Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the FA Cup fourth-round clash between Manchester City and Burnley from the Etihad Stadium.
City thumped Rotherham United 7-0 in round three to book their spot in the fourth round.
Burnley, meanwhile, squeezed past Barnsley in the last round to ultimately set-up this all-Premier League tie.
Follow our live minute-by-minute coverage of the action below.
2.02pmAfternoon all and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the FA Cup fourth-round clash between Manchester City and Burnley from the Etihad Stadium. City thumped Rotherham United 7-0 in round three to book their spot in the fourth round. Burnley, meanwhile, squeezed past Barnsley in the last round to ultimately set-up this all-Premier League tie. Stay tuned!
2.02pmAfternoon all and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the FA Cup fourth-round clash between Manchester City and Burnley from the Etihad Stadium. City thumped Rotherham United 7-0 in round three to book their spot in the fourth round. Burnley, meanwhile, squeezed past Barnsley in the last round to ultimately set-up this all-Premier League tie. Stay tuned!
2.04pmRight, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from the Etihad Stadium. Just how strong have both managers gone for this match?
2.06pmTEAMS
MAN CITY: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Danilo; Fernandinho, Gundogan; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Bernardo; Jesus
BURNLEY: Pope; Long, Tarkowski, Gibson; Brady, Hendrick, Defour, Taylor, Ward; Vydra, McNeil
2.08pmSo there we have it. Only Danilo, Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez remain from the team that started against Burton Albion in the EFL Cup during the week. The likes of Ederson, John Stones and Fernandinho all return, while Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus also start. The team is a clear indication that City boss Pep Guardiola wants to win the FA Cup this season.
2.10pm
UP FOR THE CUP! 🏆#cityvburnley #mancity pic.twitter.com/i2qXjMIVOB— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 26, 2019
2.12pmAs for Burnley, only James Tarkowski, Charlie Taylor, Jeff Hendrick and Dwight McNeil remain from the team that started the goalless draw with Watford in the Premier League last weekend. Nick Pope returns between the sticks, while Ben Gibson is also given a rare start in central defence. Stephen Ward and Robbie Brady will be the two wing-backs this afternoon.
2.14pmCity will be looking for their eighth straight win in all competitions this afternoon. Indeed, since losing at Leicester in the Premier League on Boxing Day, the Citizens have won each of their seven matches in all competitions. Four of those victories have come in the Premier League, but they still trail Liverpool by four points in the table with 15 games left.
2.16pmCity thumped Rotherham 7-0 in the third round of the FA Cup, while they also booked their spot in the final of the EFL Cup with a 10-0 aggregate victory over Burton Albion. City's last three home results have been 7-0, 9-0 and 3-0. Burnley could be in for a tough day here!
2.18pm
Here to do our thing! 🔆#cityvburnley #mancity pic.twitter.com/WUUNqKfAHa— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 26, 2019
2.20pmIn terms of Burnley's recent form, there is no question that things have improved for the Clarets in recent weeks. It has been a tough season for Sean Dyche's side, but they will enter this match having won four of their last five matches in all competitions, remaining unbeaten.
2.22pmBetween October 6 and December 26, Burnley only won one football match. The 5-1 defeat at home to Everton on Boxing Day raised serious alarm bells, but Dyche's side won four straight games between December 30 and January 12 to ease some of the pressure.
2.25pmBurnley will enter this match off the back of a goalless draw away to Watford in the Premier League last weekend, which will certainly go down as a positive result. As it stands, Burnley are 16th in the Premier League table on 22 points, just three points clear of the bottom three.
2.27pm
We have arrived at the Etihad Stadium ahead of this afternoon's @EmiratesFACup clash. pic.twitter.com/QNPHsV82Sd
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 26, 2019
2.29pmThese two teams actually also locked horns in last season's FA Cup, with City recording a 4-1 win in the third round. Burnley have been eliminated from the FA Cup on three occasions by City and have not beaten the Citizens in this particular competition since January 1931.
