Vokes sinks Moyes’ men
A FINE Sam Vokes header and an ice-cool Andre Gray finish sealed Burnley’s place in the fourth round as they inched past drab Sunderland in a clash to forget.
These two teams bored each other to a standstill at the Stadium of Light just over a week ago and, in truth, this competition does not feature too highly on their to-do lists this term.
David Moyes’ Sunderland side are embroiled in a relegation dogfight – and already seem doomed – while Sean
BURNLEY SUNDERLAND 2 0
Dyche is attempting to keep Burnley in the Premier League for a second consecutive season, a feat he failed to accomplish the last time the Clarets were in the top flight in 2014-15.
Burnley have picked up 24 of their 26 league points at Turf Moor, underlining the strength they have on home soil.
They changed seven of their starting line-up last night to prove that they have a closer eye on survival than silverware this term.
Vito Mannone made three decent early saves – from Jeff Hendrick, Joey Barton and George Boyd – but the match never hit any heights until Vokes glanced home Tendayi Darikwa’s cross just before the break.
Jermain Defoe came off the bench to try to rescue the evening for Sunderland and the Black Cats showed more enterprise.
But Burnley wrapped it up when a Vokes assist allowed substitute Gray to score with a low drive from 12 yards. VOKES: Glanced header