Manchester City went down 0-1 to relegation-threatened Burnley on Saturday to further strtech the gap between them and table topping Chelsea.
With the defeat, Man City has lost another opportunity to catch with the table toppers, and soccer buffs are beginning to think this year’s league trophy might just well be out of their reach.
According to Screammers, Besides a controversial non-penalty call (we’ll get there in a moment), this wasn’t one of those “Burnley escaped with the points by the skin of their teeth” games either. The first 45 was a desultory affair, with neither side really gaining a hold of the game. Burnley began brighter, with Danny Ings frustrating Martin Demichelis, but to no real effect. As the half wore on City’s superior midfield gained control—they had 70% of possession in the half—and enjoyed a ten minute threatening spell, but Burnley’s defense was mostly able to snuff out the danger before City could get shots off.
In the 60th minute Ings once again pantsed Demichelis, this time forcing a foul and yellow card in a dangerous position. Here’s what resulted for Burnley’s George Boyd:
This shock result means second-placed City remain five points behind leaders Chelsea, who also have two matches in hand.
On Friday, Blues boss Jose Mourinho had said the title race was already over and that his team were going to be celebrating in May.
This result could prove costly to City’s hopes of winning what would be a third title in four years, and it was a disappointing performance from Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
They had only won three of their last 10 matches in all competitions but would have expected a win against a Burnley side that had only won one of their previous 11 matches in 2015.
However, apart from a low save to deny Dzeko, and tame efforts from Aguero and Wilfried Bony that were straight at him, Burnley goalkeeper Heaton had little to do.
Kompany was dropped for City’s last match against Leicester, and should have done better than head the ball into Boyd’s path from Kieran Trippier’s free kick. Nevertheless, it was a spectacular finish from the Scotland international to shoot past England goalkeeper Joe Hart.
The victory moves Sean Dyche’s side, Championship runners-up last season, up a position to 18th and they are only one point behind 17th-placed Sunderland.
For City, their season is in danger of falling apart. They will need to quickly regroup as they face the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, when they need to win in the Nou Camp against Barcelona after losing the home first leg 2-1.
Burnley had to ride their luck late on as Aguero headed over, and Zabaleta went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Ben Mee, but referee Marriner waved away City’s calls for a penalty.
Not even the introduction of forwards Bony and Stevan Jovetic and midfielder Frank Lampard, making his 600th Premier League appearance, could see the visitors grab an equaliser as the Clarets held on for a memorable victory.
