Burnley vs. Manchester City: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League
Manchester City slipped up in the Premier League title race on Saturday, losing 1-0 at relegation-strugglers Burnley at Turf Moor.
George Boyd scored the game's only goal, a spectacular half-volley, in the 61st minute as Burnley claimed a victory that could prove vital in their bid to avoid relegation. City piled on the pressure in the closing stages but were unable to avoid a defeat that will hand leaders Chelsea a golden opportunity in the title chase.
Already trailing Chelsea by five points ahead of kick-off, the defending champions have now played two matches more than their title rivals. With wins in both of their games in hand, Jose Mourinho's side would move a massive 11 points clear with nine fixtures to go.
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Of perhaps more immediate concern, City are now just one point ahead of in-form Arsenal for second place.
The upcoming schedule offers little relief for Manuel Pellegrini's men. Up next for the Sky Blues is a trip to Barcelona on Wednesday for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie. Following a 2-1 home loss in the first leg, City have plenty of work to do if they are to advance to the quarter-finals.
After their foray into Europe this week, City return to the Premier League next Saturday with a home match against West Bromwich Albion.
Burnley, who moved up to 18th place with the win, play at Southampton the same day. The Clarets are still one point adrift of safety but could have a psychological advantage on 17th-placed Sunderland, who fell 4-0 at home to Aston Villa earlier Saturday.
Burnley made a fine start to the match and carried the majority of attacking play during the first 15 minutes. Danny Ings sent a signal of intent in the second minute, flashing a shot off target from distance, but for the most part, the Clarets were unable to turn their superiority into chances.
City began to see more of the ball as the first half progressed, but the visitors were unable to penetrate Burnley's defence. In the 25th minute, Edin Dzeko bounced a low shot well off target, failing to trouble Clarets goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
Dzeko did test Heaton in the 29th minute, forcing a good save with a low shot from a tight angle on the left. Moments later, Heaton also stopped Sergio Aguero's low drive from the edge of the box.
The match was beginning to liven up, and at the other end, Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart stopped Scott Arfield's long-range effort in the 30th minute. Four minutes later, intricate build-up play by City ended with Aguero blasting wide of the near post from a tight angle.
With the match still scoreless at half-time, the first chance of the second half fell to City in the 52nd minute. Right-back Pablo Zabaleta played provider, working to the byline on the right before pulling back into the middle for Aguero, who shot just wide. At the other end, Boyd volleyed narrowly off target after Ings knocked down a high ball into the box.
After an hour of scoreless football, the opener finally arrived in the 61st minute—and the goal was worth the wait. Kieran Trippier started the sequence with a free-kick lofted into the box. City centre-back Vincent Kompany headed clear, but only as far as Boyd, who lashed a half-volley into the bottom corner with spectacular precision.
City quickly made their first substitution, bringing on Wilfried Bony for Dzeko in the attack. The visitors had a half-chance to equalise in the 66th minute, but Fernandinho volleyed over from a corner.
The visitors broke forward at pace in the 76th minute, with Aguero picking out Bony in a dangerous position along the edge of the box. Bony cut inside before shooting on goal, but his strike flew too close to Heaton, who saved comfortably.
City came close again in the 81st minute, when Yaya Toure picked out Aguero with a cross to the back post. Aguero had slipped behind his marker to win a free header, but the Argentinian sent the ball well over the bar.
As the match reached stoppage time, City appealed for a penalty as Ben Mee felled Zabaleta in the box. Referee Andre Marriner declined to award a spot kick, instead awarding a free-kick to the hosts.
That turned out to be City's final sight of goal, and after four minutes of stoppage time, Burnley were able to celebrate a famous win at Turf Moor.
Grades
| Tom Heaton | 7 |
| Kieran Trippier | 8 |
| Michael Duff | 8 |
| Jason Shackell | 8 |
| Ben Mee | 8 |
| George Boyd | 9 |
| Scott Arfield | 7 |
| David Jones | 7 |
| Ashley Barnes | 7 |
| Sam Vokes | 7 |
| Danny Ings | 7 |
| Stephen Ward (for Vokes, 87) | No rating |
| Steven Reid (for Ings, 90') | No rating |
| Joe Hart | 6 |
| Pablo Zabaleta | 7 |
| Vincent Kompany | 6 |
| Martin Demichelis | 6 |
| Gael Clichy | 6 |
| Jesus Navas | 5 |
| Yaya Toure | 6 |
| Fernandinho | 7 |
| David Silva | 6 |
| Edin Dzeko | 5 |
| Sergio Aguero | 6 |
| Wilfried Bony (for Dzeko, 63') | 6 |
| Stevan Jovetic (for Silva, 74') | 5 |
| Frank Lampard (for Toure, 81') | No rating |
Reaction
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, via BBC Sport:
"It was a normal performance and I don't think we played very badly. We created more chances, they had one shot on target and got a beautiful goal.
We didn't create enough to score, but we were very unlucky.
Of course we're doing something wrong as we are not winning the games we normally do. I don't want to focus on two or three players. We are a team, a squad of 22 players, and I'm sure they're given the most they can. It's important to continue trusting what they are doing.
When you have a mathematical chance, you have a chance to win the title. The reality is that it's more difficult to do so now.
"
Burnley goalscorer George Boyd, via BBC Sport:
"I caught it sweetly and luckily it went into the bottom corner. It's a massive three points and it brings other teams back into it. Everyone's written us off but we want to stay here (in the Premier League).
"
Burnley manager Sean Dyche, via BBC Sport:
"Our will and desire to be in the Premier League is all on show. But we won't get too carried away.
We know there's a long way to go - the players are grounded. We haven't been broken from defeat - we've been dented a few times - but this win reinforces confidence and belief.
In previous games we've had misfortune and mistakes; today we didn't and we got the margins to go our way.
It's not only just governed by results as a manager; you also have to see if the players are improving and I think they are.
"
