Manchester City 2-0 Burnley
Well, at least it wasn’t 5-0 again!
In fairness, the gulf in resources between Manchester City and Burnley is hardly comparable, and if the Clarets had gained anything from this Premier League trip to Eastlands it would have been a bonus.
That was not to be but with meetings between these teams so often a rout, whether home or away – including 5-0 defeats on their last four visits here (in league and cup) – Burnley will probably take a 2-0 defeat, even if it extends their winless run to 11 league games, the most in any of England’s four divisions.
Highlights of the game
With forward Ferran Torres be missing for up to three months after suffering a fracture to his right foot while away with Spain, City gave a starting berth in attack to Raheem Sterling.
Another attacker, Gabriel Jesus, and goalkeeper Ederson had both began Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in the early hours of Friday morning, so they were not included.
Meanwhile, Ilkay Gundogan and Oleksandr Zinchenko were both named on the bench after injuries.
Burnley captain Ben Mee was ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19, while Matej Vydra and Charlie Taylor were also absent.
City impressed last time out with a 2-2 draw at Liverpool – a match they probably should have won – and were overwhelming favourites with the Premier League 2021betting odds for this encounter.
The Clarets had overcome the odds before mind, back in 2015 when they stunned the Sky Blues with a 1-0 win through a spectacular George Boyd strike.
My SBOTOP colleague also informs me the performances of Sean Dyche’s men have been better than their results so far this term.
In many ways then, this was a free hit given any Premier League 2021 highlights were always likely to come from the hosts.
And so it proved.
Twelve minutes was, in fact, all it took for them to lead. That’s when full-back Cancelo found Bernardo Silva who turned the ball across the area for Phil Foden. His shot was disguised and, while goalkeeper Nick Pope parried the effort, the lurking Portuguese smashed in the rebound.
While Burnley briefly threatened through a player who looks an extremely promising signing indeed – Maxwel Cornet – who raced on to Dwight McNeil’s threaded pass but shot straight at Zac Steffen, most of the attacking remained at the other end.
First Rodri scooped the ball to Riyad Mahrez only for Algerian to fluff his volley. Then the same player proved profligate, clipping the bar from close range when it seemed easier to score.
There was no stopping City from claiming the points, however, and PFA Footballer of the Year Kevin De Bruyne, sealed the victory with 20 minutes remaining when, after his initial cross cannoned back to him off Ashley Westwood, he curled a second attempt into the net with power and panache.
Job done for City, who could be even more dangerous with an out-and-out number nine.
As for Burnley, they remain in the bottom three but don’t bet them on staying there.
Key statistics
City have now won each of their last nine games against Burnley across all competitions by an aggregate scoreline of 32-1.
City have taken 31 points from a possible 33 against Burnley since losing 1-0 at Turf Moor in March 2015.
The Clarets have not won a league fixture away to City since 1963, though they did beat them at Maine Road in the Charity Shield in 1973.
Pep Guardiola’s side have kept clean sheets in five successive home league games, winning 5-0 in the first three of them.
They are the only side yet to concede a first-half goal in this season’s Premier League.
City have the division’s best defensive record, conceding three goals.
When he entered the fray as an 84th minute substitute, Fernandinho became the second Brazilian to make 250 Premier League appearances, emulating Willian (former Chelsea and Arsenal).
Burnley are without a victory in 11 league games (drawn three, lost eight), the longest current winless run in England’s top four divisions. – since winning at relegated Fulham in May.
Their longest winless streak in the Premier League spanned 12 matches between November 2009 and January 2010, while they also went 11 games without a victory from December 2017 to February 2018.
What’s next?
A quick turnaround now for City who are in Belgium to face Club Brugge on Tuesday teatime (October 19) in the Champions League and then visit Brighton on the south coast next Saturday teatime.
Burnley are also on the south coast next Saturday as they travel to Southampton.
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