Crystal Palace sent out an ominous statement of intent as they sealed a place in the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs with a thrashing of the 10 men of Burnley.

Neil Warnock's Palace have stormed up the league in the second half of the season and after Ben Watson had buried a penalty and Clarke Carlisle had been sent off for the visitors with just six minutes gone the result never looked in doubt.

Victor Moses then took advantage of more dreadful defending to steer in a second before Tom Soares hit a third before half-time.

Scott Sinclair added a fine individual goal as the visitors tired in the second half before top scorer Clinton Morrison completed the rout. Relegation appeared the only route out of the Championship when Warnock took charge in October.

But with the rest of the top-half of the table stuttering few would now bet against a miraculous return to the Premier League at Wembley for in-form Palace who will face Bristol City in the semi-finals.

The scoring began in the sixth minute when a harmless looking goal-kick was misjudged by Carlisle and Sinclair stole in on his blind side to toe the ball into the area.

The on-loan Chelsea winger set himself to strike but was felled by the hapless Carlisle leaving referee Kevin Friend with no option but to award a penalty and show Carlisle a straight red card.

Watson stepped up to smash home low to Brian Jensen's right and give the Eagles the perfect start.

And as the Clarets were still reorganising at the back Warnock's side hit a second just three minutes later.

Sinclair collected a short corner to set off an a mazy run down the left.

His chipped cross was half-cleared to Jose Fonte who headed back into the area where 17-year-old Moses was all alone and onside to guide a left-footed strike back across Jensen into the far corner.

Soares then grabbed the third for the rampant hosts in the 37th minute when Morrison skipped round Jensen and pulled the ball back for him to slam home from inside the six-yard box.

Palace started the second period in similar mood and after substitute Paul Ifill's hesitation cost him a chance when clean through Morrison went close to a fourth.

Shaun Derry sliced the defence open with a superb pass and Sinclair ran through to tee up Morrison but Michael Duff made a last-ditch challenge to deny him a tap in.

The outstanding Derry was then given a rest by Warnock with one eye on the play-offs as Carl Fletcher came on before Sinclair's eye-catching fourth in the 61st minute.

Sinclair picked the ball up on the left touchline, cut inside Chris McCann and then arrowed through two more tired challenges before drilling a low shot past Jensen and into the corner.

The Eagles were toying with their opposition and Morrison made it five just four minutes later.

Watson again carved open the defence with a run and clever pass and Morrison kept his cool to slot past Jensen from just inside the area and usher in an exhibition of possession for the remaining 25 minutes.