Rampant Burnley showed no signs of exhaustion as they overwhelmed Nottingham Forest to record an emphatic 5-0 victory in what was their 50th game of the season.

Robbie Blake, a former Forest loanee, inspired his side to a thoroughly dominant first-half performance - scoring the first with a flighted free-kick from the left and creating the second as he threaded through for midfielder Wade Elliott to slot home.

In a season that has included valiant but ultimately unsuccessful cup runs, Burnley's solitary priority has become gaining promotion to the Barclays 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.

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.

It was the former Leeds striker's first goal in 13 games, with his last a stunning free-kick in the Clarets' dramatic 6-4 aggregate defeat to Tottenham in the Carling Cup semi-final.

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.

At this stage of the Coca-Cola 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.

Teams:

Burnley Jensen, Williams, Carlisle, Caldwell, Kalvenes, Elliott, Alexander, McCann (Gudjonsson 69), Blake (Eagles 67), Thompson (Rodriguez 8), Paterson.

Subs Not Used: Penny, McDonald.

Goals: Blake 19, Elliott 39, Carlisle 51, Rodriguez 55,

Gudjonsson 73.

Nottm Forest Smith, Chambers, Morgan, Perch, Gunter, McCleary (Garner 46), Cohen, Osbourne (McGugan 78), Tyson, McSheffrey (Thornhill 75), Earnshaw.

Subs Not Used: Gamble, Moloney.

Booked: Cohen, Garner.

Att: 13,055

Ref: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).