Premier League strugglers Burnley scored three first-half goals as they swept aside Championship team Millwall to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The Clarets, without a win in 12 league games, only needed 11 minutes to take the lead when Jaidon Anthony played a pass to Jacob Bruun Larsen and his square ball was calmly converted by Ashley Barnes six yards out.
Loum Tchaouna made it 2-0 in the 35th minute with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Bruun Larsen registered his second assist just before half-time, when he set up Anthony, who made it 3-0 with a fine first-time finish.
Barnes, who had not scored since March before this game, got his second of the afternoon in the 65th minute from 10 yards out after the visitors failed to clear Anthony’s cross from the right.
Dutch substitute Jaydon Banel scored his first goal for Burnley in the 89th minute after more poor defending from the visitors to make it 5-0.
Millwall got a late consolation from Josh Coburn in stoppage time with a lofted finish over home goalkeeper Max Weiss.
Having won promotion from the Championship in 2024-25, Burnley have struggled in the Premier League with only three wins in 21 games, the most recent of those coming on 26 October with a 3-2 victory over bottom side Wolves.
When the draw was made, this looked like being a tough tie for the Clarets as they are only six places higher in football’s pyramid than Millwall, who are fifth in the Championship and pushing for promotion.
Burnley boss Scott Parker made eight changes while Lions manager Alex Neil made seven, although it was one of the Clarets’ most experienced players that put them ahead.
Barnes, 36, was making his first start of the season after four substitute appearances and provided a clinical finish with his first chance after fine work from the impressive pair of Anthony and Bruun Larsen.
Parker will have been pleased with the performance of back-up goalkeeper Max Weiss, with the 21-year-old German goalkeeper, in only his third match for the club, making three saves to thwart a potential Millwall fightback.
Weiss denied Aidomo Emakhu and kept out two Liam Cooper headers before French midfielder Tchaouna doubled Burnley’s lead with his second goal following his £13m move from Lazio last summer.
Goals from Anthony and a second for Barnes took Burnley four goals clear, before Banel scored at the second attempt as the Clarets hit five in front of a disappointing attendance of only 6,856.
A late consolation from Coburn denied Burnley a rare clean sheet, although the game provided some welcome relief for them in a tough campaign that has them 19th in the Premier League and eight points from safety.
Parker will be hoping his side can build on this and start to replicate this form in the league.
Burnley will find it much tougher when they travel to Anfield to play Premier League champions Liverpool on Saturday, 17 January (15:00 GMT), before they return to Turf Moor a week later when they entertain Tottenham.
Promotion-chasing Millwall have two vital away games in the Championship. They play at sixth-placed Watford on Saturday, 17 January (12:30) and then at leaders Coventry City on Tuesday, 20 January (19:45).
