Manchester City Thrash Burton Albion 9:0 in Semi Final

There were some concerns before the game that Manchester City may not be at full strength with Guardiola resting key players and that Burton Albion may prove trickier opponents than Rotherham. Neither of these scenarios came to pass and instead the evening became a procession for City.

For some time on the pages of this website I have implored Manchester City to become ruthless in front of goal and to show no mercy. I have wanted to see this side click again and demonstrate that fast attacking prowess, leaving challengers battered and bruised. But in making these wishes I had not necessarily wanted to see lower league sides as whipping boys. It had not occurred to me that City’s fortuitous Cup draws would coincide with their return to form.

In my head I had wanted our form to begin to coalesce with our momentum and for us to thrash one of the title contenders, firing a warning shot that signalled to everyone that not only was the Premier League title ours to retain but that we were also feeling greedy and would plan to make this a season of quadruple honours.

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Unfortunately for Burton Albion they found themselves at the Etihad Stadium playing Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City just at the very worst moment for them. City were looking for rhythms and fitness and exploited the lack of quality in the Burton side from the off. They surged into space and began a relentless quest for goals which continued until the referee blew the full time whistle at 92 minutes.

City played with a returning intensity which bodes well for the future but served to crush Burton. To their credit they tried to hold the ball and play, and in fact their best passages in the game were where they attempted to play around our high press. They did not have the skills to pull that style off and City were like one of those snakes which coils tighter and tighter as the opponent wriggles, gradually squeezing the life out of them.

Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring with a header, which was probably a good barometer that what was to come was unusual. But first there was a fallow period – some 30 minutes where City poked and pried but could not find the back of the net. After that though, Gabriel Jesus opened the flood gates. He scored a good header and hammered a shot in off the post.

Not content with that, Zinchenko looped a goal of the season contender from distance over the flailing keeper and all of a sudden it was ominously 4:0 at half time. In the concourses of the Etihad Stadium, the fans talked about how many goals would be needed to make the game safe and whether Pep would now choose to rest key players.

Burton Albion came out early in the second half and watched as a pretty full strength City side lined up for the kick off. No substitutes. And the scoring continued.

Jesus dinked in another for his hat trick after a marvellous run and piece of skill from Leroy Sane. Foden scored his 2nd goal in a few days when he poked home from the edge of the 6 yard box. Jesus got his 4th and Walker made it 8 with 20 minutes still on the clock.

City continued to probe but rotated their side. Mahrez switched wings after Sane went off and found the space for the 9th goal.

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The crowd cheered and City searched for the elusive 10th. It was not to be and no one minded. Burton were unlucky to face City on this day and to their credit tried to play but were simply outclassed. When they were beaten they ploughed on and at no point resorted to angry tackles. City and Pep accomplished everything they set out to do. They have already earnt their place in the final and now have a dead rubber game to contend with in the second leg. They have also sent the best message possible to the rest of the League. City are back.

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