Clough’s boys restore pride
PEP GUARDIOLA’S men failed to achieve a record new aggregate win in the League Cup but remain firmly on course to make history with four trophies in one season.
City never looked like matching the 9-0 mauling from the first leg or bettering the record winning margin of 11 goals over two legs.
After Sergio Aguero’s 26thminute goal, Burton managed to keep the game commendably tight against a much-changed City side who did not need to be anywhere near their rampant best.
But Brewers boss Nigel Clough will feel rightly proud that his side limited City to the one goal last night.
Guardiola made eight changes and could leave Gabriel Jesus on the bench for an hour.
It saw a debut up front for Ian Carlo Poveda, 18, wearing squad No83. But the visitors did include big guns like Aguero as skipper and Kevin De Bruyne.
Guardiola’s men took until the 12th minute to threaten the home goal when Riyad Mahrez curled a left-footer just wide from a tight angle. And hosts Burton might have taken the lead in the 14th minute after Liam Boyce won a free-kick on the right when Fabian Delph brought him down.
City keeper Aro Muric was called into action from the delivery as he got down low to his right from Boyce’s clever flick after Stephen Quinn’s clever low inswinging ball.
Mahrez, who has nine goals this term, had another sight of goal from outside the box which he put wide.
And if Mahrez was looking to prove a point after being omitted from the squad against Huddersfield last Sunday, his finishing did not do his case much good.
But the Algerian finally showed his class after De Bruyne had picked him out with a superb, defence-splitting ball. Mahrez looked up to spot Aguero in the clear and he finished calmly for his 15th of the season.
Yet Burton went close to levelling after Muric’s poor control nearly let in Marcus Harness.
After the break, Burton’s David Templeton appealed for a penalty under the challenge of Danilo.
Aguero could have doubled the lead in the 61st minute but somehow shot wide from Phil Foden’s cross at close range.
It was a let-off and Burton nearly punished City as they went desperately close to levelling. Eric Garcia cleared off the line from Will Miller. And Bradley Collins made two good late saves for Burton to keep the score down.
For Burton, it is back down to earth at home to Bradford on Saturday, but City can take another step on the road to more silverware in the FA Cup against Burnley.
BURTON (4-5-1): Collins; Akins, McFadzean, Turner (Hutchinson 40), McCrory; Harness, Quinn (Fox 45), Wallace, Miller, Templeton; Boyce (Daniel 77).
MAN CITY (4-2-1-3): Muric; Danilo, Sandler, Garcia, Zinchenko (Nmecha 67); Delph, De Bruyne (Mendy 63); Foden; Mahrez, Aguero (Jesus 63), Poveda. Goal: Aguero 26.
Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).