MAGICIAN David Blaine is 16 days into a self-inflicted famine from normality - starved of food and contact with the outside world for a total of 44 days as he dangles in a box over the River Thames.

Like the American cult figure, Burnley too have been suffering from a lack of action in the box, in particular at home to Bradford having not beaten them at Turf Moor since 1932.

But Clarets fans suffered their own test of endurance as the first 42 minutes felt like a lifetime on Saturday.

In fact, pressing the red button on Sky One to watch Blaine snooze or sip water would have had more appeal to even the most ardent supporter than viewing the frustrating fare which was served up for the majority of the first half.

That was until Burnley's own conjurer, Robbie Blake, waved his magic wand to help sink his former side with an impeccable performance and goal to boot.

But anyone who had suggested a 4-0 scoreline midway through the first half would certainly have had their sanity brought into question.

Delroy Facey's run on goal inside the first minute looked promising, but his early burst flattered to deceive as, after firing wide of the right hand post, there was about as much activity in the Bradford box as Blaine dangling iin his Perspex case.

The Bantams, however, looked much more lively. Dean Windass turned Mo Camara on the edge of the box but his show ultimate shot was too tame to trouble Brian Jensen, while the alert Michael Branch showed a keen eye for goal but his 18-yard drive went straight to the great Dane.

Seventeen minutes had passed before Burnley recorded their next attempt at goal, with Blake looking to catch out former team-mate Marlon Beresford - on a month's contract at Bradford - and take the lead against his former club. But while the striker's quickly taken 30-yard free kick was on target it lacked the power to beat the Clarets' ex-number one.

While Bradford created the best attacking options, Burnley were far from on the back foot. But the occasions when they were forced to defend we through their own making.

Their balls upfield were hopeful at best and often cut out by the Bantams who, in turn, moved it forward.

Camara's pace in tracking back and timely tackle denied Branch the chance to shoot, despite being allowed to run from a glaringly offside position. David Wetherall then headed straight at Jensen from the resulting corner.

Jensen launched it upfield to instigate a quick break for the Clarets only for Blake to be denied a chance by a late offside flag.

Bradford then kept possession on the edge of the box before Andy Gray blazed over the bar.

Andy Todd showed some much-needed urgency as he burst forward unchallenged before releasing Moore. The front man couldn't get it under control first time so Todd strode up to the loose ball, but he didn't get a good connection and the ball bobbled wide, and Gareth Farrelly saw a similar chance go in the same direction moments later.

There had been many quiet moments in the Bantams' area but once Blake's trickery came to the fore it was a different story, proving that the previous 40 minutes or so had been just an illusion.

Firstly, Camara's quickly taken thrown in found Blake on the left of the box. He fired the ball across the line and it only needed the deftest of touches to steer it home but Facey could only poke it wide.

Blake then went on a lung-bursting, unchallenged run through midfield but was denied a goal the move deserved by Beresford's fingertips.

Then, the magic moment.

Tony Grant's tenacity paid off as he scrapped to win the ball off Lewis Emanuel then fed Blake, who pumped it through for Moore to finish with finesse underneath the advancing Beresford.

Chadwick went close to adding a second, forcing Beresford to dive low to his right, before Jensen was equally impressive in denying Emanuel on the stroke of half-time.

The momentum of taking a 1-0 lead into the break had clearly not waned as the Clarets burst out of the starting blocks in the second half.

Facey should have added a second on 50 minutes after Blake's effort was parried into his path. With an open net gaping in front of him, the loanee striker shinned it wide of the left-hand post from around eight yards.

But Chadwick spared his blushes four minutes later after the impressive Farrelly's pin-point crossfield ball found him on the right hand corner of the box.

His failure to shoot first time was bemoaned but he sent the Turf Moor faithful into raptures after turning his marker and bending the ball past Beresford with his left foot.

And Chadwick, who had encouraged his team-mates to 'shoot-on-sight' in the build-up to the game, led by example as he grabbed his second with another quality finish, following excellent link-up play between Farrelly and Blake. Moore had found himself with a chance to shoot inside the area, the ball rebounded off a defender and Chadwick lashed it home with his right boot, this time without delay.

Midfield maestro Farrelly then helped Burnley wrap up the points by having a hand in the fourth and a deserved goal for Blake. The Bolton loan star made a surging run through midfield before slipping the ball to the striker, revelling in his roaming role behind the front two.

Blake picked his spot and buried the ball past Beresford, who didn't warrant picking the ball out of the back of the net four times but, in truth, couldn't do anything to prevent any of the strikes.

In fact, he should have had a pat on the back from his team-mates for stopping the scoreline being any heavier with a string of saves in the final 20 minutes, twice from Blake then substitute Richard Chaplow, while Facey hit the top of the crossbar.

BURNLEY... 4

I Moore 42; Chadwick 54, 60; Blake 68

BRADFORD... 0

Turf Moor Att: 12,719