Burnley were in empthatic mood as their 50th game of an epic season saw Nottingham Forest thumped 5-0 at Turf Moor.
Coyle's Burnley turn on the style at Turf Moor
Burnley were in empthatic mood as their 50th game of an epic season saw Nottingham Forest thumped 5-0 at Turf Moor.
Robbie Blake was at the hub of Burnley's best work and it was the veteran forward that broke Forest's resolve, as he flighted home a delightful free-kick, before laying on a second for Wade Elliott.
With Forest firmly on the back foot it got no better for Billy Davies' side as a rampant Burnley troubled the scoresheet a further three times to cement their play-off position.
In a season that has included valiant but ultimately unsuccessful cup runs, Burnley's solitary priority has become gaining promotion to the Premier League.
And they moved a step closer to achieving their dream with a ruthless second-half display. Towering defender Clarke Carlisle headed home the third in the 51st minute as he met Martin Paterson's cross and it was 4-0 four minutes later.
Academy product Jay Rodriguez was the goalscorer as he turned his man and smashed home a 25-yard piledriver to put the icing on the cake.
Forest could not be accused of lacking in fight but they were simply outclassed as Joey Gudjonsson unleashed a trademark screamer from the edge of the area in the 73rd minute to make it 5-0.
Outclassed
The opening 15 minutes were played at a pedestrian pace with little in the way of creativity from either side, but the game was sparked into life by a moment of magic in the 19th minute.
With few options ahead of him, veteran forward Blake glanced up to see Forest goalkeeper Paul Smith off his line and instantly unleashed an exquisite, although slightly wind-assisted, free-kick into the top corner.
This season has been a hectic one at Turf Moor, with Coyle's side embarking on commendable cup runs, both of which have been ended by north London Premier League opposition - the latest coming at the hands of Arsenal in the 3-0 FA Cup fifth-round tie a week ago.
But the Clarets are showing no signs of fatigue in their pursuit of Premier League promotion and they doubled their lead six minutes before the interval.
Blake, who scored just one goal in 12 appearances for Forest, was at the heart of the move again as he played a one-two with Chris McCann before playing in winger Elliott who was left with the simplest of tasks, tapping home from six yards.
Busy period
At this stage of the Championship calendar, it is natural for squads to become stretched and players to buckle under the pressure, but Burnley refused to relent as they aimed to consolidate their play-off place.
And they moved further ahead in the 51st minute when livewire striker Martin Paterson squared the ball across the face of the goal for Clarke Carlisle to head home.
Just four minutes later, it was 4-0 when, after a period of sustained pressure following the restart, 19-year-old Rodriguez turned his man 25 yards from goal before unleashing an arrowed drive into the top right-hand corner.
The visitors were understandably demoralised and their lack of confidence was palpable although striker Joe Garner did his best to pick his team up, but his 20-yard effort failed to find the target.
But just when it seemed the Clarets were taking their foot off the gas, former Aston Villa midfielder Gudjonsson smashed home a trademark thunderbolt from 20 yards to make the scoreline emphatic.
