West Ham United v Burnley

West Ham United reached the FA Cup Sponsored by EON sixth-round for the first time since going all the way to the final in 2005/06 courtesy of a comfortable fifth-round victory over Championship side Burnley.

Thomas Hitzlsperger capped a sparkling full Hammers debut with a trademark long-range goal, while the Germany international midfielder also provided an assist for Winston Reid's first goal for the club with an in-swinging right-wing corner.

The 28-year-old, fittingly nicknamed 'Der Hammer' in honour of his powerful shooting and outstanding range of passing, returned from six months out with a thigh injury to slot effortlessly into Avram Grant's midfield.

Lining up alongside captain Scott Parker and the in-form Mark Noble in a three-man midfield, the trio passed and moved effortlessly against a Clarets side that had won five of their previous eight matches and reignited their own promotion hopes under new manager Eddie Howe.

The first half was an entertaining, end-to-end affair, with both teams moving the ball around neatly and at pace and looking dangerous inside their opponents' halves.

Indeed, Burnley could easily have gone ahead on 13 minutes when Reid allowed a ball to bounce inside his own penalty area, allowing Jay Rodriguez to nip in and get a shot away that Robert Green did well to tip over the crossbar.

Ross Wallace and Rodriguez then both tested the England goalkeeper before West Ham gained the ascendancy and broke the deadlock through Hitzlsperger's outstanding 25-yard effort.

The German moved past Chelsea loanee Jack Cork before unleashing a swerving, dipping drive that rocketed past goalkeeper Lee Grant and almost burst the net.

Having gone ahead, and with forwards Demba Ba, Carlton Cole and Freddie Sears also combining well, the Hammers went on to the front foot for the remainder of the opening period.

Into the second half and two goals inside the opening five minutes from Cole killed off the tie - both assisted by the creative Noble.

The first saw the No9 latch on a pass before mis-controlling the ball, challenging Grant and finally swinging his leg to send the ball past Duff and into the goal.

Two minutes later, Cole scored in more conventional fashion, taking a neat touch before lifting the ball expertly past the advancing Grant.

Shortly before the hour-mark it was 4-0 as Hitzlsperger turned provider, swinging over a fine corner that Reid glanced home with a well-taken header.

Burnley, to their credit, did not give up and were rewarded for their efforts when former Hammer Tyrone Mears charged down a Green clearance and the ball ricocheted straight to Rodriguez, who headed in from six yards.

The visitors had scored three late goals on their previous visit to the Boleyn Ground, losing a Barclays Premier League fixture 5-3 in November 2009. However, there would be no repeat of that dramatic comeback this time around.

Reid had to be at his defensive best to divert substitute Chris Iwelumo's header on to the underside of the crossbar and the inside of the post before Sears wrapped up the victory in added-time.

Replacements Jonathan Spector and Frederic Piquionne combined to release the Academy graduate, who took a touch before firing the ball high into Grant's net and send West Ham through to the last-eight.

Debutant Hitzlsperger was delighted not just with his own and the team's collective performance, but also with the rapturous welcome he received from the home supporters among a healthy Monday-night crowd.

"I have been looking forward to this for a long time," he said. "The reception I got was fantastic. I didn't expect it because I thought the fans had forgotten about me.

"The manager was speaking to me before the game about whether I would play 30 minutes or start, but I'm delighted to start with a goal and an important win for us."