West Brom now have the opportunity to focus all their resources on Premiership survival after losing their FA Cup replay by three goals to one at Turf Moor.
With the Baggies likely playing Arsenal in the next round further progress was unlikely, and thus we were duly thoroughly outplayed by a Burnley side with much more hunger and desire to win the match.
Buoyed by their recent fantastic run in the Carling Cup, Burnley scored two goals with Wade Elliott netting just before half-time and Steven Thompson scoring the first of two goals seven minutes later, effectively killing the tie. The Albion, with six changes to the already threadbare squad that played against Hull and with neither of the deadline day signing eligible, had several good opportunities in the first half, with a restored Bednar and Fortuné unable to take the chances that came their way.
Gianni Zuiverloon scored a goal on the hour, which suggested the tie was there to be won, but Burnley made their dominance show with a second goal from Thompson two minutes before the end, sending them to a fifth round tie against Arsenal or Cardiff.
This will be Mowbray’s first season at the Hawthorns without a trip to Wembley, although given our record there that is unlikely to be too much of a bugbear. This season the focus is all about staying afloat in the silly money league, and with our participation in this seasons cups now history, applying that focus is essential for the last fourteen matches of the season, starting with Newcastle on Saturday.
Referee
Burnley (4-4-2)
Jensen, Alexander, Duff, Caldwell, Kalvenes, McDonald (Gudjonsson 80), Elliott, McCann, Blake, Paterson (Rodriguez 90), Thompson (MacDonald 90).
Subs Not Used: Penny, Carlisle, Akinbiyi, Mahon
West Brom (4-4-2)
Carson, Zuiverloon, Donk, Pele, Cech, Kim, Dorrans, Simpson (Brunt 36), Filipe Teixeira (Hoefkens 57), Fortune, Bednar.
Subs Not Used: Kiely, Robinson, Koren, Martis, Morrison
Referee
Mike Jones (Cheshire)