2.31pmCity also thumped Burnley 5-0 when the pair met at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League earlier this season, while the Clarets have not overcome their opponents this afternoon since a 1-0 home win in March 2015. Burnley are without an away victory over City of any kind since March 1963, which is an indication of the size of the task facing the Clarets in this match.
2.33pmCity have also won their three home FA Cup matches under Guardiola with an aggregate score of 16-2, while Burnley are winless in 13 away FA Cup fixtures against Premier League opposition. It must be said that the statistics are only pointing to one result this afternoon.
2.35pm
With seven goals in his last four appearances, there's nobody more confident than @gabrieljesus33 going into today's game! 🔥#cityvburnley #mancity pic.twitter.com/duuZQNJ9t9
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 26, 2019
2.37pmIn terms of what is ahead for City, Guardiola's side are back in Premier League action away to Newcastle United on Tuesday night, before hosting Arsenal at the start of next month. City will then welcome Chelsea before travelling to Schalke 04 in the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League clash. The team are entering a very, very important period of the season.
2.39pmAs for Burnley, they will take on in-form Manchester United in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, before hosting Southampton in a huge fixture next weekend. Back-to-back fixtures against the two Manchester giants will take it out of the Clarets!
2.41pm
The best bench we've seen since... pic.twitter.com/9xH1Wh3U5M
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 26, 2019
2.43pmAt least Burnley do not have to face Raheem Sterling or Sergio Aguero from the start here. Sterling has has been involved in at least one goal in nine of his last 10 FA Cup starts, while Aguero has scored in all four his appearances against Burnley at the Etihad for City.
2.45pmJust a reminder of the two teams here as kickoff nears...
MAN CITY: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Danilo; Fernandinho, Gundogan; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Bernardo; Jesus
BURNLEY: Pope; Long, Tarkowski, Gibson; Brady, Hendrick, Defour, Taylor, Ward; Vydra, McNeil
2.47pmIt is a 4-2-3-1 for City this afternoon, with Kevin De Bruyne operating just behind Gabriel Jesus. Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva will then provide the threat in the wide positions. It is a very strong City XI, perhaps surprisingly strong when considering there is a mid-week Premier League fixture list. Guardiola clearly wants to make a strong play for the crown.
2.49pmCity are five-time winners of the FA Cup, but have not landed the trophy since the 2010-11 season, which is somewhat of a surprise. The quadruple is on for the Citizens at this point, but they might well have to sacrifice one competition as the fixture list builds up.
2.51pm
🏆 ROUND FOUR 🏆
City v Burnley
FA Cup
Etihad Stadium
15:00 UK#cityvburnley
🔵 #mancity pic.twitter.com/6q1T3fw7wY— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 26, 2019
2.53pmIt is not a surprise to see Burnley boss Dyche make a number of changes, but it is still a strong and indeed experienced team. The visitors will play with a three-man defence this afternoon and will be looking to stay in the match for as long as possible, which is easier said than done.
2.55pmPREDICTION! Home win. Guardiola has selected a very strong City team and it is difficult to imagine a situation where Burnley can win this football match. The Citizens to progress.
2.57pmHere we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff at the Etihad Stadium. Let's hope for an open and entertaining game of football this afternoon.
0 minKICKOFF: City kick things off on home soil...
2 min... as expected, City have taken control of the early possession, with the home side passing and probing in the final third. It could be a long, long afternoon for Burnley here.
4 minBrady's movement threatens to cause City a problem in the final third, but Walker is across to make the challenge and the home side can move the ball forward with pace once again.
6 minPass, pass, pass from City as they continue to look for openings, but in fairness to Burnley, Dyche's side have been nice and compact thus far. Six minutes on the clock at the Etihad.
7 minSHOT! Gundogan's strike from a corner is far too high.
9 minBurnley win their first corner of the match as a deep free kick from Brady is headed behind by Otamendi. Brady is across to deliver the corner, but City manage to clear their lines.
