Project False Start as Burnley are thumped at Manchester City

It was more Project False Start as Burnley endured a miserable night on and off the pitch at the Etihad.
Riyah Mahrez makes it 2-0Riyah Mahrez makes it 2-0
Riyah Mahrez makes it 2-0

The longest unbeaten run in the Premier League fell for the second time in five days to City, who ran riot against the depleted Clarets.

The night was marred, however, by a plane hovering around the stadium before kick-off, carrying the banner 'White Lives Matter Burnley' just as the players took a knee for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The club moved swiftly and firmly, promising life bans for those responsible.

On the pitch, three first half goals, in a half City dominated in terms of possession, without creating many chances, were enough to put the Clarets on the back foot.

And the hosts moved to within 20 points of leaders Liverpool, adding a fourth shortly after the restart, before going nap for the third-successive home game against Burnley.

The Clarets' hopes of becoming only the fourth side to win at both Manchester clubs in a Premier League season looked distant before the teams were announced.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Pep Guardiola could make eight changes from the side that beat Arsenal 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium last Wednesday, while Sean Dyche was without the services of Jeff Hendrick, Phil Bardsley, Joe Hart and Aaron Lennon, whose contracts expire at the end of June.

He couldn't even fill the bench, with four untried youngsters named, and two keepers.

It didn't bode well, and unless there is a dramatic change of heart for those out of contract, Dyche could have to muddle through the remaining eight games with a severely-depleted squad.

But, as so often happens, Dyche cajoled a good performance from his men in the first half, in which they restricted City to little in the way of clear-cut chances.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was 15 minutes before the hosts had a shot in anger, right back Joao Cancelo firing well over from distance.

Within a minute, Bernardo Silva slashed a right-foot effort wide from David Silva's pass.

Burnley grew in confidence on the ball, with Jack Cork impressing, and Dwight McNeil giving Cancelo problems, but midway through the half, City midfielder Phil Foden collected a short corner on the edge of the area and drilled a left-foot shot right in the corner, beyond Nick Pope's left hand.

Burnley continued to compete well, with Pope not stretched.

That changed shortly before the break as Riyad Mahrez controlled a raking pass from Fernandinho and bamboozled Charlie Taylor before beating Pope right-footed inside the far corner .

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And it was game over in injury time, as an extremely harsh VAR call adjudged Ben Mee to have fouled Sergio Aguero, and Mahrez slotted past Pope's right hand again from the spot.

City added a fourth seven minutes after the restart, as their passing carousel started to mesmerise, Foden's reverse pass picking out Bernardo, whose low ball was forced home by David Silva.

Foden added a fifth, firing in at the far post after Gabriel Jesus flicked on Bernardo's centre, and that was the end of the scoring as Burnley managed to keep City out for the remainder, while handing young striker Max Thompson a moment he will never forget, coming on for his senior bow as a late sub for Matej Vydra.