Thomas Hitzlsperger at last made his West Ham debut after six frustrating months for player and fans, and showed what everyone has missed by scoring a screaming opener in a 5-1 demolition of Championship side Burnley in this Fifth round FA Cup tie at Upton Park.

Further goals from Carlton Cole, a header from Winston Reid following a pinpoint corner from Hitzlsperger, and a late strike from Freddie Sears sealed a win that looked easier on paper than it sometimes was to watch. Certainly going forward the Hammers can look every inch a solid Premiership side but at the back.... oh dear! Burnley can probably run them pretty close.

In fact, it was Burnley who made most of the early running at Upton Park with Ross Wallace providing a chance for Jay Rodriguez that the Burnley forward lifted over Green with Reid clearing. Green then tipped over a Rodriguez's lob although it did seem that the player fouled Reid first. With the excellent Chris Eagles looking confident in possession, Burnley were now stroking the ball around and you could feel the frustration growing within the Boleyn just before Hitzlsperger unleashed a superb 25-yard shot after 23 minutes that flew past Lee Grant to settle the nerves. You could almost sense that the Hammers felt that this was now their evening and only they could gift Burnley the chance of getting back into it and, of course, this being West Ham they did try just before half-time as the visitors mounted pressure, creating chances on the flanks that the Hammer's full-backs struggled to deal with. However, the defence stood firm for a 1-0 half-time lead..

If the home side could count themselves lucky to be ahead at the break that was all to change within five minutes of the restart. Firstly, a blatantly off-side Carlton Cole found himself without a raised flag in his eye-line and bore down on goal without conviction, his second and third touch were poor and the ball was smothered by the keeper rushing out, with Cole lying prostrate on the ground. Then comedy took over. Cole lashed out with his leg to send the loose ball flying into the net - probably a better contact than he'd had when he'd been standing up. As the Hammers faithful smiled at the two goal lead and the frustrating form of Cole, the other Carlton raised his head; this time staying on-side, superbly controlling the ball in one touch and smashing home with his second. It was superb stuff and made you remember why the striker was on the fringes of the England team just over a year ago.

Coles' second goal came just 90 seconds after his first and three goals to the good, West Ham now began stroking the ball around and playing keep. When Reid headed in Hitz's corner - West Ham scoring from a corner? Is that allowed? - just on the hour, Burnley's task was just not to be humiliated. They did that pretty well mainly due to the Hammers understandably easing off, and also because Wayne Bridge can only kick with one leg and made a stupid pass to Rob Green from all of three yards that the keeper could only kick against Mears for Rodriguez to turn in from close range to make it 4-1.

However, with Burnley looking for some restored pride and West Ham content to play the game out, excitement came in the closing seconds as substitute Chris Iwekumo - a man famous only for throwing up all over a new suit I'd worn only once (email me for details!) - got in a shot that somehow Reid managed to head onto the bar and post for Green to collect. From the resulting throw, seconds later, Freddie Sears found space to make it 5-1.

So, away to Stoke in the 6th Round, another quarter-final for cup king Avram Grant and also the possibility of imagining that his side may escape relegation if the likes of Hitzlesperger and Ba continue their good form. The problem is that it's not up-front where the Hammer's issues lie and there were surely elements of this game that West Ham's next league opponents, Liverpool, will be rubbing their hands over gleefully. Still, a win's a win's a win and this must do wonders for the confidence.

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