Giant-killers Burnley see off Baggies

Winger Wade Elliott opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time with a superb 20-yard volley and Thompson rifled in a second seven minutes after the restart at a bitterly cold Turf Moor.

Albion were given hope by Gianni Zuiverloon's sweet 60th-minute strike before Thompson netted again to confirm Burnley's fourth Barclays Premier League scalp of the season.

Owen Coyle's impressive Coca-Cola Championship outfit bundled Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal out of the Carling Cup and came agonisingly close to overcoming Tottenham in an epic semi-final encounter.

The visitors were dealt a blow in the 36th minute when on-loan Arsenal striker Jay Simpson, who had looked lively, sustained a knock and was replaced by Chris Brunt.

And less than 10 minutes later, Burnley went ahead. A long punt upfield from Brian Jensen was headed up into the air by an Albion defender and Elliott was on hand to strike a superb volley into the far left-hand corner from 20 yards out.

Roman Bednar headed weakly wide when well placed within two minutes of the restart and Burnley soon capitalised by doubling their advantage in the 52nd minute.

Christian Kalvenes crossed dangerously from the left flank and although Martin Paterson's far-post header was blocked by a Baggies defender, Thompson lashed in the loose ball right-footed from six yards out.

Yet the visitors responded impressively and when Gianni Zuiverloon was given space on the right side of the Burnley penalty area, he expertly drilled a fine low shot past Jensen and into the bottom corner.

Albion pushed hard for an equaliser but their few hundred fans in a crowd of just 6,635 were left disappointed as Burnley added a third when Robbie Blake's brilliance saw him cross low from the right to give Thompson the easiest of tap-ins.