City 2 Burnley 1
January 2nd 2017 att.54,463
Despite having to play with ten men since the 32nd minute City managed to beat Burnley and move temporally back to third. A tackle by Ferdinand that would have hardly got a free kick in Sam Barkas' day earned a red card from referee Mason who I am afraid lost the plot in this game .He dished out 7 yellow cards and he was certainly not a favorite with the crowd.
Things did not look good at half time with City down to ten men and they had already missed two good chances to take the lead. At the interval Pep brought on Aguero and Silva and what a difference this pair made. On 58 minutes Clichy scored a goal with his right foot - his first for City in the league since November 2014 - away to Southampton. A minute later Aguero scored a great goal from the narrowest of angles and it looked good for a while. However Burnley scored a controversial goal at a corner when it looked like Bravo was fouled and the referee had to rely on the decision review system to tell him the ball had actually crossed the line. City had played better with just ten men than with eleven - raising their game after the poor display at Liverpool
With building work going on the players came out from a different entrance while the photographers all waited at the usual one! City made four changes from the Liverpool game but it was a surprise to see both Silva and Aguero on the bench.
Burnley brought a lot of support with them
On 6 minutes Iheanacho had a great chance but Heaton saved at his feet
When the ball ran free Heaton then made a good save from Sterling
A minute or so later Iheanacho had another shot but he curled it wide
Barnes is brought down by Otamendi and has a chat with the referee
A few minutes later Fernandinho brings down Boyd at the edge of the penalty area
The wall blocks the free kick
This looks promising as City counter attack
..but Navas messes up his cross and the ball is cleared
This time Navas does manage to get the ball across to Toure and Heaton is forced into a good save pushing the ball for a corner
A shot from long range by De Bruyne goes wide
City have to clear a Burnley corner
Hendrick keeps an eye on Toure
Iheanacho has an effort blocked
Oh dear Fernandinho is in trouble!
It's a red card and City are down to ten men after just 32 minutes
I think the City players feel Gudmundsson exaggerated the foul
Bravo saves at the feet of Keane
A shot from Barnes goes well wide
Bravo has an easy save to make
Kevin appeals for a foul - not given
Referee Mason says 'I'm the ref!!!'
I hope these people in the aircraft flying over at half time had a good view!
There were corners to be cleared at both ends as the second half got under way
Aguero was soon in action
Did Mee block this shot from Sterling with his arm !
Aguero just failed to get control of the ball when well positioned
Bravo beats Barnes to the ball
De Bruyne has a shot that goes too high and wide
Sagna just about to cross after a pass from
Kevin De Bruyne
The ball is headed clear but only to the incoming Clichy who beats a defender and shoots into the corner to give City the lead
So the ten men take the lead and the South Stand rejoice
The players congratulate Clichy on his third ever goal for City
Bravo has some work to do
City break with Kevin on the ball.........
The ball comes to Sterling who claims a penalty as the keeper tackles him....
The ball runs clear to Aguero who shoots from a narrow angle past the defender on the line ......
The South Stand go mad as Aguero celebrates his eleventh league goal of the season
So ten men City go two up after 62 minutes - great stuff!
Kolarov heads clear at a corner
Bravo fails to catch another corner
Vokes appears to foul Bravo and then Otamendi has to try and clear......
City appeal and the ref consults the linesman
The Burnley fans wonder if they have scored
The ref appeared to give a goal but it is not clear what happened
After a few minutes the episode ended with a goal to Burnley and yellow cards for Sagna and Kolarov!
Clichy has to concede a corner
Aguero has a chance but his shot is blocked
Keane gets a yellow card for a foul on De Bruyne
Bravo has to tip a shot over the bar as added time starts
City win a free kick for a foul on Silva
Gray gets a card for a foul on Kolarov
The two managers shake hands as the final whistle goes
There is no truth in the rumor that Moonchester and Moonbeam are going to give tackling lessons
Bravo 6: Sagna 7.5, Otamendi 7, Kolarov 6.5, Clichy 7: Fernandinho 4, Toure 7: Navas 5 (Silva 7.5) De Bruyne 7, Sterling 7 ( Stones) Iheanacho 6.5 (Aguero 8)
