BURNLEY booked an FA Cup fourth round date as they strolled to success against Sunderland at the second time of asking.

A Sam Vokes goal just before half-time and an Andre Gray strike, his fourth against Sunderland this season, was enough to see the Clarets progress beyond the third round for the second season in a row.

It was another psychological blow landed on the Black Cats, who won’t remember their three meetings with Burnley in 18 days with any fondness.

Sean Dyche’s side exerted their authority with a 4-1 thumping against David Moyes’ men on New Year’s Eve in the Premier League, and in two FA Cup ties they have proved themselves a class above Sunderland.

They were comfortably the better side in the North East just over a week ago and they rarely needed to get out of second gear here against an abject Black Cats side.

It was another start for goalkeeper Nick Pope, but he cruised through 90 minutes with his only real action a fine save to keep a Sebastian Larsson free-kick out in added time.

James Tarkowski showed more glimpses of his potential with a commanding display at the back, while right-back Tendayi Darikwa’s main involvement was at the other end of the pitch, setting up Vokes’ goal.

These two cup ties have shown the depth now available to Dyche. Having made six changes at the Stadium of Light he made seven here, and again his side had the better of proceedings.

The Clarets now have a chance of a decent run in the FA Cup, with another Turf test to come against Championship strugglers Bristol City in round four.

Michael Keane, George Boyd, Steven Defour and Jeff Hendrick were the only survivors from the Premier League win over Southampton, while Michael Kightly was handed just his second start of the season.

Hendrick was back in his more advanced midfield role and he was involved early on, stinging the palms of Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone from 22 yards before his cross was headed over by Sam Vokes.

Mannone was the busier stopper early on. Hendrick’s pass sent Boyd towards goal and he cut inside and let fly on his left foot, with the Italian turning it away.

Moments later he was down low to his left to palm a deflected Joey Barton shot away.

Mannone again got the better of Boyd on 15 minutes. Defour did well to find him in the left-hand channel and his rasping shot across goal was tipped over the bar.

It was a half that the Clarets had controlled and they got their reward just before the break.

Darikwa made good ground down the right and his near-post cross was glanced into the far corner by Vokes.

The striker could have made in two just before the hour. Kightly produced an acrobatic flick to find Defour, whose outside-of-the-foot pass freed Vokes, but he took a touch when through on goal and Papy Djilobodji got back in to make the block.

It was becoming a personal battle between Boyd and Mannone, and the Sunderland keeper got the upper hand for a third time when Boyd failed to connect cleanly with a volley on the edge of the area.

Sunderland had toiled for an hour without ever threatening Pope’s goal, forcing David Moyes to introduce Jermain Defoe for the final half hour to try to spark his side into a response.

Instead it was the Clarets who killed the game off in the final 10 minutes. Gray had given Sunderland the run around at Turf Moor on New Year’s Eve and he made an impact just moments after coming off the bench.

Boyd helped Vokes’ knock down onto Burnley’s top scorer, who cooly slotted beyond Mannone.