Burnley 1-1 Manchester City: League Leaders Held After Raheem Sterling Misses Glorious Chance

Burnley 1-1 Manchester City: League Leaders Held After Raheem Sterling Misses Glorious Chance
14:44, 03 Feb 2018

Burnley became just the fourth side to take points from Manchester City this season, claiming a draw against all the odds in this encounter with the runaway Premier League leaders.

City had dominated the game in typical fashion, taking an early lead through Danilo’s unstoppable effort from a well-worked short corner, but Sean Dyche’s team were able to disrupt the flow of the game in the second half, conceding a number of set pieces which affected the visitors’ rhythm.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson sent the home fans wild with his strike in the 82nd minute, getting on the end of a cross from substitute Matthew Lowton to volley past an otherwise impressive Ederson in the opposition goal.

A missed chance by Raheem Sterling may go down as the game’s turning point. Had he turned in Kyle Walker’s cross just a few yards out from a gaping goal, it would have been nigh on impossible for the home side to recover.

It was Burnley's first win in nine games, and it was one they had to fight hard for against a City team who showed some graft to go with their class, but just couldn’t take their chances when it mattered.

Pep Guardiola has spoken regularly about the rough treatment his players receive as opposition sides resort to strong-arm tactics in an attempt to halt the runaway league leaders, but at times today they dished out a some of their own.

Vincent Kompany was back in the heart of the City defence, and careered somewhat clumsily into Sam Vokes and then goalkeeper Nick Pope at set pieces. While they may have been accidental collisions, Kompany's return gave the defence more steel, and the use of Danilo at left back, as opposed to Ukrainian youngster Oleksandr Zinchenko who had appeared there in recent weeks, also added brawn to the back line.

But it was a moment of attacking prowess which saw the Brazilian full-back make a significant mark on the game. The visitors had dominated possession, skidding the ball back and forth to each other across the damp Turf Moor turf while Lancashire's distinct drizzle fell continuously. When the ball slid out for one of the 13 corners City had in the game, De Bruyne played it short to Bernardo Silva who in turn squared to Danilo who was lurking just inside him. The right-footed left back used the angle and the time he was given to curl his shot into the top corner past the outstretched Pope.

Both the home side's first-half chances arrived at Ben Mee. His first, a volley from Jack Cork's deflected, looping ball over the defence, was well struck given the awkward way it fell from the sky, but City goalkeeper Ederson was on hand to show he can save shots as well as spray passes.

The centre-back's next opportunity came to him from a Charlie Taylor corner, but his header at the far post fell just wide. 

De Bruyne came into the game but couldn't quite find a final product, seeing a shot saved by Pope and a cross blocked. The Belgian was also on the receiving end of one of the most cynical fouls of the weekend when Cork held his arm as he tried to break.

The City dominance grew in the second half, and a string of well-worked corners created a number of dangerous situations, but they couldn’t make them count. Sergio Aguero saw a shot blocked after a quick one-two with Sterling, and the Argentine returned the favour shortly after but Sterling lifted his shot over from an awkward position.

Danilo tried to repeat his trick from the first half, with Burnley having not learned their lesson, but this time Pope was able to tip the ball over the bar.

A spate of set pieces came the way of the visitors as the game approached the hour mark. Throw-ins, corners, and free kicks were regularly taken as Burnley could only block shots or clear balls out of play to relieve the pressure.

But then, Burnley’s chances began to arrive. They won their own free kick in a dangerous area when Lennon was felled by Ilkay Gundogan. All they needed was one goal to restore parity despite the dominance of the opposition when it came to possession, but Taylor’s inswinging cross from the right agonisingly evaded the head of Mee and drifted out for a goal kick.

Then came an even rarer opportunity from open play. Kompany’s sloppy pass presented possession to the home side, but just as they thought they’d broken the barricades, the last line of defence halted them. Cork laid the ball on for the speeding Lennon but his shot was diverted onto the bar by Ederson’s excellent save.

Sterling missed the glorious chance to double his side’s lead shortly after. Walker put the ball on a plate for his compatriot who could only spoon the ball the wrong side of the post from a couple of yards out. Walker kicked the advertising hoardings in frustration at the missed chance, while Sterling lay on the ground, unsure of how he’d managed to evade the goal.

Burnley sensed luck may be on their side, and Lennon tried his again but sent his shot over. 18-year-old Brahm Diaz replaced Sterling to the amusement of the home crowd who taunted the winger as he left the pitch. The crowd were growing on confidence, just as their team were.

This momentum came to a head when Lowton picked out the onrushing Gudmundsson at the far post, and his volley from close range was too powerful for Ederson.

Burnley hung on for the draw and even had a couple of further chances to attack and waste some time as the game petered out. Guardiola was expecting one of the toughest away games so far this season and he wasn’t disappointed by Dyche’s Burnley, though he may be unhappy with a few of his own players, Sterling in particular.

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