Burnley’s relegation back down to the Championship has officially been confirmed following a narrow defeat to Manchester City.
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Alan Pace makes 'fallen short' admission ahead of Burnley's looming relegation](https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/alan-pace-makes-fallen-short-admission-ahead-of-burnleys-looming-relegation-7179705 "Alan Pace makes 'fallen short' admission ahead of Burnley's looming relegation")
Scott Parker’s side put up a spirited effort against the title challengers, but the victory they required to prolong their slim survival hopes never looked likely.
It looked as though they could have been in for a long night when Erling Haaland opened the scoring after just five minutes.
But the Clarets stuck to their task well, defended doggedly and posed one or two questions themselves on the break - especially during the first-half when Zian Flemming, usually pretty clinical in front of goal, was guilty of a couple of poor misses.
But the honest truth is that Burnley simply haven’t been good enough this season, winning just four games out of 34. They also find themselves in the midst of a miserable run of just one win in their last 25 league games.
Looking at the broader picture, there will be huge concern over what is now a third straight relegation from the Premier League, with the Clarets becoming the archetypal yo-yo club. But many Burnley fans will be asking themselves what happens the season they don’t bounce back at the first attempt?
Parker handed a rare start to Loum Tchaouna, a first in the league since December, as he made three changes to his side from Sunday’s collapse at Nottingham Forest.
It looked like a long night would be in store when Erling Haaland gave City a fifth-minute lead (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
It looked like a long night would be in store when Erling Haaland gave City a fifth-minute lead (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Bashir Humphreys and Josh Laurent also came into the starting XI, as Florentino Luis, Lesley Ugochukwu and Marcus Edwards all dropped to the bench.
Jordan Beyer, Connor Roberts, Josh Cullen, Hannibal and Zeki Amdouni all remain sidelined, while Axel Tuanzebe, Jacob Bruun Larsen and Ashley Barnes were left out.
As for City, they had to do without Rodri after the midfielder picked up a groin injury during their crucial 2-1 win over title rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
Rayan Ait-Nouri took his place in the side, resulting in Nico O’Reilly pushing forward into midfield.
It took City barely 100 seconds to get their first sight of goal, as Bernardo Silva embarked on a mazy dribble towards the Burnley goal only for Hjalmar Ekdal to make the block.
It was the start of a frantic start to the game, with Burnley hitting back with a good chance of their own as Gianluigi Donnarumma made a smart save to push away Jaidon Anthony’s curling effort after the hosts had won the ball back high up the pitch.
Martin Dubravka then pulled off a miraculous save to deny Rayan Cherki as City opened up the Clarets alarmingly easily, somehow managing to tip the Frenchman’s close range effort onto the top of the post.
Dubravka was left floundering though when Erling Haaland opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute, dinking the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper after being played through on goal.
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At this stage you felt like it was going to be a long night for Burnley, but they responded well and almost levelled a few moments later when Quilindschy Hartman was crowded out just as it appeared the ball was going to fall kindly for him six yards out.
Zian Flemming then missed a gilt-edged chance to level, dragging a shot disappointingly wide after Burnley once again capitalised on the acres of space in behind City’s backline. Although had the Dutchman scored, it most probably would have been ruled out for offside in any case.
Despite trailing, Burnley were actually playing pretty well and holding their own. But you always knew City were capable of scoring something out of nothing, as they nearly did midway through the half when Nico O’Reilly’s low effort almost crept in at the back post.
The youngster then forced another good save out of Dubravka, who had to fly across goal to
Burnley continued to offer an attacking threat though, with Flemming again fluffing his lines - which has been a rarity this season - after being picked out by Tchaouna, who was causing City plenty of problems in the final third.
The half ended with another half chance for Burnley going to waste, as Hjalmar Ekdal and Bashir Humphreys got in each other’s way following a teasing free kick delivery from James Ward-Prowse.
There was controversy before the second half even got underway, with Parker reacting angrily to being booed by supporters in the Cricket Field Stand as he emerged from the tunnel.
City, just as they did in the first half, began on the front foot and really ought to have doubled their lead through Antoine Semenyo, but he could only blaze over the bar from a presentable position after Humphreys had needlessly given the ball away.
Haaland of all people was then guilty of a poor miss, only able to clip the outside of the post after the ball had fallen kindly for him inside the Burnley box.
In truth, the remainder of the second half was largely a non-event, akin to a training exercise with City’s attack against Burnley’s defence.
It made for a flat atmosphere inside Turf Moor, which was already lacking in intensity due to the sparsity of the home crowd.
As time ticked by, it became clear City were the side doing all the pushing in a bid to boost their goal difference, rather than Burnley looking to launch an unlikely late comeback.
But neither side were able to bag a second goal of the game, leading to some frustration from both sets of supporters, especially for the City fans when O’Reilly somehow fluffed his lines just a few yards out.
Most Burnley fans had headed for the exits by the time the full time whistle was blown, but those inside the stadium showed their appreciation for a spirited effort on the night.
But unfortunately for the Clarets, the damage had long been done before this game.
TEAMS
Burnley: Dubravka, Walker, Humphreys (Florentino), Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman, Laurent (Edwards), Ward-Prowse, Tchaouna (Foster), Anthony (Tresor), Flemming (Broja)
Subs not used: Weiss, Worrall, Pires, Ugochukwu
Man City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri (Gonzalez), O’Reilly, Bernardo, Semenyo (Savinho), Cherki, Doku, Haaland
Subs not used: Trafford, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Reijnders, Foden, Marmoush
Referee: Andy Madley
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