Burnley were rewarded for a strong start as they inflicted a first Championship defeat of the season on hosts Colchester in a five-goal feast.
The Clarets were two goals up inside the first half-hour and that was to prove the difference, as the U's tried in vain to find a way back into the game.
Red-hot striker Andy Gray was the hero with two goals and he was also denied what would have been a first hat-trick of his career by two excellent late saves from home keeper Dean Gerken.
It was actually Alan Mahon who broke the deadlock after 15 minutes to put Burnley in the driving seat. Colchester defender Matthew Connolly could only half clear a cross by Michael Duff and Mahon steamed in to volley smartly into the corner of the net through a crowd of players.
The visitors doubled their lead on 28 minutes thanks to a cracking volley from Gray, who benefited from a slick cross by Wade Elliott, who enjoyed a fine afternoon down the right wing.
Colchester gave themselves hope when they halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time via Kevin Lisbie's exquisite header.George Elokobi provided the perfect cross from the left flank for Lisbie to nod home his second goal for the Essex club since his summer move from Charlton.
The U's dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half, but they then suffered a big setback when Elokobi tripped Chris McCann inside the box for a clear penalty. Up stepped the reliable Gray to convert the spot-kick for his second goal of the game, so restoring Burnley's two-goal advantage.
The home side were not beaten quite yet and substitute Adam Virgo, who is on loan from Celtic, headed home his first goal for the club from Teddy Sheringham's deflected cross in the 88th minute.
But Colchester could not fashion an equaliser during five minutes of stoppage time and in truth Burnley fully deserved their win.