Manchester City saw the defence of their Premier League crown suffer a setback on Sunday with a 2-2 draw at home to Burnley.
The hosts moved into a commanding 2-0 lead at the break as goals from David Silva and Fernandinho put them in control.
However, George Boyd levelled for the visitors at the start of the second half before a late strike from Ashley Barnes earned them a deserved share of the spoils.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action between the two teams at the Etihad Stadium.
Match statistics
MAN CITY
Shots: 17
On target: 6
Possession: 63%
Corners: 10
Fouls: 18
BURNLEY
Shots: 12
On target: 3
Possession: 37%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 9
Was the result fair?
Anyone who saw Burnley fight doggedly against the champions would say that they fully deserved to come away from the Etihad Stadium with a share of the spoils. It was not always pretty from the Clarets, but they hung in there and got their just rewards at the final whistle.
Man City's performance
This was a Jekyll and Hyde display from the champions, who looked dominant in the first half before falling away dramatically in the second. The opening 45 minutes saw them play at a high tempo, much in the same way as they did so impressively against West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day.
The likes of Samir Nasri, David Silva and Jesus Navas all dictated the pace of the game, while Burnley were forced back and limited to only a handful of openings at the other end of the field. That all changed just a minute into the second half when the visitors pulled a goal back.
From that point on City looked nervous and vulnerable, particularly in defence. Their cause was also not helped by the fact that the home fans were giving out some cagey vibes from the stands. Burnley pushed hard for an equaliser and their pressure paid off late on.
Burnley's performance
Sean Dyche's side had to be focused, organised and disciplined during the first half as City took the game to them. Burnley did not see much of the ball in the final third, while their defence was run ragged by the home side's slick attackers. It looked as if the game was virtually over at the break as the champions moved into a commanding 2-0 lead.
However, Burnley gave themselves a lifeline early in the second half and only grew in confidence from there. They were hugely impressive in all areas of the pitch, making their opponents look average instead of a team of superstars.
They surged forward at every available opportunity, which seemed a bit naive once they got back level, and made sure that they came away from the game with something to show for their monumental efforts. More of this and they will give themselves a great chance of staying up.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Ashley Barnes: The Burnley forward worked brilliantly with Danny Ings up front, complementing his strike partner with some smart hold-up play. Barnes ran tirelessly throughout and he got his name on the scoresheet for the away side's equaliser with a spectacular shot that gave Joe Hart no chance whatsoever.
Biggest gaffe
Joe Hart made a bad error for Burnley's first goal, allowing George Boyd's deft flick to squirm past him. There were plenty of bodies inside the box, which made it a bit tricky for the England international, but he made a bit of a mess of what should have been a routine save.
Referee performance
Kevin Friend had a lively afternoon at the Etihad Stadium, making some key decisions that affected the game. However, his biggest call came at the start of the second half when George Boyd scored from an offside position. It was a close one because the penalty area was crowded at the time, but it was a big one that he should have got correct. That moment aside, Friend did a decent enough job of trying to allow the game to flow.
What next?
Man City: The champions continue the defence of their Premier League title on January 1 when they entertain Sunderland.
Burnley: The Clarets are back in Premier League action on January 1 with a trip to Newcastle United.
Jack Prescott
