Burnley 2-0 Sunderland

Burnley progressed to the FA Cup fourth round as goals from Sam Vokes and Andre Gray proved enough against a dispirited Sunderland at Turf Moor.

A drab first half ended in a rare moment of quality as Vokes got across Jason Denayer to head Tendayi Darikwa's excellent cross into the far corner.

Sunderland created little in response before substitute Gray made sure of the result late on with a low strike.

In round four, Burnley are at home to Bristol City, who won at Fleetwood.

Follow all the reaction from Tuesday's FA Cup ties

A Claret cup run?

Despite making seven changes from the side who beat Southampton in the Premier League at the weekend, the hosts seemed more interested in extending their FA Cup run in the early stages.

George Boyd and Joey Barton forced Sunderland's Vito Mannone into two fine saves in quick succession, before Boyd saw a powerful left-footed drive tipped narrowly over by the Italian keeper moments later.

Midfielder Steven Defour was central to everything Sean Dyche's side tried in attack, as well as providing plenty of cover to the back four - albeit against a blunted Sunderland attack.

Although Vokes' goal just before the interval seemed more than enough to see off Sunderland, the hosts did not settle, sending on Gray inside the final 15 minutes.

Having tormented the Black Cats here with a rapid hat-trick in a 4-1 hammering on New Year's Eve, Gray was a handful once again, collecting Vokes' knock down from a long-ball forward and easily rolling his marker to shoot under Mannone on 83 minutes.

With Burnley sitting 10th in the Premier League, 10 points clear of the relegation zone, and with Championship side Bristol City arriving on 28 January, the Clarets may sense a great opportunity to go beyond their fourth-round defeat by Arsenal last season.

Andre Gray has scored four times against Sunderland this season, having hit a Premier League hat-trick on New Year's Eve

Three is not Sunderland's magic number

Tottenham and Chelsea have shown their fellow Premier League sides how to play with three at the back this season, but Sunderland's interpretation of that formation was severely lacking at Turf Moor.

A central back three of Denayer, Papy Djilobodji and Billy Jones looked unnecessary at times with Burnley only playing Vokes up front, yet they failed to deal with his threat when it mattered most.

The Wales striker easily got in front of his marker Denayer to score the opening goal - his fine glancing header into the far corner a fitting finish to right-back Darikwa's brilliant curling delivery.

Elsewhere, Sunderland's five-man midfield successfully swamped Barton and Defour at times but with the main effect of just cancelling out their opponents instead of threatening Nick Pope in the Burnley goal.

Sebastian Larsson came closest for the visitors, firstly with a curling lob from 25 yards out just after the interval nearly creeping in over a stranded Pope, before the Burnley keeper made a fine diving save to deny the Swedish midfielder in injury time.

Striker Jermain Defoe could not fashion a chance in the half-hour run out he was afforded, with Sunderland's thoughts seemingly very much focused on Premier League survival.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Burnley

Formation 4-5-1

29Pope
27Darikwa
5Keane
26Tarkowski
4Flanagan
21BoydSubstituted forO'Neillat 90'minutes
13Hendrick
19BartonBooked at 90mins
16DefourBooked at 78mins
11KightlySubstituted forGrayat 77'minutes
9Vokes

Substitutes

2Lowton
6Mee
7Gray
17Robinson
23Ward
41O'Neill
43Jackson

Sunderland

Formation 4-4-2

13Mannone
2Jones
5Djilobodji
21Manquillo
3van Aanholt
22LoveBooked at 12minsSubstituted forDefoeat 63'minutes
4Denayer
39Honeyman
7Larsson
44Januzaj
9BoriniSubstituted forAsoroat 80'minutes

Substitutes

12Simões Domingues
16O'Shea
18Defoe
25Robson
29Asoro
34Robson
40Embleton

Referee:: Mike Jones
Attendance:: 12,257

Match Stats

Home TeamBurnleyAway TeamSunderland

Possession: Home51%; Away49%

Shots: Home14; Away4

Shots on Target: Home7; Away2

Corners: Home5; Away2

Fouls: Home17; Away12

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Burnley 2, Sunderland 0.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Burnley 2, Sunderland 0.

90'+3'
Post update
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Nick Pope.
90'+3'
Post update
Attempt saved. Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
90'+2'
Booking
Joey Barton (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Joey Barton (Burnley).
90'+2'
Post update
Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'
Substitution
Substitution, Burnley. Aiden O'Neill replaces George Boyd.
90'
Post update
Foul by Andre Gray (Burnley).
90'
Post update
Papy Djilobodji (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
89'
Post update
Foul by Jon Flanagan (Burnley).
89'
Post update
Adnan Januzaj (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'
Post update
Attempt saved. George Honeyman (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
83'
Goal!
Goal! Burnley 2, Sunderland 0. Andre Gray (Burnley) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sam Vokes.
82'
Post update
Attempt missed. Andre Gray (Burnley) header from very close range is just a bit too high.
80'
Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Joel Asoro replaces Fabio Borini.
78'
Booking
Steven Defour (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
78'
Post update
Foul by Steven Defour (Burnley).
78'
Post update
Javier Manquillo (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
77'
Substitution
Substitution, Burnley. Andre Gray replaces Michael Kightly.

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