No happy return for frustrated Hart

BY THE fifth goal, Joe Hart had seen enough. His frustration could no longer be bottled. The post received one huge smack from the Burnley goalkeeper, who then gave a furious welly of the ball nestled in the back of his net. He was let down by those in front of him and he was not given a chance. Hart stood motionless at full- time, staring at the turf before accepting the commiserations from former team-mates and blowing kisses to the crowd.

His defenders did not give him much of a chance at certain moments.

Sergio Aguero’s opening goal came as four men in Claret waved a David Silva cross past them along the six-yard box.

The second, scored by Bernardo Silva, was a product of Burnley’s collective decision to stop playing with the ball loose in their own box.

Fernandinho’s third seconds later finished this as a contest. Burnley were begging for this to finish by the time Riyad Mahrez beautifully bent into Hart’s far corner and Leroy Sane completed the rout.

That was all slightly unfair on Hart, who made a number of smart saves on his return to the Etihad. As revealed by Sportsmail, Hart was back at the City Football Academy on Thursday for a short ceremony to mark his 12 years of service.

Not a great deal was made by City fans of their former No 1 on his return to the Etihad, but just enough, the video of his afternoon at the training ground broadcast on the big screens at just gone 2:45. Two hours later and Hart had certainly done himself justice – even if the scoreline suggested otherwise.