MANCHESTER CITY 5, BURNLEY 0 (FA CUP 4TH ROUND)
Pep Guardiola plays a strong team again
Only Danilo, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez retained their places from the side that played on the icy surface at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium on Wednesday.
But Pep Guardiola still managed to spring a tactical surprise with Bernardo Silva coming into the side to play on the right wing and Mahrez stationed wide on the left either side of Gabriel Jesus.
And Burnley made several changes, with their bench laden with first team talent.
Never mind VAR delays – referee demands a new corner flag
Just 10 minutes of the contest had elapsed when there was a stoppage but it wasn’t for VAR. Kyle Walker had scythed the corner flag down, destroying the post it was attached to, trying to get a cross in.
There was almost 3 minutes delay which kept the crowd entertained while a member of City’s ground staff replaced the broken flag staff.
Burnley unambitious
Pep Guardiola’s ‘second string’ was clearly stronger that Burnley’s, but with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer watching there was little in the way of attacking intent from Sean Dyche’s team who have the small matter of a trip to Old Trafford in the Premier League coming up on Tuesday.
Burnley lined up in a 5-4-1 formation and were undone early by Danilo’s defence splitting pass. Matej Viydra almost capitalised on a City error early in the second half but Ederson came off his line and forced the Czech to shoot early and his shot went into the side netting.
From a possible 1-1 scoreline, City accelerated away with 2 goals in less than 10 minutes effectively knocking the Clarets out of the FA Cup before additional late goals put the tie to bed.
Manchester City back in form and back in the goals
Manchester City have now scored 28 goals without reply in the last 6 games and have players like Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, and Gabriel Jesus coming back into form after injury layoffs to step into the team.
But for some good saves by Nick Pope, Burnley may have conceded more from City’s attacks which became even more frequent in the second half.
Pep Guardiola can pick form players from an almost full strength squad which bodes well for a difficult fixture packed run ahead of them.
Tactical substitutions to rest players for Manchester City
Fernandinho, Manchester City’s captain for the day, didn’t have an eyecatching game.
He did his usual shift in the engine room but it was notable that, with the game won, he was Pep Guardiola’s first choice for a rest despite not playing a part in the Burton game in midweek.
And when Kevin Long put through his own goal in the 73rd minute the game was up for Burnley.
City have a trip to Newcastle United on Tuesday and three points in the Premier League to keep pace with Liverpool will have been far more important than more goals.
Sergio Aguero managed to get a late penalty against the Clarets after he came on though.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 5, Burnley 0 (FA Cup 4th Round)
Ederson: 7. Came off his line quickly to close down Matej Vydra after a mistake by Nicolas Otamendi forcing the Czech to shoot early and into the side netting.
Kyle Walker: 6. Scythed down the corner flag adding to a three minute delay while it was replaced, then did the same to Steven Defour to earn an early booking.
John Stones: 6. Put a header wide from a De Bruyne corner. Solid performance against a relatively unambitious Burnley side.
Nicolas Otamendi: 6. Transfer rumours surrounding the Argentine, he passed the ball out of play early on but in the second half a bad touch while taking the ball out of defence gifted the Matej Vydra a free shot on goal which he put into the side netting.
Danilo: 7. Tested Pope early with a shot from the edge of the box and then put in a defence splitting pass to release Gabriel Jesus for his early goal. His through ball into the area drew a penalty when Kevin Long fouled David Silva as he tried to reach it.
Fernandinho: 7. Ran midfield effectively as usual. Given a rest later on with bigger games to come.
Kevin De Bruyne: 9. Getting his match fitness back, almost grabbed an early goal with a deceptive shot early on. His pass to Ilkay Gundogan deserved a quality finish. A more routine pass in the second half gave Bernardo Silva his goal and the Balgian got his own deserved one on the hour mark, smashing in low from 20 yards out.
Ilkay Gundogan: 6. Wasteful with early chances. had a penalty claim turned down.
Riyad Mahrez: 7. On the left in the first half and fair ineffective. Switched back to the right in the second and improved – going close with a shot and laying the ball on for De Bruyne’s goal to kill off Burnley.
Bernardo Silva: 8. Deserved goal for the popular hard working midfielder after he got on the end of a Kevin De Bruyne pass in the second half
Gabriel Jesus: 8. Back in goalscoring form recently. Worked hard as usual, popping up in defence in the second half, and made his early goal today after a decisive pass by Danilo. Could have had a second but his shot was straight at Pope from the edge of the area.
David Silva (on for Fernandinho, 66): 6. Fouled for a late penalty that Sergio Aguero despatched.
Phil Foden (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 75): 6. More minutes for the young midfielder.
Sergio Aguero (on for Gabriel Jesus, 75): 6. Cold as ice to put away the penalty after David Silva had been hauled back by Kevin Long.
GOALS – Manchester City 5, Burnley 0 (FA Cup 4th Round)
Man City 1, Burnley 0: 23. Gabriel Jesus latched onto a Danilo through ball, dribbled to the byline and back out again before turning and shooting – his shot went in off Nick Pope
Man City 2, Burnley 0: 52. Kevin De Bruyne slipped the ball to Bernardo Silva as City swarmed all over Burnley. The Portuguese midfielder turned Stephen Ward and saw his shot from 12 yards out squirm away from Nick Pope and into the Burnley goal.
Man City 3, Burnley 0: 61. Kevin De Bruyne smashed one low into the goal from 20 yards out after a layoff by Riyad Mahrez.
Man City 4, Burnley 0: 73. Kevin De Bruyne’s cut back was turned into his own goal by Kevin Long from 3 yards out after Bernardo Silva had put the Belgian through on the right.
Man City 5, Burnley 0: 85. Sergio Aguero’s penalty punished Burnley after Kevin Long hauled back David Silva as he tried to reach Danilo’s through ball late on
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 5, Burnley 0 (FA Cup 4th Round)
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Danilo, Fernandinho (C) (David Silva 66), De Bruyne (Foden 75), Gundogan, Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Jesus (Aguero 75)
Man City Subs not used: Muric, Sterling, Laporte, Sane
Booking: Walker 21 (Lunge on Steven Defour)
Goals: Jesus 23, Bernardo Silva 52, De Bruyne 61, Long og 73, Aguero 85 pen
Burnley: Pope, Long, Tarkowski (C), Gibson, Brady (Cork 46), Hendrick, Defour (Westwood 77), Taylor, Ward, McNeil, Vydra (Wood 62)
Burnley Subs not used: Hart, Mee, Vokes. Barnes