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As promised Steve Cotterill rung the changes with only the two full backs from Saturday, Michael Duff and Stephen Jordan, named in the starting line up. We went with a 4-5-1 formation until just a few minutes after half time with Ade up front, but he was never in with a chance as we struggled in the midfield throughout.
Kyle Lafferty, who had looked so good on the left against West Brom, was disappointing on the right, whilst John Spicer and Steve Jones will have to be less than happy with their individual performances, I thought they both had shockers.
It all got off to a very tame start and neither side came close to threatening in the opening exchanges. With the Clarets defending the away end, most eyes were on David Unsworth who on more than one occasion brought applause with stirring challenges. One on the ineffective Isaiah Rankin was, shall we say, full blooded to put it mildly.
So poor was the play, as the Clarets played an entirely different system and played the ball long too often, that for much of the first half both goalkeepers could have stayed in the dressing room. But in the last few minutes of the half both of them were called into action eventually with former Blackpool keeper Phil Barnes making a good save down to his right.
No goals at half time was about right and we hoped that the Clarets would step it up in the second half. However, it was Grimsby who took the game to us and for a short period had us under some pressure and they came close to taking the lead with an effort that came back off the post.
We needed to change things, and change things we did with both Robbie Blake and Andy Gray introduced. It brought with it our best spell of the night during which we really should have won the game. Almost immediately we put Grimsby under pressure and as Gray got clear down the left only a wild challenge from the onrushing goalkeeper brought the move to an end.
With Burnley fans screaming for the former Blackpool stopper to be sent off referee Oliver, who had a decent game, made the correct decision and showed him the yellow card. Had he been sent off then who knows what might have happened, from the free kick he made his best save of the night to deny a superb effort from Alan Mahon.
The away crowd got going, and we started to play. Grimsby's goal led a charmed life, but not for long enough. We didn't get the all important goal and they eventually turned it round and more than got back into the game themselves, and two late saves from Jensen was needed to keep us in the tie and take it into extra time.
Only six minutes into extra time and Grimsby took what really was a deserved lead. Whether Jensen was at fault was difficult to determine from the other end, but even if he was then he more than made up for it with a brilliant save soon afterwards. A long range strike looked certain to hit the net in the top corner but somehow the Beast got to it and got enough on it to tip it onto the bar.
We had much to thank him for, but even so we really looked a beaten side. Thankfully, in the second half of extra time we fought back. Robbie played the ball in for Andy Gray and he hit home comfortably. There was to be no grand finish though, but we were thankful to go to penalties.
I was told we had a good record in shoot outs, certainly this is the third one Jensen has faced and we'd won the other two. I was also aware that, although I'm still to see us win a league game at Grimsby, I've never seen us lose a cup tie.
Robbie went first, scored, 1-0 to Burnley. Ciaran Toner got his spot kick closer to the North Sea than the goals but Jon Harley's was saved comfortably. Still 1-0. They scored and it was 1-1 after two penalties each.
Andy Gray made no mistake for 2-1 and then Jensen saved well from Nick Fenton. When Alan Mahon blasted in the next one we were almost home and dry. Grimsby scored their fourth to keep themselves in it but James O'Connor stepped up and simply hammered his home and we were through.
Penalty shoot outs are good fun on television when it is two neutral teams, but to be honest I can quite do without them when it is Burnley. Still we won it, we're through, and our name's in the draw tomorrow but you'll not see Preston, Southampton, Stoke, Colchester, Crystal Palace or Ipswich.
That means we'll be seeded, so a good home draw, win it and then we're in with the big boys. If we do that, then the hardly entertaining evening at Blundell Park will have been worthwhile.
The teams were;
Grimsby: Phil Barnes, Ryan Bennett, Justin Whittle, Nick Fenton, Tom Newey, Peter Till (Peter Bore 111), Danny Boshell, Paul Bolland, James Hunt (Gary Jones 74), Ciaran Toner, Isaiah Rankin (Danny North 58). Subs not used: Gary Montgomery, Jamie Clarke
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Stephen Foster, Michael Duff, David Unsworth (Jon Harley 90), Stephen Jordan, Kyle Lafferty (Robbie Blake 64), John Spicer, James O'Connor, Alan Mahon, Steve Jones, Ade Akinbiyi (Andy Gray 65). Subs not used: Wade Elliott, Besart Berisha
Referee: Clive Oliver
Attendance: 2,431