MOST managers will tell you that it isn’t so much the result that matters in pre-season, the performance is paramount.

The increase in match minutes and the avoidance of injuries are key factors too.

To that end there was much for manager Sean Dyche to be pleased about as Burnley cruised to a comfortable win over League One Carlisle United in their third friendly.

The Clarets were 3-0 up inside the first 22 minutes thanks to two well taken goals by Danny Ings after Ross Wallace opened the scoring in only the sixth minute at Brunton Park.

Junior Stanislas added a fourth before the hour with a wonderfully curled effort to leave goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, and Carlisle, well beaten.

There was a response from the Cumbrians in the second half.

Smarting after poor defending was punished by a dominant and ruthless Burnley, they conjured a consolation through Lewis Guy.

Lee Miller had earlier had a penalty superbly saved by Tom Heaton at 3-0.

But the second half stoppages for substitutions for both sides, including Scott Arfield and Ryan Noble – the Clarets’ latest signings, affected the rhythm of the game and there was little to affect the outcome after the hour.

With just a fortnight to go before the start of the new season, Dyche saw his squad continue take shape and deliver pockets of good play, incisive attacking moves and persistent pressing against the ball to keep Carlisle on the back foot for almost all of the first half.

Ings was particularly eye-catching with his clever runs, control and keen eye for goal.

The young striker looks ready to kick on after a strong end to last season, and stood out in his preferred central attacking role.

Charlie Austin looks to be playing catch-up in terms of overall sharpness, but still managed to set up Wallace for the opening goal.

After Stanislas had a shot blocked Austin picked up the ball on the byeline and his pull back for an unmarked Wallace to finish clinically.

Miller had a header saved from Matty Robson’s cross, but it wasn’t long before Burnley were back on the front foot as Dean Marney picked out Ings with a well-weighted throughball for the composed striker to slot beyond the advancing Mark Gillespie.

After Stanislas was unlucky to hit the post with a curling 30-yard free kick, Marney again supplied Ings, who took a high ball down neatly and drilled in off the post.

Heaton was called into action on the half-hour to touch a David Amoo effort onto the post and preserve Burnley’s three-goal lead at the break.

After a lively Ings missed the chance of a hat-trick at the start of the second half, Carlisle came back at the Clarets and were awarded a penalty for Marney’s trip on Miller.

The striker got up quickly to take the spot kick, which Heaton dived to his right to keep out.

Stanislas made it 4-0 after collecting a deep corner and curling the ball up and over Gillespie into the far corner for a sublime goal.

Substitute Guy pulled one back almost instantly, firing into the top corner.

Carlisle chased another goal but Heaton, who played the full 90 minutes along with Jason Shackell and Danny Lafferty - in for the injured Ben Mee, was a match for Amoo’s best efforts.

Burnley travel to Tranmere for their penultimate friendly tomorrow, hoping to both Mee and Kieran Trippier, who was sidelined with a knock, are closer to a comeback.

BURNLEY: Tom Heaton; Luke O’Neill (Alex Coleman 87), Michael Duff (Kevin Long 58), Jason Shackell, Danny Lafferty; Ross Wallace (Keith Treacy 68), Dean Marney (Brian Stock 68), David Jones (Scott Arfield 63), Junior Stanislas (Joseph Mills 76); Charlie Austin (Sam Vokes 68), Danny Ings (Ryan Noble 78).

Subs not used: Alex Cisak, Steven Hewitt, David Edgar.