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Burnley lined up as expected, the same formation that has brought reasonable performances, just a lack of luck if anything. Fletcher started alone up front, with Blake and Eagles in support from the flanks. Elliott, Bikey and Alexander made up the middle of the park, with Mears, Caldwell, Carlisle and former Manchester City product Jordan in front of the Beast at the back.
Burnley started the game the brighter, pressing forwards well, and the back four seeming to be well in control of Adebayor, Bellamy and Tevez. Burnley won a free kick in a threatening position and Graham Alexander drilled the ball low into the box. Robbie Blake met it, and was unlucky not to steer the ball on target.
Shaun Wright-Phillips looked to be causing Burnley the most trouble down the right hand side. Stephen Jordan had a solid enough game and kept the pacey wingers attacks to a minimum.
Burnley started to settle down and string a few passes together. They took the game to City, and as he has done so often this season, right back Mears linked up well with the midfield, overlapping Eagles and running at Lescott the whole game. His great efforts paid off 20 minutes in, his good run down the right had City's defence looking stretched. He crossed the ball but Lescott made contact with the ball with his right arm and referee/school leaver Attwell awarded Burnley a penalty. There was no doubting who was to take it. Graham Alexander doing what he does best - keeping his cool and slotting the ball home from twelve yards. Down low to Given's right hand side, the ball was placed perfectly in the bottom corner, Alexander's fourth goal of the season, and third in two games.
The Clarets really began to dominate, and looked much the stronger side. Eagles was having a good game and continued to link up well with Fletcher and Mears. 32 minutes in, Eagles got the ball and tricked his way into the box and played a brilliant ball across the City box for Steven Fletcher to slot the ball home to make it 2-0. City's defence were wide open, and not looking like it was full of talent costing well over £30,000,000. They claimed offside, but Fletcher's run was time to perfection.
Wright-Phillips continued to be the main threat, and had the ball in the back of the net, although it was rightly ruled out for offside. It was looking as though Burnley would be heading into the break two up, but it wasn't to be. Wright-Phillips wriggled and wormed around Blake and hit a shot from the edge of the area. The ball took a wicked deflection and curled around the outstretched and helpless Jensen to make it 2-1.
City carried the momentum through into the second half and Burnley didn't look the same side. Ten minutes in, City won a free kick in the Burnley half - in my opinion, a very soft free kick given by Attwell. The ball found its way to the back post and was well diverted back across the 6 yard area. Jensen given no chance as Toure slotted home to make it 2-2.
It was soon 3-2 to the home side. Burnley heads had appeared to drop after losing the two goal advantage and the defence went to sleep. Craig Bellamy smashed the ball past Jensen and it seemed the rotten run of results against City were to continue. It didn't look as though Burnley were going to be able to get back into the game and find the equaliser. Coyle took off Blake and Bikey around the hour mark, and brought on Gudjonsson and Kevin McDonald. Ten minutes later, Nugent was the last of Burnley's substitutes, replacing Chris Eagles - who in my opinion, had one of his better game and is almost certain to keep his starting place next week.
Burnley were looking frustrated and it really didn't seem like we'd score again. Kevin McDonald had other ideas. The lively Nugent made a difference, and played the ball across for Fletcher who nodded the ball right in to the young midfielder's path. He smashed the ball home with 3 minutes left on the clock, and sent the travelling fans wild.
It wasn't the end of the game though, far from it. City were pressing looking to regain the lead, but the Burnley defence held on. Then, Burnley could have had a winner themselves, Nugent winning the ball out wide and raced into the City area. He tried to cut back inside the City rear guard as he had no support from his team mates, but the defence managed to clear the ball.
Overall, it was a fantastic performance. A well deserved point - perhaps more frustrating to say that we're almost disappointed to have not come away with a convincing win after going 2-0 up. Having said that, the monkey is off the back of the club, the manager, the players, having not got a point away from home. Not only that, we're starting to get a hold of games, pressure the opposition - and we're scoring.
There are better teams than Burnley in this league who will go away from City empty handed, so Coyle and the team can be happy with the point picked up.