MAHREZ THE HARTBREAKER
Pep praises ‘top talent’ after pen agony
■ This was Manchester City’s 23rd Premier League victory by a 5+ goal margin – 10 of them have been under manager Pep Guardiola. mistake, plundering his 208th goal for the Blues and 149th in the Premier League.
Hart provided a reminder of his enduring quality with an excellent save at full stretch to deny David Silva just before the break. But it was brief respite from what was to followed.
City duly killed the game with two goals in as many minutes.
Burnley stopped when Sane went down, claiming a penalty after a challenge from Jack Cork.
The ball looked to have run out of play but David Silva whipped it back in for namesake Bernardo Silva to steer it into the roof of the net.
Dyche was incensed by that perceived injustice and Burnley were still reeling when Fernandinho scored City’s third, seizing on the loose ball outside ■ This was just Burnley’s fourth Premier League defeat by a margin of five or more goals – half of them have been against Manchester City. the area and picking his spot with a clinical finish.
The two-goal salvo and the breathing space it brought City, allowed Guardiola to bring Kevin De Bruyne on for his longawaited return.
City’s Player of the Year for last season – out for two months with knee ligament damage – came on for Bernardo in the 58th minute to a rapturous reception.
And it wasn’t long before De Bruyne’s through pass led to a chance for Mahrez, who curled an exquisite finish into the top corner.
Dyche felt Sane deserved to be sent off rather than booked for kicking out at Matthew Lowton.
To compound Dyche’s sense of injustice, Sane then steered the ball in from a Benjamin Mendy cross to make it 5-0. ■ David Silva provided more than one assist in a Prem game for the 12th time. He’s only behind Ryan Giggs (17), Cesc Fabregas (17) & Thierry Henry (13).