MARTIN Paterson continued his love affair with the Carling Cup as he struck twice to secure Burnley’s ticket to the third round.

The striker pounced in the 64th and 80th minute to take his tally to five goals in five games so far.

But just as it was for his second goal against Bury in the previous round, his first last night was thanks, in no small part, to Chris Eagles.

The former Manchester United midfielder was undoubtedly the instigator as Burnley put extra breathing space between themselves and League One leaders Oldham Athletic, in a repeat of last season’s second round draw.

Eagles picked up the ball on the halfway line and showed a great turn of pace as he charged forward, leaving countless Latics in his wake.

Even though he was dragged back just outside the area, he continued his surge. Debutant Greg Fleming denied him, but the young goalkeeper could only palm the ball into Paterson’s path, and the striker didn’t need a second invitation to sniff out his fourth goal of the season.

It wasn’t the best of the night, however.

In fact, Chris McCann’s 13th minute opener is already a strong candidate for goal of the season, with Eagles once more instrumental.

Burnley worked the ball out from the back, with Clarke Carlisle playing it short to Steven Caldwell, who then found Eagles in the middle of the park.

The former Manchester United midfielder took an educated glance down the right channel, before sending a sublime ball for Wade Elliott to run on to.

It is the kind of service the winger thrives on, and he didn’t disappoint as his first-time delivery found Chris McCann at the far post, and the midfielder guided an excellent header beyond young goalkeeper Fleming to cap a superb move, and now there are two goalscorers this season.

Elliott looked to have a similar impact on the left soon afterwards, and after cutting inside to put Fleming to the test again.

This time the Scotland Under-21 international matched it with a firm parry, the ball came out to Kevin McDonald on the edge of the box, but the 19-year-old rushed his chance and sent it high over the bar.

Oldham conjured their first chances soon afterwards, with lone striker Chris O’Grady rounding off both moves.

The first was dragged wide of the near left post, while the second came after a tussle with Christian Kalvenes.

The Burnley left back looked to have muscled O’Grady off the ball, but the former Leicester City front man benefited from a lucky bounce, but couldn’t make the most of his second chance as he fired wide.

The Clarets stayed unchanged from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace to establish continuity with the new system, with Graham Alexander continuing to offer excellent protection to the back line.

As a result, Oldham’s advances were fleeting, but danger loomed when Elliott clipped Kelvin Lomax on an angled run, for which the winger received a booking, and Reuben Hazell narrowly missed connecting with a close-range header from Kevin Maher’s free kick.

Burnley moved quickly and effectively to the opposite end, where Hazell up-ended McCann in a clumsy challenge just outside the box, and Eagles, the recipient of a short free kick, crashed a vicious drive off the base of the wall.

McCann continued to find inroads and was unlucky to poke the ball wide from just inside the area after a neat one-two with Paterson.

As the half drew to a close, Oldham midfielder Danny Whitaker saw a shot from inside the area cannon off his own team-mate, O’Grady, and when the ball fell to him again, hooked his follow-up effort well over.

Jensen went into the break having not had a save to make, so Latics mascot Chaddy Owl made a case for manager John Sheridan enlisting his services during the half-time break, when he pipped Bertie Bee in a ‘Pie and Chips’ contest 13-9.

Instead, it was left to a triple substitution to spark Oldham into life, but only after Paterson had all but put the game to bed with his fourth of the new campaign, and third in this competition, just after the hour.

Sheridan rang the changes five minutes later, with Lee Hughes, Keiran Lee and Lewis Alessandra coming on to provide some much-needed ammunition.

Hughes almost reduced the deficit with his first touch, but Jensen tipped his curling long range effort round the post.

Alessandra brought a good stop from the Danish stopper as Carlisle got the wrong side of the substitute front man in a rare slip-up.

But Paterson put the game beyond doubt as, after Jensen launched a high goal kick upfield, Paterson turned away from his marker and tucked the ball underneath Fleming.

Oldham threatened a late consolation, but Jensen once more thwarted Hughes, and Carlisle dealt with the rebound.