Buzzin Football

Following Tottenham’s 9-1 thrashing of Wigan last November and Chelsea’s shocking 7-1 drubbing of Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa last weekend, the Premier League was raining goals once again today as struggling Burnley played host to the noveau rich Manchester City who are looking to break into the ‘big four’ and with it a place at the Champions League head table.

Back in August 2009, Burnley caused the first shock of the 2009/2010 Premier League season when Robbie Blake scored the only goal to beat Manchester United.  Today it was the turn of Burnley to be on the end of a shock result.  A different Burnley, under the mismanagement of Brian Laws, defended as poorly as I have ever seen a Premier League team defend.

Within the first 7 minutes Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City were 3-0 up with goals from Emmanuel Adebayor (4 mins), Craig Bellamy (5 mins) & Carlos Tevez (7 mins) and a few Burnley fans decided to head home for an early bath. Several shots later, and Patrick Viera scored with a header to put Man City 4-0 ahead after 20 minutes.  Those Burnley fans that stayed decided to keep warm by clapping and cheering their side on gallantly, and the team appeared to respond by having a couple of shots on target, even though the Burnley defence still looked more akin to a primary school playground than a Premiership football team.

Adebayor scored his second goal at the end of the first half to give Manchester City an astonishing half time lead of 5-0.

As the Burnley walked  back onto the pitch for the second half, looking like Christians entering a lion’s den, the tannoy played Chumbawamba’s hit ‘Tub thumper’ – “I get knocked down, but I get up again!”

The second half began with Burnley on the offensive though the waterlogged pitch was now making hard work of any good quality football; and when Vincent Kompany made it 6-0 after 57 minutes, Burnley’s attempt at giving their supporters anything to cheer about, fell flat.

It took 71 minutes for Burnley to carve the Man City defence apart and a humongous cheer erupted as Steven Fletcher’s shot passed Shay Given and hit the back of the net, to make the score 6-1.

Another hatful of goals on the same day as Chelsea beat Manchester United at Old Trafford to go two points clear at the top of the Premier League in what is turning out to be probably the most exciting Premier League season I can ever remember.

As the game petered out the tannoy announced the player of the match was Burnley’s striker Steven Fletcher. But this week’s sponsor was apparently not Moet but the local butcher. After a 6-1 drubbing, I suppose a pork chop is better than nothing!