he was forced off with an injury - before Chemsdine Talbi clipped a shot wide.

Burnley's best opportunity came with the last action of the first half when Anthony nodded wide from Hannibal Mejbri's cross.

There was more life to the Clarets approach in the second half, and following Cullen's cool finish they were pushing for a second before an issue with the floodlights caused a delay and halted their momentum.

Sunderland pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages but without creating a chance of note and were then undone by an incisive Burnley counter-attack.

Cullen whipped the ball through to Anthony and he sprinted clear to score the second and ensure a winning start at home for the Clarets.

Burnley analysis: Clarets off the mark with crucial win

It is strange to think that a game so early in the season might be so crucial but, for Burnley, there was no denying the importance of this one.

On paper, a home game against a side they finished 24 points clear of in the Championship last season would have been viewed as perhaps their most winnable of the season.

Defeat at Spurs last weekend was not unexpected but while the club may be braced for a relegation battle, ensuring it is seen as a battle rather than an inevitability is vital and the value of an early home win cannot be overstated.

For all that Parker's men made most of the running in the first half, they created precious little, while allowing Sunderland two very presentable chances.

But they came out for the second half with far more energy and ran out thoroughly deserved winners, making the most of the two real chances they created while blunting Sunderland's limited attacking threat in the spell prior to the game-clinching second goal.

It is just three points but given the doom and gloom that may have followed a loss, this result allows Burnley the chance to exhale and build their way into the campaign.

Sunderland analysis: Black Cats brought back down to earth

After eight years away from the top flight, no one could begrudge Sunderland revelling in their 3-0 victory over West Ham on their Premier League return.

A week on, though, and it is back down to earth with a bump.

While there was the odd moment, the new signings that shone so brightly on the opening day were unable to repeat that display at Turf Moor.

It might have been different had Mayenda converted a brilliant chance in the opening four minutes but once that was squandered it quickly became a difficult day for Regis Le Bris' side.

Losing Ballard was a big blow and they will hope the injury to their big centre-back is not a serious one.

Even after that, they created a good chance for Talbi but that came in the 14th minute and the concern will be that they did not so much as muster another shot from inside the area until the 81st minute - and no further real chances at all.

Just two games in and with three points on the board, there is quite clearly no reason to panic but after the bold predictions that followed the victory last week, this was a stark reminder of the harsh reality that lies ahead.

Missed chances will be punished and home form will be crucial.

What next for these teams?

Burnley travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United next Saturday (15:00 BST) before they host Liverpool after the international break, on Sunday, 14 September (14:00).

Meanwhile, Sunderland welcome Brentford to the Stadium of Light for a 15:00 kick-off next Saturday, with a trip to Crystal Palace on 13 September (15:00 GMT).