Hart '“ Linesman apologised to me for switching off

Joe Hart conceded that it was a far from perfect day as the former Manchester City goalkeeper returned to the Etihad Stadium for the first time since his departure.
Burnley's Joe Hart

Photographer Rich Linley/CameraSport

The Premier League - Manchester City v Burnley - Saturday 20th October 2018 - The Etihad - Manchester

World Copyright © 2018 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - admin@camerasport.com - www.camerasport.comBurnley's Joe Hart

Photographer Rich Linley/CameraSport

The Premier League - Manchester City v Burnley - Saturday 20th October 2018 - The Etihad - Manchester

World Copyright © 2018 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - admin@camerasport.com - www.camerasport.com
Burnley's Joe Hart Photographer Rich Linley/CameraSport The Premier League - Manchester City v Burnley - Saturday 20th October 2018 - The Etihad - Manchester World Copyright © 2018 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - [email protected] - www.camerasport.com

The 31-year-old, who made 348 appearances for the Citizens in all competitions, was given a warm welcome on his return but the experience was soured by the result.

The former England international, who vented his frustration by striking the upright when Leroy Sane netted the home side’s fifth, said: “There is a feeling of frustration in my chest right now.

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“The crowd reaction was nice but I came here as a Burnley player, it was far from a perfect day.”

Hart, who had a pitch named in his honour at the £200m Etihad Campus, also found it difficult to digest the admission of officials post match after City had netted a controversial second.

A catalogue of errors from referee Jonathan Moss and his team allowed Bernardo Silva to convert David Silva’s cross.

Fernandinho scored City’s third soon after, turning a slender scoreline in to an unassailable lead for Pep Guardiola’s side.

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Replays suggested that Spaniard Silva was in an offside position when assisting Bernardo while the ball had already travelled out of play.

“The linesman apologised for switching off, but that’s huge, it’s hard to take,” said Hart.

“I appreciate the human side but he apologised so he must be pretty clear it went out.”