THE VERDICT: CITY 4 BURNLEY 1
SERGIO Aguero gave the perfect response to renewed speculation about his City future by firing them into the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Two goals in a minute, both brilliantly set up by Ilkay Gundogan, were enough to see off spirited Burnley, who had gone ahead when Ashley Barnes capitalised on a John Stones error.
The striker has been the subject of transfer chit-chat from the moment he arrived at the Etihad Stadium, and each time the long-term love affair he has with the club and its fans has been far stronger than the futile wishes of Real Madrid, Barcelona or Paris Saint Germain.
Another bout has broken out in the last week after Aguero sought out an Argentinian radio station to say he wants to stay until 2020 – but that it was up to the club. He did the same last season, and then burst into great form – and it looks like a repeat scenario here.
His two goals were a timely reminder, both to him and the club executives, of just how much the all-time record goalscorer – now on 187 – means to City, and how much the club means to him. Trailing 1-0, the Blues suddenly burst into life thanks to Gundogan’s sharp thinking and Aguero’s acute sense of possibilities. Awarded a free-kick, Burnley’s intense concentration lapsed momentarily and Gundogan slid a pass for Aguero to race clear and slot his shot past Nick Pope. With the crowd still celebrating, City roared forward again, Aguero ranging in from the flank and playing the ball in for Gundogan on the edge of the box. He again read the mind of the striker and delivered a backheel of genius quality, with Kun rounding the keeper and slotting the Blues ahead. It became a procession after that, as Danilo led a charge down the right, carved inside and fed Leroy Sane on the left. The German winger had been having a wasteful time, but he played a sharp pass with David Silva and this time slid in the third goal. His confidence flooding back, Sane then raced onto a pass from sub Kevin de Bruyne, took the ball beyond keeper Pope and pulled it back for Stuart Brennan
Aguero (56, 58), Sane (71), Bernardo Silva (82) 77% 20 8 Barnes (25) 23% 8 5 Danilo Cork, Westwood Graham Scott 53,356 Bernardo to score. City were not at the races in the first half, quite easily contained by a determined Burnley side.
They were happy to sit tight, apply minimal pressure at the other end and wait for a set-piece or a mistake.
That paid off when Stones took an uncharacteristic swipe at a goalkeeper’s clearance which bounced through to him at an awkward height, Ashley Barnes was in. He thrashed his shot past Bravo at the near post to send the 7,000 visiting fans into ecstasy.
Just when it seemed a cup upset was on the cards, City struck back with ferocity … and through a man named Aguero.