11 minWell, 11 minutes on the clock and it is a case of 'so far, so good' for Burnley. Nothing much to report in the early stages. City are dominating, but no clear chances to report thus far here.
13 minWe need a substitution for the corner flag, which has been ripped clean off. The referee has tried to piece it back together, but it was never happening. The City fans are loving it.
15 minWe are back underway with the corner flag now all sorted! Burnley immediately deliver another long ball towards Vydra, but City are soon on the attack down the other end and a low cross from De Bruyne just flashes across the goal without anyone getting a touch.
17 minMcNeil has just shown his pace for Burnley, driving clear of Mahrez before finding Vydra, but Stones is across to challenge him. Vydra needs to protect the ball better there.
17 minSAVE! Super save from Pope, who uses his legs to deny Bernardo Silva!
18 minSAVE! Another brilliant stop from Pope to keep out Danilo's powerful strike!
20 minBenjamin Mendy sees the funny side of the corner-flag situation...
RIP bro, i will be snitching at your trial @kylewalker2 🏴 pic.twitter.com/qiaNhnx4TA— Benjamin Mendy (@benmendy23) January 26, 2019
21 minYELLOW CARD! Walker (Man City) is booked for a poor challenge on Defour.
23 minSHOT! Brady misses the City target with a strike from distance.
23 minGOAL! MAN CITY 1-0 BURNLEY (GABRIEL JESUS)
24 minCity make the breakthrough in the 23rd minute of this match as Gabriel Jesus works some space inside the Burnley box before smashing through the body of Pope!
26 minSHOT! Fernandinho slices harmlessly wide of the Burnley post as the home side continue to force the issue. City are putting some serious pressure on the away team at the moment.
28 min
Get well soon, Flaggy 💙 pic.twitter.com/NNLElctiig— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 26, 2019
30 minLittle over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and City are very much on top. It is getting to the stage where a second at this point quite probably ends Burnley's challenge. That said, McNeil has been extremely bright for the Clarets during the first 30 minutes of this match.
32 minGundogan just loses control inside the Burnley box at the end of another passing City move. Some of the football from the home side has been quite wonderful in this first period.
32 minVAR are having a look at a potential penalty for City here...
33 min... Taylor made a lunge on Gundogan, but no penalty according to VAR.
35 minLittle over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and City are on the front foot. Another corner has just arrived into the Burnley box, but Pope did well to make the clearance.
37 minThe pressure is relentless at the moment, with Burnley struggling to get out of their own half. However, the Clarets will always be in the match at 1-0. They have to hold on for the moment.
39 min
© Reuters
© Reuters41 minIf Dyche had been offered the chance to be 1-0 behind at the interval then he might have taken it. City are absolutely dominant, but only have one goal for their troubles at the moment.
42 minSHOT! Gundogan has a low shot deflected wide of the Burnley post.
42 minCLOSE! Stones heads the resulting corner wide of the Burnley post.
43 minWard and De Bruyne go knee-to-knee in the middle of the park. Both of those players have had knee injuries this season, but they come out unscathed, which is really good to see.
45 minThere will be a couple of minutes of added time at the end of the first period following the stoppage for the replacement of the corner flag, which is standing strong for the moment.
45+1 minWe are into the first of three added minutes at the Etihad.
45+3 minNot an awful lot to report in stoppage time, with City keeping the ball. Burnley have hardly had a sniff in this first period but are far from out of the contest at the moment here.
45+4 minHALF TIME: MAN CITY 1-0 BURNLEY
3.50pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with City leading Burnley 1-0 courtesy of an excellent goal from Gabriel Jesus. The home side have had opportunities to add to the scoring, but some good work from Pope means that it is just 1-0 at the interval.
3.55pmSTATISTICS! City had 78% possession in the first period, while they managed nine attempts, three of which were on target. Burnley managed just the one attempt and it failed to test Ederson. One yellow card to report - City defender Walker for a poor tackle on Defour.
