Burnley defeated Salford City 0–4 to advance to the round of 16 of the Carabao Cup.

Burnley defeated Salford City 0–4 to advance to the round of 16 of the Carabao Cup.

Burnley breezed into the Carabao Cup round of 16 thanks to a first-half barrage against woeful Salford City.

Three goals were scored by rookies Sander Berge, Jacob Bruun Larsen, and Dara O’Shea in the opening 27 minutes, giving Vincent Kompany’s team a little break from league play.

All four goals were made possible by the outstanding Anass Zaroury, who also scored his first goal for Burnley. Wilson Odobert added a late fourth goal to round out a successful evening’s work.

The difference in class was obvious right on, and on a different day, the Clarets could have easily scored more goals in their first-ever encounter with the Ammies.

Kompany decided to make all 11 alterations to the team that fell just short to Manchester United on Saturday.

Wilson Odobert, 18, received his first Clarets start as Arijanet Muric filled in for James Trafford in goal as he did against Nottingham Forest in the previous round.

Starts were given to players like Vitinho, Manuel Benson, Anas Zaroury, Jacob Bruun Larsen, and Jay Rodriguez.

Alongside Dara O’Shea, Jack Cork started the game as a center-back in the back four.

Hjalmar Ekdal (knee), Darko Churlinov (health concern), and Michael Obafemi (hamstring) are still out due to injuries, while Lyle Foster missed out due to suspension after serving the first of a three-game suspension.

Salford, who had a poor start to the season, made four changes to the team that lost 3-2 to Harrogate Town on Saturday. As a result, they are now fourth from the bottom in League Two.

Burnley, as one might anticipate, immediately took control of the ball but initially found it difficult to find any openings against a resolute Salford team.

Sander Berge scored his first Clarets goal in the 12th minute, giving Kompany’s team the lead after leaping highest to meet Anass Zaroury’s corner.

After the opening goal, the visitors were given a scare about an injury when Manuel Benson stumbled while attempting to bring down a high pass. He immediately slammed the ground in anguish and motioned to the bench to get off.

The plan was to replace him with Mike Tresor, but happily Benson was able to fend it off and the knock wasn’t quite as bad as first thought.

The hosts were evidently discouraged by the first goal because one swiftly turned into two goals, with Zaroury providing both assists.

The goal was skillfully executed from Burnley’s standpoint as well. Zaroury inserted Jacob Bruun Larsen, who lobbed the advancing goalie before the ball found its way into the net.

Even Dara O’Shea participated, finishing Zaroury’s low free kick from practically on the goal line after Cairns had made a meal of it.

In response, the visiting Burnley supporters began to yell, “Gary, what’s the score?” towards co-owner of Salford Gary Neville as the former Manchester United player and Roy Keane looked on from the stands.

We also witnessed the inevitable exit of Benson, who despite his best attempts was unable to continue, and the winger grimacing and shaking his head as Tresor took his place.

Four minutes after entering the game, the Belgian thought he had added a fourth goal when he tapped in from eight yards out, but Jay Rodriguez was ruled to have been in an offside position before he returned the ball to Tresor.

Zaroury, who assisted on all three goals, came close to adding to his tally when he delivered a piledriver with his left foot that Cairns narrowly deflected with a fingertip.

Odobert missed a golden opportunity at the back post after being set up by a beautiful cross from Bruun Larsen, but the opportunities kept coming.

Conor McAleny pursued a long pass in behind for Salford at the start of the second half, but two Burnley defenders came running before he could fire a shot at Muric.

The second half was less exciting, but the Clarets still posed a threat going forward. Zaroury came near with a low, drilled shot that was deflected just inches wide of the crossbar.

With a strong shot that Cairns blocked with his legs after Zaroury, Odobert had also put the goalkeeper to the test.

Burnley was content to preserve possession of the ball as the game otherwise died away and largely resembled a training session.

The Clarets had the luxury of making Salford do all the running because the damage was done within the first 30 minutes, saving their energy for upcoming contests of more significance.

In the end, there were four goals, but it took four minutes until the fourth one was scored. Odobert scored after Zaroury, you guessed it, set him up, blazing high into the net’s ceiling.

The visitors finished the game without breaking a sweat, giving them more confidence going into a key trip to Newcastle at the weekend. That turned out to be all there was to it.

TEAMS Salford: Watson, Lund, Mallan, Cairns, Mariappa, Tilt, Dackers (Pedro), Olopade (Henderson), Watt (Humbles), and Berkoe.

Wright, Collins, Da Costa, Fankwe, and Smith were not substitutes.

Muric, Vitinho (Roberts), O’Shea, Cork, Delcroix, Berge, Odobert (Ramsey), Benson (Tresor), Zaroury, Bruun Larsen (Massengo), and Rodriguez (Al-Dakhil) are all for Burnley.

Trafford, Taylor, Cullen, and Koleosho were not substitutes.

Anthony Backhouse officiated.