“It's good news!”, Pep Guardiola – 26/01/2016.
Goals; Marney (15');Aguero (37', 60')
Line Up (4-2-3-1) (match ratings in brackets);
Bravo (5)
Sagna (5.5)
Kolorov (5.5)
Otamendi (5)
Clichy (6)
Fernandhino (6.5)
Fernando (7.5)
Sterling (6.5), (Sane (6) 77')
Toure (7), (Nava (5.5) 89')
Nolito (6), (DeBruyne (5.5) 78')
Aguero (8)
Stats; Possession, 33%/67%; Shots, 10(5)/21(5); Fouls, 8/15
Referee; Andre Marriner (5.5)
The positives from the game are obvious. Burnley at home, are a difficult and persistent side to break down, as shown earlier in the season with their win against Champions Liverpool. Digging out a result at Turf Moor is, in black and white terms at least, a valuable show of character in what has been a tough week of three away games. It was also good to see two excellent performances from Toure and Aguero. Yaya for the second time in a week showing he's still a threat at this level, and Kun was in need of a goal and scored a brace and came close to a third.
It was, however, the third game on the bounce where City have failed to hit anywhere near their best form, and with the December fixture glut looming, a turn around in performances will be needed soon to maintain the title push. Of greater worry is the inability of the defence to keep a clean sheet, and perhaps the time has come to see something of the EDS players in this capacity (Maffeo in particular looked a solid prospect, and far from out of his depth, when used in the League Cup verses Trafford, and Adarabioyo is also worth a look whilst the first team centre back's continue to struggle).
It was the centre back worries which showed through early on in this game, with Otamendi perhaps lucky to not have already given away a penalty before providing the assist to Marney on 15'. Luckily Aguero was back to his poaching best as he grabbed the scrambled equaliser, scoring from close range on 37' after the ball took a deflection from the corner. From then on City looked in control but without any of the cutting edge seen when at their best.
After the break City continued to dominate possession, but with little in the way of attempts on target, until another scramble in the box led to City taking the lead. Yaya could possibly have had a penalty after ex-Blue, Ben Mee kicked him in the stomach, and then in the aftermath, Fernandinho managed to squeeze the ball over to Aguero, who again put the ball in the net from close range, 1-2.
So a welcome 3 points, and a chance to rest and recuperate for a week, before the vital six pointer verses Chelski, and hopefully a return of blistering early season form. #CTID
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
