Man City v Burnley december 2014

Talk about a game of two halves! For the first 45 minutes City played quite well and we saw some nice football and they were well worth their two goal lead. Second half we were rubbish first conceding a soft goal right after half time and then letting Burnley equalize with ten minutes to go. With Chelsea dropping two points at Southampton earlier it was a great opportunity for City to add to their nine wins in a row and cut back Chelsea's lead. When Fernandinho cracked in City's second goal it looked cut and dried and the three points were for the taking. However Burnley had a spot of luck with their first goal.as the shot by Ings was deflected ever so slightly by Boyd who was actually in an offside position but the officials failed in their duty and it was game on! Nasri might have put the match safe shortly after but for a good save by Heaton but then City lost heart and purpose. Burnley had some good chances before they equalized and the City defence and midfield gave the ball away too often in dangerous areas. While Silva who had been magical in the first half adding to his recent goal tally he seemed to tire in the second half and he lacked support by his colleagues.
It had been a golden chance and though Silva had notched his 4th goal in three games and Fernandinho had scored a great first goal of the season City failed to reproduce their recent good form in both halves.Was it the mysterious absence of Yaya Toure or the fact that Hart ( captain for the day) lost the toss and we were kicking the wrong way in the first half ( note that in the Stoke, Moscow and Newcastle home defeats we also started the 'wrong way')

The big surprise was the complete absence of Toure. Jovetic was on the bench Milner continuing to lead the line

Burnley brought very good support with them

Demichelis has a shot blocked following an early corner

Hart has to make an early catch at a free kick

On 13 minutes a good run and cross by Navas ends with Milner shooting over from close range

A cross by Trippier is just missed by Barnes

Kolarov looks very peeved as he is fouled by Barnes

On 18 minutes Marney has a shot but it is easily saved by Hart

On 22 minutes Navas crosses to Silva who collects the ball........

........and swivels and shoots in one fluid motion.......

.....and the ball flashes past the keeper and City are one up

Burnley did fight back and the City defence were kept busy

City continue to keep pressure on the Burnley goal

After 33 minutes Nasri attacks and passes .....

....to Fernandinho who cracks the ball into the Burnley goal off the crossbar

It was his first goal of the season and the sun shone for City - two up

City continued to dominate and Heaton was kept busy

Fernando is shown the yellow card for a foul

Just before half time Zabaleta is injured following a collision

Zabaleta has to have treatment for a cut head and at half time City lead two nil

Right after the interval a shot from Ings headed towards Boyd and he just touched the ball.....

...and he deflected it past Hart into the goal with the City players appealing for offside which was not given

Mangala is foiled at a corner

Ings has a chance as he breaks away but City manage to clear

On 55 minutes Nasri has a good effort saved well by Heaton

Burnley continue to attack and Hart is kept busy

Jovetic -on for Milner has a shot blocked

On 81 minutes Barnes hits a good effort towards goal

...and alas it beats Joe Hart and Burnley have scored - two each - unbelievable!

The visiting fans cant believe their luck !

A Jovetic shot is saved by the keeper

near to full time Burnley win a free kick which fortunately for City is cleared and the game ends as a draw and City's winning run is finished