Manchester City Put Five Past Burnley Again

Burnley are rapidly becoming one of those teams which Manchester City would relish playing every week

This is the second time we have played them at the Etihad Stadium this season and so far we have scored 10 goals against them and conceded none. This time out Burnley seemed to come with a much changed line up, as though they figured playing a second string team would deliver a better outcome. This was never going to end well for Burnley.

Tactically Burnley were engaged in a series of damage limitation exercises from kick off. It was like they had watched our recent games against Rotherham and Burton Albion and just feared a worse outcome. Burnley were a shadow of a Premier League side, outclassed in their attacking intent by League One sides.

More from Domestic Cups

• The FA Cup 1904; Manchester City’s First Trophy Ever
• Manchester City Bow Out of the Carabao Cup
• No, Man City’s EPL Match Against Chelsea Is Not a Champions League Dress Rehearsal
• Man City’s Carabao Victory Can be a Catalyst for the End of Their Season
• Why the European Super League is going to end Football

Usually when City play a team who set up with eleven men behind the ball, once they go a goal behind they change their approach. Usually those sides become more cavalier as they search for an equaliser. But that did not happen to Burnley. They stayed in shape and sat with eleven men behind the ball even when conceding the second, third, fourth and even fifth goals.

City set up with a number of changes in their starting eleven. Danilo was at left back and Walker was at right back. Stones and Otamendi shared central defensive duties and Fernandinho sat in just in front. Kevin De Bruyne and Gundogan busied across the midfield. Bernardo was notionally on the wing and swapping roles with Mahrez, whilst Jesus patrolled the centre forward positions.

The first goal came after some good work as City poked and pulled at Burnley, looking for an opening. De Bruyne launched some wonderful passes, which did not quite come off. The goal came after some good play by Danilo who released Jesus. Jesus dribbled and spun with the ball, creating space for a shot.

The second goal came from Bernardo who struck a sweet shot which went through Nick Pope, the Burnley goalkeeper like he was made of butter. The third goal was textbook De Bruyne who hit a shot so hard and straight, it could have continued like in a cartoon. The fourth was an own goal from an unfortunate Long who then went on to foul Bernardo to give away a penalty, which was dispatched by Aguero.

City could and should have had more, but too often they squandered chances, too often moves broke down, not through the pressing of Burnley but through carelessness. Nevertheless there was little to complain about in this performance. City are through to the next round of the FA Cup and we all eagerly await the draw. If only we could draw Burnley again.