4pmBENCH WATCH! Burnley boss Dyche has a number of attacking options on his bench this afternoon, with Barnes, Vokes and Wood all certainly capable of making a difference in the second period. City's bench, meanwhile, includes Aguero, Foden, Sane, Sterling and Silva.
46 minKICKOFF: Burnley resume the action here...
47 min... BURNLEY SUB! Cork has replaced Brady for the visitors.
48 minCHANCE! Huge chance for Burnley following a mistake from Otamendi, but Vydra places his effort wide of the post. Huge opportunity for the visitors to level the scores here.
50 minCity have not been at the races early in the second period, with Burnley showing plenty of attacking intent. The visitors really need to score the game's next goal this afternoon.
51 minSHOT! Danilo fires harmlessly over the Burnley goal from distance.
52 minGOAL! MAN CITY 2-0 BURNLEY (BERNARDO SILVA)
53 minCity double their lead in the 52nd minute of this match as Bernardo Silva settles inside the Burnley box before finding the back of the net courtesy of a big deflection!
55 minPass, pass, pass from City as they look for more goals. At 1-0, Burnley were always in the match, but City are now two ahead and are threatening more at the moment.
57 minDe Bruyne has a low strike blocked behind as City continue to force the issue. Burnley are defending for their lives at the moment as the pressure from the home side is cranked up.
58 minSAVE! Smart save from Pope to keep out a powerful Gabriel Jesus strike!
60 minNot too much of an atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment. It is too easy for City and matches like this can drift, especially with a large chunk of time left in this clash.
60 minCLOSE! Mahrez sees a powerful strike deflected just wide of the Burnley post!
61 minGOAL! MAN CITY 3-0 BURNLEY (DE BRUYNE)
62 minCity have their third of the match in the 61st minute as De Bruyne finds the bottom corner with an absolute rocket from the edge of the box. Super strike from the Belgian.
62 minBURNLEY SUB! Wood replaces Vydra for the away team.
64 minThis could be any score in the final 25 minutes or so.
65 minMAN CITY SUB! David Silva replaces Fernandinho for the home side.
67 minIt would be a surprise if we did not see Foden in the latter stages of this match. The contest is over and it will be about building confidence, resting players and giving those who need it some valuable minutes. There is also some more movement on the Burnley bench here.
69 minBetter from Burnley in the last couple of minutes as they start to put some pressure on City, but the home side escape without serious damage. Around 20 minutes left here.
71 minNot an awful lot happening at the moment, although City are back dominating the ball.
73 minGOAL! MAN CITY 4-0 BURNLEY (LONG OG)
74 minCity have their fourth of the afternoon as De Bruyne's low cross is turned into the back of his own net by Kevin Long. Poor old Burnley want this match to be over.
75 minMAN CITY SUBS! Aguero replaces Gabriel Jesus, while Foden replaces De Bruyne.
77 minBurnley are just not touching the ball at the moment as City continue to dominate.
78 minBURNLEY SUB! Westwood replaces Defour for the away side.
80 minBurnley enjoy a spell of possession inside City's half of the field, but Wood loses the ball and City throw numbers forward on the break. Little over 10 minutes remaining here.
82 minPope manages to collect a loose ball inside the City box after Aguero's header had been blocked. You do get the feeling that there is going to br another goal in this match.
83 minSAVE! Smart save from Pope to keep out a strike from David Silva.
84 minPENALTY! Long pulls David Silva in the box and City have a penalty!
85 minGOAL! MAN CITY 5-0 BURNLEY (AGUERO, PEN)
86 minAguero sends his penalty past Pope for 5-0 here.
88 minSAVE! Smart save from Pope to keep out a strike from Aguero!
90 minThe referee needs to blow at 90 minutes to put Burnley out of their misery here.
90+1 minWe are into the first of two additional minutes at the Etihad Stadium.
90+2 minFULL TIME: MAN CITY 5-0 BURNLEY
4.52pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with City running out 5-0 winners over Burnley at the Etihad Stadium to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
