Manchester City have moved into third place in the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory over Burnley.
The home side were reduced to 10 men in the first half when Fernandino was sent off for a lunge on Johann Berg Gudmundsson, but goals from Gael Clichy and Sergio Aguero gave City the advantage.
Ben Mee pulled one back for the visitors but they could not force an equaliser as City held on for what could prove to be an important three points come the end of the season.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Etihad Stadium.
2.01pmHello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Manchester City and Burnley.
2.04pmIt's been just two days since City and the Clarets were in Premier League action - in City's case, less than 48 hours since they arrived at Anfield to face Liverpool - but that has not stopped the league's fixture-compilers deciding that both teams face a hectic Christmas period - a lot more hectic than some of the other clubs in the top flight. This isn't a prelude to a debate over a winter break but it does seem harsh on everyone involved that they are back in action so soon after their last outing.
2.07pmThat said, the short space of time between matches probably makes this a more competitive match had both teams had a week of preparation. We would not write off Burnley - and we aren't doing so now - but with Pep Guardiola either choosing to rotate or opting to keep his big names in the side, it surely helps Burnley, who are on a high after thrashing Sunderland on New Year's Eve. Which way has Guardiola gone? We will find out shortly.
2.09pmLATEST! Before we crack on with the team news, let me point you in the direction of our coverage of the match involving Middlesbrough and Leicester City. It's currently goalless at the Riverside Stadium but with just under 10 minutes plus added-on time to come, there's still time for one team to claim a winner. Click here if you'd like to keep track of that game.
2.10pmMANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo; Sagna, Kolarov, Otamendi, Clichy; Fernandinho, Yaya Toure; Navas, De Bruyne, Sterling; Iheanacho
2.12pmMANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Zabaleta, Nolito, Aguero, Silva, Stones, A. Garcia
2.12pmBURNLEY XI: Heaton; Ward, Mee, Keane, Lowton; Gudmundsson, Arfield, Hendrick, Boyd; Gray, Barnes
2.13pmBURNLEY SUBSTITUTES: Defour, Darikwa, O'Neill, Bamford, Robinson, Tarkowski, Vokes
2.16pmLet's start with City, with Guardiola opting to drop Sergio Aguero down to the substitutes' bench with Kelechi Iheanacho being given the nod in his place. David Silva is also named among the replacements with Jesus Navas being preferred on the right flank. John Stones is another who is replaced in the team, with Gael Clichy moving to left-back and Aleksandar Kolarov switching inside to partner Nicolas Otamendi.
2.21pmAs for Burnley, Sean Dyche has made two alterations to his team, with Jeff Hendrick and Johann Berg Gudmundsson coming back into the team. Steven Defour and Dean Marney are the men to drop out. Andre Gray starts after his hat-trick against the Black Cats, with Sam Vokes remaining on the bench.
2.24pmHEAD TO HEAD! Today's fixture represents the 95th time in which these two teams have met in a competitive fixture, with City winning 41 times in comparison to the 29 victories for Burnley. Since Burnley first gained promotion to the Premier League in 2009, there has been five matches between the clubs, with City yet to beat Burnley at the Etihad Stadium after two draws...
2.28pmWhile Burnley have been fantastic on their last two visits to the Etihad, they were unable to get the better of City when the teams clashed at Turf Moor at the end of November. Marney gave the home team the lead but two goals from a familiar name earned City the three points. Click here to have a read back of our match report.
2.32pmRESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at the Riverside Stadium and it has ended goalless between Middlesbrough and Leicester City. It's a result which probably suits both teams given that they are keen to move away from the bottom three or four teams below them. The sides below them obviously have a game in hand but Leicester are now seven clear of 18th place, while Middlesbrough are five points above safety. Read our on-the-whistle report by clicking here.
2.37pmLet's talk about a couple of the key men in today's contest and Burnley will be placing most of their goalscoring hopes on Andre Gray, who netted a hat-trick against Sunderland. The 25-year-old has endured a difficult campaign but he has almost single-handedly ensured that Burnley have won their last two fixtures and he will be on a high heading into this encounter. One of the negatives of Gray's play this season is that he is yet to score a goal away from home. He had no such struggles in the Championship with Gray scoring in five of Burnley's last seven games on the road so you'd assume that it will be only a matter of time before he begins to contribute when Burnley are on their travels.
