The FA Cup may be low on Graeme Souness' list of priorities but his Blackburn side still strolled through to a fourth-round encounter with Millwall with ease.

Barnsley had threatened an upset in the 1-1 draw at Oakwell but it was a different story at Ewood Park as a virtually second-string Blackburn side outclassed the visitors from the First Division.

With Blackburn already in the semi-finals of the Worthington Cup and Premiership survival uppermost in their minds, Souness could afford to take a risk in his team selection and made no less than eight changes from the side which thumped Charlton 4-1 at the weekend.

It was something of a gamble, as Barnsley were unbeaten in the last eight games under Steve Parkin, but it paid off as Corrado Grabbi, David Dunn - from the spot - and Nils-Eric Johansson put Rovers in control.

There was a brief flurry of activity after Bruce Dyer pulled a goal back for the Tykes, but there was never any danger of a comeback.

Rovers dominated from the whistle and early on Mark Hughes saw a sweetly-struck shot saved low down by Kevin Miller.

The Wales manager then attempted a spectacular volley from distance which dropped just wide of the goal with Miller looking more than a little concerned.

After 22 minutes, with Barnsley scarcely having had a sniff of a chance, Mike Sheron produced something special to leave Rovers grateful to Alan Kelly.

Sheron connected with Dave Mulligan's cross from the left of the box with a side volley that Kelly just managed to tip pat the post.

On the half-hour, Blackburn finally made their superior expertise count. The only surprise was that the scorer was Grabbi, who had spent most of the first 30 minutes adjusting his hair instead of making runs.

There was no doubting the quality of the goal, though. Hughes played in Lucas Neill and he poked the ball across goal to Grabbi who turned well and hammered a rising shot past Miller.

It was only his second goal since moving from Ternana to Ewood Park in the summer for £6.75million and with Andy Cole available for the fourth round his chances of an FA Cup run look limited.

With nine minutes of the half remaining Sheron squandered a chance to equalise. A hopeful ball into the edge of the area was missed by Martin Taylor - who otherwise had an exemplary match - and Sheron found himself 15 yards out in front of goal. Sadly for Barnsley, he placed his shot the wrong side of the post.

If that chance was golden, Grabbi then missed one which was platinum-edged by comparison. Hughes embarked on a tremendous surging charge into the box, Rovers were queuing up on the far-post but Grabbi sliced wide from close in.

On the stroke of half-time, Rovers another Neill run into the box was halted illegally by Chris Morgan and Dunn slid the penalty kick low to Miller's left.

In the opening exchanges of the second half Chris Barker flicked a header from Darren Barnard's free-kick over the bar, and there was a feeling Barnsley had passed up any chance of getting back into the match.

That feeling was confirmed shortly afterwards when Rovers won a free-kick of their own in a similar position on the left. Blackburn's movement before Craig Hignett took the kick completely flummoxed Barnsley and centre-back Johansson found himself with time to plant a good-looking header into the corner of the net from 14 yards out.

Barnsley did make a fight of it when Dyer pulled a goal back in the 65th minute. The striker did well to win the ball in a tussle 30 yards out, advanced and drove in a shot which flicked off Taylor and over Kelly to make it 3-1.

There were half-chances at either end afterwards, but Rovers always looked comfortable.

More First Division opposition awaits, and though Souness may have his mind on other matters Blackburn had better be careful. At this rate they could be aiming for a cup double.

Teams:

Blackburn (2) 3 Barnsley (0) 1

Blackburn: Kelly, Curtis, Taylor, Johansson, Neill, Johnson (Tugay 77), Mahon, Dunn, Gillespie (Hignett 24), Hughes, Grabbi.

Subs Not Used: Bjornebye, Duff, Friedel.

Booked: Gillespie.

Goals: Grabbi 30, Dunn 45 pen, Johansson 49.

Barnsley: Miller, Mulligan, Chettle, Morgan, Barker, Donovan (Christie 63), Ward (Sand 75), Neil, Barnard, Dyer, Sheron (Lee Jones 79).

Subs Not Used: Regan, Marriott.

Booked: Donovan, Neil, Ward.

Goals: Dyer 65.

Att: 10,203

Ref: P Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent).