Source: Team_Talk
Beleaguered Burnley battered by City
Manchester City closed in on a Champions League slot thanks to a devastating attacking display in a 6-1 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.[LNB] Roberto Mancini's side displayed their credentials in the first half by racing into a 5-0 lead by the break, with three of the goals coming in the space of three minutes.[LNB]Emmanuel Adebayor started the ball rolling in the fourth minute and added his second on the stroke of half time.[LNB]In between Craig Bellamy, Carlos Tevez and Patrick Vieira, with his first for the club, also found the target.[LNB]Vincent Kompany added a sixth in the 58th minute before Steven Fletcher got a goal back for Burnley, who are facing a swift return to the second tier.[LNB]City went above Tottenham, who lost to Sunderland, and into that coveted fourth spot with six games remaining.[LNB]Adam Johnson saw a shot take a deflection off a defender and rattle the post before the visitors made the breakthrough in the fourth minute.[LNB]Burnley were guilty of slack marking when Johnson delivered a corner from the left and Adebayor took advantage to rifle in a shot that seemed to take a deflection on the way in.[LNB]A minute later it got even worse for the home side when Bellamy latched on to a through ball from Tevez and guided it past Brian Jensen.[LNB]The Burnley goalkeeper conceded a third in the seventh minute after making a basic error.[LNB]He spilled Adebayor's weak shot and Tevez was on hand for his 26th goal of the season.[LNB]Burnley hit back, however, with Robbie Blake dragging a shot narrowly wide.[LNB]City extended their lead in the 20th minute with Vieira's first goal for the club. He powered home a header following a corner from Johnson.[LNB]Burnley were refusing to lie down and Graham Alexander whipped in a shot from the edge of the area in the 27th minute that went narrowly over the crossbar.[LNB]This was a spirited response by the home side and six minutes later Fletcher dragged a shot wide of the post.[LNB]David Nugent then saw a header blocked by City goalkeeper Shay Given before Jensen found himself in difficulty again.[LNB]He pushed away a shot from Adebayor but Vieira found himself crowded out as he prepared to latched on to the rebound.[LNB]Jensen looked out of his sorts and he was beaten again in the 44th minute only for Tevez's effort to come back off the post after being released by Bellamy.[LNB]City did not have long to wait for another goal, however, with Adebayor extending their lead with a clinical finish after being released by Tevez.[LNB]Burnley almost pulled a goal back in the 51st minute when Nugent showed a good turn of pace only to find the wrong side of the post with his effort.[LNB]However seven minutes later the home side failed to deal with another Johnson corner and Kompany headed home for his first goal of the season.[LNB]It was the third time Burnley had failed to deal with one of the former Middlesbrough winger's delivery and conceded a goal in the process.[LNB]Burnley fans at last had something to cheer in the 72nd minute when Fletcher pulled a goal back with a good finish after being set up by substitute Jack Cork.[LNB]Adebayor was given a rousing reception by the visiting fans 12 minutes later when he was replaced by former Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz as City wrapped up a stroll in the park.[LNB]For Burnley the clock is ticking and those home wins over Manchester United and Everton are but a distant memory.