2.41pmAs for City, Guardiola will be looking for a good performance from Iheanacho. The young Nigerian hasn't been able to maintain his scoring rate from earlier in the season but he scored goals against Celtic and Hull City during December so he at least comes into this game with some kind of form. While Guardiola has placed a lot of faith in him this season, he is only making his fifth Premier League start of the campaign today. Given that he has four goals and three assists to his name in the top flight since the start of August, he probably deserves a few more.
2.45pmSTAT! While Burnley have been tremendous in front of their own fans this season, the same cannot be said about their away form. They've registered just one point from an away game this season but that came against City's fierce rivals Manchester United as they held Jose Mourinho's team to a goalless draw. It's fair to say that Dyche would take the same result this afternoon.
2.48pmKevin De Bruyne looked in need of a rest after the Liverpool game but he's one man who Burnley must keep an eye on this afternoon. While the Belgian has scored just two Premier League goals this season, he has as many as nine assists to his name. Take a more extensive look at our assists table by clicking here.
2.52pmPREDICTION! We think that Burnley will cause City some problems this afternoon but it may not be enough to return to Turf Moor with any points. City need to produce a performance after their lacklustre showing against Liverpool so we are backing them to run out routine 3-0 winners today.
2.56pmIt's almost time for kickoff at the Etihad. The two teams are ready to make their way out to a decent-sized crowd. As expected, Burnley have been backed in numbers by their supporters who have made the 29-mile trip.
1 minWe are underway.
4 minNothing in the way of changes so far but what is noticeable is the way Burnley are pressing City every time they get the ball in their own half. It's become a common trend for teams up and down the Premier League table to put Guardiola's side under pressure given the amount of mistakes they have made this season.
7 minCHANCE! This is excellent goalkeeping from Heaton. A mistake from Mee leads to Iheanacho going through on goal but Heaton gets a hand in to stop the forward going around him. The ball falls to Sterling but again, Heaton comes out to get in a hand to dispossess the winger.
8 minCHANCE! Iheanacho looks extremely lively this afternoon. Another through-ball leads to the forward curling a shot just over the crossbar with the aid of a deflection.
12 minBurnley have survived that initial period of pressure from City and have now won a free kick around 35 yards from goal. It's just out of shooting range but can they threaten? The answer is no. It's a poor delivery and City clear.
15 minThe visitors aren't doing a whole lot with the ball when they it but they at least have a foothold in this match. City have had have the majority of possession but only just. There is certainly no fear from Burnley.
16 minBurnley win a free kick on the edge of the penalty area after a foul by Fernaninho but Arfield's effort is straight at the wall and it is deflected wide for a corner. He will be desperately disappointed with that.
19 minSHOT! A mistake from Ward leads to City winning a corner but they play it short and Navas eventually sets up Toure. The Ivorian attempts to curl a shot into the bottom corner but Heaton does well to parry the ball wide.
22 minCity have started to gain control of this game over the last five minutes. Toure's shot has resulted in Burnley dropping much deeper and City are probing away looking for an opportunity.
25 minBetter from City as Toure sets up Navas to get a cross into the box but his delivery does not beat the first man and it goes out for a corner. Nothing comes from the set piece, either.
28 minIt's fair to say that this has not been the greatest of games. There has been the odd chance here and there but Burnley are doing an effective job in stifling their hosts so far. Keane and Mee have been excellent at the back.
32 minRED CARD! It takes some effort to be sent off on three occasions by January 2 but Fernandinho has now achieved that. The Brazilian lunges in, two-footed, on Gudmundsson and in today's game, it's a definite red. What a stupid challenge.
34 minThat dismissal certainly makes this a more interesting spectacle. City are currently operating with Toure and De Bruyne and I can't imagine that remaining the same for too much longer.
36 minSHOT! Barnes has been excellent for Burnley since his return from a long-term injury but he should do better here. He tried to curl the ball into the top corner but he gets his shot all wrong and it goes harmlessly wide.
39 minIn all fairness to City, they have reacted fairly well since the sending off. It shouldn't affect them too much in the final third but it's definitely weakened them in defensive areas.
