BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill praised a hat-trick of goals for his strikers after the Clarets earned a 3-0 win over Oldham Athletic in the Carling Cup second round last night.

Andy Gray fired the Clarets in front in the 60th minute with a solo effort, followed by Robbie Blake and Ade Akinbiyi scoring their first goals of the season.

"I'm pleased Robbie got the goal and is up and running and the goal might do Robbie the power of good," said Cotterill.

"I said to Ade, I know you haven't got much time, but get yourself on the scoresheet like the other two (strikers)'.

"He did that and I am pleased because he has worked really hard to get where he is."

Akinbiyi sealed the win by sprinting onto Wade Elliott's right wing delivery and drilling the ball underneath Mark Crossley with the outside of his right boot.

"I knew that is what he was going to do," continued Cotterill.

"The minute he got clean and the keeper got set, I knew he was going to score like that. He is some sight when he gets in his stride."

But despite the 3-0 scoreline, Cotterill insisted the task of progressing in the Carling Cup against lower league opposition should not be underestimated.

"These are tough games and we knew it would be that.

"In the end we took our chances and it looks easier than it was but to be fair to Oldham they made it a tough game.

"A few of our supporters behind me got a bit fidgety, which is disappointing because it's not as easy as it looks.

"They are tough games you know: look at some of the other results tonight," said the Burnley boss, referring to outcomes such as Wolves losing 3-1 at home to Morecambe and Blackpool beating Premiership newboys Derby County on penalties.

"All in all it was a good win for us.

"It's difficult because it is never anybody else's priority - you can see that by how many turned up tonight.

"We have put out a strong team tonight and in the previous round we made nine changes. It all depends on the draw.

"Tonight was a big priority for us though because we didn't have a game on Saturday and I didn't want to leave the lads two weeks without opening their lungs."

l THE draw for the Carling Cup third round takes place on Saturday during Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday programme.