Moore to the fore for Burnley

Burnley 2 - Bournemouth

After the romance, the reality. Yesterday's edgy victory over Bournemouth of League One will not reverberate in Burnley's memory as the third-round victory over Liverpool did, but Burnley will take their place in the fifth-round draw and can dream of greater glories to come.

After the romance, the reality. Yesterday's edgy victory over Bournemouth of League One will not reverberate in Burnley's memory as the third-round victory over Liverpool did, but Burnley will take their place in the fifth-round draw and can dream of greater glories to come.

Despite taking an early lead through Ian Moore, it was not until the forward added a second with a low drive in injury time that Burnley's win was assured. "The better team lost," the Burnley manager, Steve Cotterill, admitted. "We've no gripes about that. They dominated the ball."

Tony Grant could have settled the game six minutes into the second half, but after his chip had come back off the face of the bar, Bournemouth were in almost total control.

Cotterill's side have developed a reputation for defensive stinginess but, while Gary Cahill and John McGreal deserve acclaim for their efforts in repelling the Bourne-mouth charge, Burnley's ninth clean sheet in 12 games was only achieved with luck.

"I've seen Burnley three times," Sean O'Driscoll, the Bournemouth manager, said, "and we created more chances than any of their opponents in those games, so we must take credit for that."

Brian Stock was the most obviously unfortunate, his clever, whipped free-kick from wide on the left thumping against the post, but Gareth O'Connor too can count himself unlucky to have been denied by the thrusting right foot of the Burnley goalkeeper, Brian Jensen, while James Hayter was within inches of getting a toe to a Wade Elliott cross.

Elliott was superb all after-noon, his darting runs down the right tormenting Mo Camara. He was fantastic," Cotterill said. "That's probably the toughest performance we've faced this season."

Yet when Burnley took the lead after 17 minutes, the game was threatening to degenerate into a procession. It may have been because of the huge, sandy crater that made up the middle of the pitch that both sides prospered down the wings. Graham Branch, an elegant and composed presence, crossed from the left for an unmarked Moore to nod in his first goal since September.

He could have had a hat-trick, but, in the last minute, six yards out with the goal beckoning, he headed over, a worrying lapse for those who hope his two goals signal a return to scoring form.

Burnley, having lost Robbie Blake to Birmingham and with Richard Chaplow possibly to join West Brom, could do with an attacking fillip. It may be provided by John Oster, who made his debut yesterday after being released by Sunderland last week.

"He'll bring a touch of quality," Cotterill said. "He's a technician, which is something we do lack, and he'll retain the ball for us." He looked tidy enough for an hour yesterday, before being withdrawn because of his lack of match-fitness; it has always been his temperament rather than his talent, though, that has been in question.

Posterity will record that Oster began his Burnley career with a win, and that it took his new club further in the FA Cup than either Leeds or Sunderland - the other two clubs he has been with this season. That does not tell the whole story, but it is Burnley who, for the third year running, are in the last 16.