City slickers take a stroll on easy street
IT WAS an afternoon that lent credence to the argument that the FA Cup should be seeded at this stage — sending Manchester City to test their skills at Barnet or Accrington, rather than entertain a Burnley side who, frankly, could have done without the trouble.
When half time came, the loudest cheer had been for the officials who took several minutes more than they might have done trying to replace a snapped corner flag. It was the only event which took this game remotely into the realms of the unexpected.
None of which should obscure the sublime way Manchester City’s players operate out of possession — which can sometimes be overlooked. They always have players arriving.
They have an aggregate score of 28-0 in the last six matches and have regained the form which preceded their December blip.
‘We’ll see what happens in the next four, five, six games and see if we can catch them,’ said Guardiola of Premier League leaders Liverpool, last night.
City’s capacity to do so while challenging for three other trophies, is not in the remotest doubt. The depth of their squad is by far the greater of the two title challengers and this was a match which demonstrated it, with Kevin De Bruyne, this game’s outstanding presence.
There was also divinity in the pass with which the excellent right back Danilo spotted Gabriel Jesus’ diagonal run 23 minutes in and located him. The Brazilian promptly powered past Kevin Long and James Tarkowski to despatch a low shot that goalkeeper Nick Pope could only turn in off his right boot.
K y l e Wa l k e r struggled to make an i mpact. The f ul l back , restored to the side after a brief encounter with the bench during City’s rough patch, twice lost possession to Jeff Hendrick and came out second best in two aerial challenges before the game was ten minutes old.
A wild challenge on Steven Defour, taken out by the defender’s trailing leg, saw him booked. Some managers would have demanded a red card, although Sean Dyche wisely reasoned ‘if there’s a doubt, go yellow.’ There was very little else to trouble the City manager. Burnley had made seven changes to their team ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Old Trafford and dis- played no intent. The defenders t rotted slowly out when Pope gathered the ball, offering no options to counter with meaning.
Forward Matej Vydra was isolated and even when offered a giltedged chance t o score in t he opening stages of the second half, he couldn’t bury it.
Loitering on the ball as he brought it out of his own area, Danilo was burgled by the Czech who had only Ederson to beat as he advanced on goal. He could only find the sidenetting. How dearly Burnley could use a more prolific striker. Dyche says the lack of recruits so far this January does not concern him but here was another occasion when they did not muster a single shot on goal. Wood replaced Vydra just after the hour.
A flowing City advance saw Gundogan and De Bruyne shift the ball left to right, from where Bernardo Silva struck a shot which Pope could only deflect into the net.
De Bruyne put a gloss on the occasion with the afternoon’s outstanding passing exhibition — a 16-touch move starting with keeper Ederson which concluded with Gundogan laying the ball off for De Bruyne to deliver a right-foot finish.
Burnley helped City to their fourth. De Bruyne was allowed a criminal amount of space and delivered a hard, low cross which was deflected in off Long’s knee.
Other clubs would have brought on the second- tier players from such a commanding position but City sent was Sergio Aguero racing into proceedings with Phil Foden.
It was Aguero who converted the penalty to make it five after Long had manhandled David Silva to prevent him reaching a ball Pope was slow to collect.
For on-looking Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, here to scout Burnley, it was a lesson in the work to be done to match City, while Guardiola will believe he can advance beyond the semi final which is his best return in this competition. Burnley will just be relieved to return to the football that matters to them.
‘The bigger fight this season is definitely staying in the Premier League,’ said Dyche. ‘ No disrespect. It’s the priority of the club I work for.’