Burnley cemented their place in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off places thanks to a hard-fought win over struggling Plymouth at Home Park.

Clarets defender Steven Caldwell gave the visitors the lead in the 16th minute but within 60 seconds the home side hit back through midfielder Alan Judge.

The home side had a number of chances to take the lead in the second-half but it was Robbie Blake who gave Burnley all three points with a fine strike from 25 yards late in the game.

Burnley named an unchanged side for the second game in succession as top scorer Martin Paterson was passed fit to lead the line. The Clarets striker overcame a hamstring problem while Steve Thompson missed out again with ankle ligament damage.

Meanwhile, Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock was forced to do without central defender Mat Doumbe and striker Emile Mpenza, who were both ruled out with hamstring injuries.

Blackburn loanee Paul Gallagher tried his luck from distance early on but Brian Jensen in the Burnley goal always looked comfortable.

Burnley carved out a good opportunity with only three minutes on the clock. Paterson raced to the byline and pulled the ball back for midfielder Chris McCann whose goal-bound shot was deflected just wide of the right-hand post.

Both sides struggled to create in what proved a tentative opening period but Jamie Mackie brought a fine stop out of Jensen in the 14th minute, the Burnley stopper tipping a drive from distance around the post.

But the deadlock was broken in the 16th minute when Caldwell rose highest in the home box to head beyond Plymouth goalkeeper Romain Larrieu.

McCann found Blake out wide and his fine ball was met by the Clarets defender who made no mistake in heading home his second goal of the season.

But within a minute Judge notched his first for the club since arriving on loan from Blackburn. The Clarets defence had a couple of chances to clear through Rhys Williams and Chris Eagles but Judge stole in and slipped the ball past Jensen to level the scores.

Ashley Barnes could have put the hosts ahead but for a fine Clarke Carlisle challenge, while Eagles and Paterson had further efforts from distance - but to no avail.

The second half began in similar fashion with little to choose between the two sides.

Pilgrims midfielder Carl Fletcher was allowed time to shoot and only a last-gasp block from Caldwell prevented the ball from seriously testing Jensen five minutes after the break.

Caldwell ventured up from the back moments later but his shot from the edge of the box flew well wide of the right-hand post.

The home side grew in confidence and began to dominate. They created a series of half chances, the best of which saw Mackie bring a smart stop from Jensen.

But completely against the run of play a moment of magic from Blake saw the visitors regain the lead 12 minutes from time.

Blake cleverly made space for the shot before driving the ball beyond the dive of Larrieu and into the bottom-left corner of the goal to settle the fixture.

Teams

Plymouth Larrieu, Gray, Cathcart, Seip, Sawyer,Judge (Noone 82), Fletcher, Duguid, Mackie (MacLean 80),Gallagher, Barnes (Fallon 80).

Subs Not Used: Paterson, Timar.

Goals: Judge 17.

Burnley Jensen, Williams, Carlisle, Caldwell, Kalvenes,McCann, Alexander, Elliott, Eagles (Rodriguez 58),Paterson (Duff 89), Blake (Gudjonsson 81).

Subs Not Used: Penny, McDonald.

Booked: Williams.

Goals: Caldwell 16, Blake 78.

Att: 11,246

Ref: Russell Booth (Nottinghamshire).