A much-changed Brentford cruised into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup for the fourth time in six seasons after ending Grimsby Town’s memorable run in emphatic style.
The League Two hosts caused one of the biggest shocks in EFL Cup history when they knocked out Manchester United two months ago.
Despite making nine changes, Brentford showed their Premier League class and turned on the style to score five.
Having also knocked out Premier League rivals Bournemouth and Aston Villa in the competition, they are just two rounds from a first major cup final.
“The attacking play was outstanding,” said Brentford manager Keith Andrews after his side’s fourth win in five games.
“We’ve had a tough cup run – here included – with Premier League opposition.
“We want to achieve things, myself included. We want to push and be demanding of each other as possible, and see how far we can go.”
Around 8,000 Grimsby fans packed Blundell Park hoping for another night to remember, but three first-half goals put the visitors in complete control.
Long-serving midfielder Mathias Jensen swept home the first from the edge of the area in the 22nd minute before Keane Lewis-Potter’s header doubled the lead four minutes later from Reiss Nelson’s cross.
Nelson then marked his first start since joining on loan from Arsenal in September by making it 3-0 from 20 yards in the 43rd minute.
Grimsby, who followed up their victory over Manchester United by winning at Championship club Sheffield Wednesday, should have taken the lead when the game was goalless but Evan Khouri’s header was saved.
The Mariners have been full of heart and soul in this competition and were looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 40 years.
But Fabio Carvalho put the tie out of reach by scoring a 54th-minute penalty after the former Liverpool player had been fouled by Khouri, before substitute Nathan Collins headed home the fifth.
Brentford will discover their last-eight opponents on Wednesday.
