STERLING SUFFERS
Ice-cool Gudmundsson punishes Walker error to claim point for Burnley as City rue Sterling miss
KYLE WALKER must be sick of Johann Berg Gudmundsson. The Icelander was part of his worst nightmare with England at Euro 2016 and yesterday when Manchester City’s right-back lost concentration late on, Gudmundsson nipped in to volley a splendid equaliser.
Even though the result won’t stop them winning the title, there will be an inquest into how they failed to win, given City enjoyed 71 per cent possession and forced 13 corners.
Most embarrassed of all will be Raheem Sterling, who improbably missed the target from three yards with City leading 1-0 midway through the second half.
The England forward, who has scored 19 times this season, somehow steered Walker’s cross beyond the far post when any firm contact would have seen it roll in.
He berated himself loudly and was hooked by Pep Guardiola soon after. Eight minutes after that, Walker fell asleep, Gudmundsson got goalside and smashed in Matt Lowton’s cross.
‘One of our best performances of the season,’ said Guardiola, trying to look on the bright side after his team’s 10th match in 35 days.
‘We did amazing build-ups, ran to make counter-attacks. I am delighted with the way we played.’
Reflecting on how Sterling missed when he was stood just inside the post with nobody between him and the net, Guardiola stayed phlegmatic. ‘It’s football. Today he missed one chance, the next day he is going to score. It can happen. Focus on the next one.’
Burnley boss Sean Dyche, whose side scarcely got a kick for an hour, accepted Sterling’s miss which had just followed Aaron Lennon hitting the crossbar for Burnley changed the mood of the game.
‘We stayed in the game at 1-0 which we had to do,’ he said. ‘We were diligent and did the ugly things at a time when our gameplan wasn’t working.
‘Then their keeper makes an unbelievable save [tipping Lennon’s shot onto the woodwork] and then they had an unbelievable miss. The stadium erupted after that.
‘I’m very pleased to get the draw. I think everyone would take a point against Manchester City. They are the best team in the division.’
Guardiola’s teamsheet caused a murmur because it contained only six substitutes, leaving the bench one short.
It was criticised by Gary Neville on TV as an attack on City’s youth policy while conspiracy theorists wondered if the Spaniard was making a point about spending power or rough treatment from opponents in recent weeks.
He has seven players currently out injured.
It didn’t seem to matter because City took the lead after 22 minutes thanks to some uncharacteristically poor Burnley defending.
Kevin De Bruyne’s short corner to Bernardo Silva was played on to Danilo.
The left-back, 22 yards from goal, found no defender was ready to close him down so he simply looked up and popped it into Nick Pope’s top corner with a reasonable amount of force.
Burnley hadn’t won in 2018 — they are now without a victory in nine matches — but they didn’t fold despite
being put under severe pressure. ‘You have got to be diligent and do the ugly stuff,’ said Dyche. Pope saved from Sergio Aguero with his chest and the Argentine was then denied by a brilliant block from substitute Lowton, the ball rebounding off the defender’s back. Danilo tried his luck with another long-ranger which Pope brilliantly tipped over and then Sterling missed the best chance of all to wrap up City’s win and put them 18 points clear. Until then, Burnley had only two openings of note. A volley by Ben Mee that Ederson saved well and a Lennon shot that forced City’s goalkeeper into a world-class save.
‘He is the calmest keeper I’ve ever seen,’ said an admiring Dyche. ‘It’s like having Ronald Koeman in goal.’
Dyche, who had seen his side thumped twice at the Etihad this season in league and cup, stuck with his tactic of using twin strikers Sam Vokes and Ashley Barnes, and when Guardiola made his switch of Brahim Diaz for Sterling the Clarets put their visitors under pressure.
Jack Cork, one of four Burnley bookings on the day, his for a blatant drag back on De Bruyne, played a pass to Lowton and the right-back curled an excellent ball into the penalty area.
Walker should have been alert at the far post but allowed Gudmundsson to get the run on him and make firm contact. ‘Even then I couldn’t believe the keeper got a hand to it. I thought “Jeez, he’s not going to save that as well”,’ said Dyche.
He didn’t and Burnley got their point.
City players have now been given time off until Wednesday before their busy season gets even busier in four competitions.
‘I’m off, the doctor, everyone. No work in Manchester,’ said Guardiola emphatically. ‘Time off and then three training sessions before Leicester on Saturday is good for everyone.’
Dyche, who has a new sparkly contract worth a reported £3.5million a year, couldn’t resist having a dig at those who have noticed Burnley’s results have gone off the boil after an excellent first half to the season. ‘Another game without a win,’ he remarked. ‘I have to say that. Manchester City — you should beat them.’