Dave's take on the Citeh defeat...

[The Bedlington Terrier]

A relieved Clarets Mad resident feature writer Dave Thornley reflects on yesterday's routine loss at the Etihad, but at least it wasn’t by a five-goal margin.

All in all, it could have been a lot worse. God knows, on just about every other visit to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium it has been.

It's never pleasant to witness Burnley losing a football match, but in the context of those past humiliations, yesterday’s 2-0 defeat at least enabled the Clarets to emerge from the encounter with their heads held high.
City will baffle, bemuse and befuddle; their intricate passing movements will weave a web from which it becomes impossible to escape. Liverpool will beat you by battering relentlessly, City will twist and turn you until you submit through sheer confusion or exhaustion, whichever comes first.

It was therefore to Burnley’s credit that they maintained their shape, their discipline and their concentration throughout. They even managed to fashion one or two chances of their own, which with cooler and more clinical heads might have enabled Burnley to land a punch or two on the reigning Champions.

The goals, one in each half, both had an element of misfortune about them. In only the thir****th minute, Nick Pope dived to his left to parry Phil Foden’s shot from the edge of the penalty area. Bernardo Silva was able to respond a fraction earlier than James Tarkowski and turned in the loose ball from close range.

With twenty minutes remaining, and Burnley still well in the game, the recalled Jack Cork was dispossessed on the half-way line. There was the hint of a foul about it, but referee Martin Atkinson waved play on and as the ensuing City attack reached the Burnley penalty area, Ashley Westwood was barged into allowing the ball to run loose for Kevin DeBruyne to curl his shot past Pope.

In between times, Maxwel Cornet broke clear and drew a fine save out of City keeper Steffan, and Cork dribbled to the goal line, pulling the ball back into the path of Josh Brownhill who shot wide when he probably should have done better.

There is little doubt that City had a couple of further gears at their disposal had they needed them, and they were undoubtedly deserved winners, but if the positives did not outweigh the negatives for Burnley, they at least equated to them.

There was another composed and assured performance from Nathan Collins, drafted into Burnley’s defence once again following Ben Mee’s positive Covid test. Collins’ positive start to his Burnley career gives a clear signal that they may have uncovered another significant defensive talent.

The generally positive themes emerging from yesterday’s game should not however deflect from the uncomfortable fact that Burnley remain winless in the Premier League this season, and untidy finishing remains a curse which simply must be lifted – and soon.

Nevertheless, there was enough evidence in yesterday’s performance to suggest that improved results may not be too far off. It would be nice to start by winning at Southampton - (TEC).

[Balanbam00]

Sorry! I read ''The goals, one in each half, both had an element of misfortune about them.'' Not really, For Foden to receive the pass, before he shot towards the goal . Nobody was marking him ,not Cork or Brownhill. He was simply 'unmarked.'

For City's first goal ,Sterling swung the ball over to Mahrez on the right wing, then Sterling ran inside the penalty area. At that point City had 3 player's inside the penalty area. We had 7 players ,plus Pope making 8 players !!! Our 3 midfielders Westwood ,Brownhill
and Cork ,were not near any City players ( just marking the grass!) They could have been in no mans land!

Cork was standing about 11 yds from the goals, and Fodon's position was some 17 yds from the goals that means Foden had 6 yds in which to shoot before anybody could have tackled him (which should have been Cork ) That's not misfortune. That's ignorance to leave players unmarked! I really think we do not have a coaching staff. Does anybody show or advise on the mistakes which are made ?

Every game we are making simple schoolboy defensive mistakes!!......and that is 'misfortune!'

[Swissclaret]

Sorry! I read ''The goals, one in each half, both had an element of misfortune about them.'' Not really, For Foden to receive the pass, before he shot towards the goal . Nobody was marking him ,not Cork or Brownhill. He was simply 'unmarked.'

For City's first goal ,Sterling swung the ball over to Mahrez on the right wing, then Sterling ran inside the penalty area. At that point City had 3 player's inside the penalty area. We had 7 players ,plus Pope making 8 players !!! Our 3 midfielders Westwood ,Brownhill
and Cork ,were not near any City players ( just marking the grass!) They could have been in no mans land!

Cork was standing about 11 yds from the goals, and Fodon's position was some 17 yds from the goals that means Foden had 6 yds in which to shoot before anybody could have tackled him (which should have been Cork ) That's not misfortune. That's ignorance to leave players unmarked! I really think we do not have a coaching staff. Does anybody show or advise on the mistakes which are made ?

Every game we are making simple schoolboy defensive mistakes!!......and that is 'misfortune!'

So far, per SD , every goal conceded has been “soft” or “uncharacteristic”. Meanwhile the good news is that we are “creating good chances”, the bad news is that “we are not hitting the back of the net”. Well, pay me £3 million plus a year and I will be able to observe those facts. Apparently, we are “not that far away”. What from? The Championship? Ok, we cannot expect to do well against the likes of City, but Norwich? Blood some of the Academy players, otherwise, what is the point? Cornet will not keep us in the PL on his own. The existing, experienced players are not good enough, with some exceptions.

[Supersub6]

So far, per SD , every goal conceded has been “soft” or “uncharacteristic”. Meanwhile the good news is that we are “creating good chances”, the bad news is that “we are not hitting the back of the net”. Well, pay me £3 million plus a year and I will be able to observe those facts. Apparently, we are “not that far away”. What from? The Championship? Ok, we cannot expect to do well against the likes of City, but Norwich? Blood some of the Academy players, otherwise, what is the point? Cornet will not keep us in the PL on his own. The existing, experienced players are not good enough, with some exceptions.

We have scored more goals this season than we had at this stage last season, in fact, we scored our 6th goal of the season last season in our win at Arsenal in our 11th game of the season and we had conceded 18 before that game.

[Swissclaret]

We have scored more goals this season than we had at this stage last season, in fact, we scored our 6th goal of the season last season in our win at Arsenal in our 11th game of the season and we had conceded 18 before that game.

And? Are you suggesting that we are in a healthy position?