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In truth they are just two places behind us in the Football League, they've got a 100% record so far this season and this was surely expected to make it a difficult evening for us, but that didn't happen and a first half Chris McCann goal and a brace from Martin Paterson in the second half led to that convincing win and by the final whistle the scoreline certainly didn't flatter us.
Owen Coyle had hinted at changes ahead of the game but he went with the same eleven who started the draw at Crystal Palace and the same five subs with Alan Mahon and new loan signing Russell Anderson added to take the compliment of substitutes up to the permitted seven.
You need a bright start in these games and we got it. Both Paterson and McCann went close in the opening exchanges and with just twelve minutes gone it was the hugely impressive McCann who gave us the lead. Chris Eagles played a delightful ball out to Wade Elliott and the winger did what he does best, getting in a superb cross. McCann was there on the end of it to head home.
It certainly wasn't one way traffic, and Oldham had their moments, but we were the better side and McCann came so close to double ours and his goal tally. He played the ball to Paterson and went for the return only to see his right foot shot go just wide of goal.
A goal up at half time and we were definitely worth it, and whilst the teams were in the dressing rooms it was Andy Lochhead who came out to make the half time draw. I always like the idea of having an ex-Claret who has also played for the opposition and it was good to see Andy receiving a warm reception from the Latics fans in the (now repaired) cricket field stand which I can confirm had no one on the roof.
If we did well in the first half then I think we did even better in the second half. We made a couple of substitutions just before the hour and about five minutes later we put the result beyond Oldham when we got the second. In so many ways it was like the second at Bury as Paterson got onto the rebound after an Eagles shot was saved. This time Eagles run towards goal but as a defender got in he deflected his effort. Goalkeeper Fleming could only get a hand to it and there was Paterson on hand to slot the ball home.
I've just said to someone that centre forwards like this are worth their weight in gold. Willie Irvine did it, Payts did it, Own Coyle will tell us he did it, and now we've got Pato getting on the end of rebounds. Anyone who does that will score goals aplenty.
To be fair Oldham caused us one or two problems but when they did get through our defence they found Brian Jensen very much in form. He made two good saves, from two of the three substitutes who came on together to ensure we kept that all important second clean sheet.
And with just ten minutes to go came the icing on our Carling Cup cake with the third goal. A ball was played up to Paterson, he turned to lay it into the path of Joey Gudjonsson who in returned the ball for the striker to notch his second and fourth in this season's competition.
There was just one more chance and the whole ground (well, cricket field end apart) were willing it to go in as Pato went with inches of getting his first Burnley hat trick. It hit the post but it didn't matter anyway, the flag had gone up for offside.
So 3-0 last year with goals from Gray, Blake and Akinbiyi and this year 3-0 again with goals from McCann and Paterson(2). Maybe we should invite them back next season for another go, although given their league form so far they could yet be moving up into this league.
I thought there were some very good individual performances and I am tempted to give the man of the match to Paterson for his two goals. But that for me would overlook the two most impressive performers on the night.
Graham Alexander was again in excellent form in that midfield role and did ever so well until he moved back to right back but for me Chris McCann takes the plaudits. When he plays like this you can see just why Coyle speaks so highly of him. Apart from the work he did in the midfield he scored one, went very close to a second, and three times in the second half got behind their defenders and almost got on to crosses. He impressed me all night and is a worthy man of the match.
I know it was the cup and there were no points at stake, I know it was League One opposition, but there's no denying a win and a clean sheet will have been the talking points in the dressing room after the game just as they were for us leaving the ground.
Now we need to take that into Saturday's game against Plymouth and get that first league win of the season before the first international break.
The teams were;
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff (Robbie Blake 58), Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Christian Kalvenes, Graham Alexander, Wade Elliott, Kevin McDonald (Joey Gudjonsson 58), Chris McCann (Alan Mahon 10), Chris Eagles, Martin Paterson. Subs not used: Diego Penny, Russell Anderson, Stephen Jordan, Ade Akinbiyi.
Oldham: Greg Fleming, Neal Eardley, Kelvin Lomax, Stefan Stam, Reuben Hazell, Mark Allott, Kevin Maher (Kieran Lee 68), Dan Whitaker, Deane Smalley (Lewis Alessandra 68), Chris Taylor, Chris O'Grady (Lee Hughes 67). Subs not used: Mark Crossley, Dale Stephens, Jean-Paul Kalala, Andy Liddell.
Referee: Andy Penn (West Midlands).
Attendance: 5,528.