42 minTensions have been heightened. Hendrick, rather harshly, has gone into the book and he was soon followed by Toure who had too much to say to the referee.
45 minThere will be two minutes of added-on time.
45+2 minHALF TIME: Manchester City 0-0 Burnley
3.48pmThe half-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and Burnley are currently holding 10-man City, who had Fernandinho sent off for a two-footed lunge on Gudmundsson. Guardiola has work to do at the break.
46 minWe are back underway at the Etihad Stadium.
47 minCity made two changes at the break. Navas and Iheanacho have both gone off with Silva and Aguero coming on in their place.
50 minThis game has opened up since the introduction of those two players but while City are pushing more men forward, Burnley are sensing that they are going to have chances on the break. Gray very nearly got in behind the defence.
53 minAs it stands, both City and Liverpool are being held by teams in the bottom half of the table. There still plenty of time to go but the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping that things remain the same.
56 minWhat is refreshing about this game is the fact that City have not taken a backwards step since going down to 10 men and Burnley have resisted temptation to try to dominate possession without offering an end product. I don't think this game will end 0-0. Ward just made a last-ditch tackle to deny Aguero from close range.
58 minGOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Burnley (Clichy)
58 minI expected my prediction to come true but not as soon as that and certainly not through Clichy. The left-back scores with his weaker right foot, too, as he curls the ball through several players with his effort finding the far bottom corner. I'm not entirely convinced it was a shot but it's a goal all the same.
62 minGOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Burnley (Aguero)
62 minCity may be down to 10 men but that is game over. Sterling breaks through on goal and is denied by Heaton as he attempted to go around the goalkeeper. However, the ball falls to Aguero who finds the back of the net from an acute angle, with his shot clipping the near post and deceiving the two defenders on the line.
65 minThe saying that goals change games is very relevant here. Burnley have matched their hosts blow for blow but City are threatening to run away with this now, despite the man disadvantage.
68 minSHOT! Burnley win a free kick on the edge of the area and Boyd decides he is going to try his luck. The ball is played to the midfielder but his shot is deflected wide of the post. Dyche has also thrown on Vokes for Barnes.
70 minGOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Burnley (Mee)
70 minBurnley are back in this game but I can't tell you with any certainty who has scored this goal. It appears that City clear the ball off the line about three times in 10 seconds but the referee was informed by video technology that one of the efforts went over the line. Mee is being credited with the goal as it stands.
74 minBurnley fancy this now but they are leaving so much space at the back. It nearly leads to Aguero netting his second of the match but Lowton gets across to stop the ball finding the bottom corner.
79 minEverything has calmed down to an extent now but I'm assuming that Burnley are readying themselves for a late assault on the City backline now that Vokes is on the pitch. Arfield should have just done better with a cross from the right but it only found the gloves of Bravo.
82 minLess than 10 minutes to go at the Etihad and we are still none the wiser to how this game is going to finish. City are certainly looking the more likely to score again but if Burnley can ride out these next few minutes, they are sure to really push forward in the final stages.
86 minCHANCE! Aguero is 20 yards out when he takes this shot but he will expect to do better. He created space for himself but his effort went a couple of yards over the crossbar.
89 minSUBSTITUTIONS! Both managers make a change with Patrick Bamford replacing Arfield for Burnley and Guardiola throwing on John Stones for Sterling.
89 minCHANCE! This has to go down as a chance. A hard one, but a chance nevertheless. The ball fell to Gray inside the penalty area but his volley, when taking a backwards step, went well wide of the post.
90 minThere are going to be five minutes of added-on time.
90+1 minCHANCE! Another chance for Burnley and this time, they should definitely do better. A cross from the left found Keane, but his volley into the ground was comfortably tipped over the crossbar by Bravo.
90+4 minI think that's just about it now. City have the ball at the back.
90+5 minFULL TIME: Manchester City 2-1 Burnley
4.57pmThe full-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and Manchester City have held on to secure an important three points against a spirited Burnley side. The home side were up against it when Fernandinho was sent off but they responded well to regain third place in the table.
4.58pmThat will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope that you can stick round for the match involving West Ham United and Manchester United. Goodbye for now.
