Swansea boss Roberto Martinez heaped praise on Jason Scotland after a double from the striker saw them claim a 2-0 win over 10-man Burnley.The Swans went ahead from the penalty spot after Michael Duff was adjudged to have fouled Scotland in the area, with the defender also dismissed for the offence.

Martinez said: "I felt it was a clear penalty as, when Jason gets in those positions, he is very hard to stop.

"Jason is a magic player and makes a difference on the pitch. The challenge this season was to play at Championship level, but he can keep improving and get better."

The Clarets looked tired after their midweek exertions in the Carling Cup and Swansea's passing game had the home team chasing shadows throughout.

Swansea enjoyed the lion's share of the possession and almost went in front after 14 minutes when Darren Pratley raced onto Angel Rangel's pass, only for goalkeeper Brian Jensen to save at the feet of the Swans midfielder.

Pratley was again involved in the thick of the action when he dispossessed Chris Eagles, but drove his shot just wide.

Burnley's only chance in the first half came when Martin Paterson crossed for Chris McCann to head narrowly wide.

Swansea went in front when Duff was adjudged by referee Mike Oliver to have pulled back Scotland and was shown a red card.

Striker Scotland converted the spot-kick into the roof of the net and Swansea never looked back.

Winger Mark Gower spurned a couple of opportunities in the second half and, while the 10 men tried to get a foothold in the game, the closest that the home side came to an equaliser came when substitute Steven Thompson knocked the ball back for McCann, who touched the ball just wide of a post from eight yards.

The points were secured six minutes from time when Gower easily outwitted makeshift right-back Wade Elliott and picked out Scotland to score with some aplomb.

The win brought to an end Swansea's sequence of eight drawn matches and delighted Martinez.

"Burnley are enjoying a great season, but we kept the ball well and frustrated them to just one shot on target," he said.

"They adapted well when they had their man sent off and had a real go, but, overall, we are starting to use the experience we have gained from the first half of the season.

"We keep looking to improve and get better, but, at the moment, it is about consolidation."

Burnley manager Owen Coyle refused to use the midweek Carling Cup semi-final first leg, which they lost 4-1 to Tottenham, as an excuse.

He said: "It is a time for characters and mental strength. We have played a lot of games, but it is too easy to look for excuses and some of the players must look at themselves in terms of their performance.

"The penalty was a big moment in the game and it was a hard one to take.

"We have been on the end of some harsh decisions.

"We had a couple of half-chances for an equaliser, but the second goal was poor defending."

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