on 14 august 2007, steve cotterill, manager of fellow championship club burnley, made an offer of £200,000 for carlisle, who signed a three-year contract at turf moor two days later. helped along by the club captain steven caldwell, carlisle settled in well at burnley. two days after signing, he made his debut for his new club in the 2–0 defeat away to scunthorpe united. carlisle scored his first goal for burnley on 22 september 2007, netting a stoppage time minute equaliser with an overhead kick in the 2–2 draw with bristol city at ashton gate. on 28 september 2007, the day before a championship match, he was involved in a serious car crash after spinning and crashing into a ditch causing his car to be written off. steve cotterill praised carlisle's character for playing the next day in the 1–1 draw with crystal palace. he and caldwell formed a solid defensive partnership and played most matches of the season together. carlisle was named in the official team of the week for his performance in burnley's 3–1 away win at charlton athletic. his partnership with caldwell was broken towards the end of the campaign as carlisle was given suspensions after being sent off twice in his last four matches of the season, first in the 1–2 loss to preston and then in the last match of the season, a 0–5 defeat at crystal palace. carlisle ended the 2007–08 season with two goals in 35 appearances.