Manchester City show they can win ugly after the SEVENTH red card of Pep Guardiola's 6 month reign
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This was a day when Manchester City once again showed the ugly side of their beautiful game.
The seventh red card of Pep Guardiola's six-month tenure left a stain on an otherwise spirited display from his side.
Forced to play with 10 men for the best part of an hour following Fernandinho's straight red card, City dug deep to grind out a 2-1 win over Burnley that moved them up to third.
After their insipid performance in losing 1-0 at Liverpool on New Year's Eve, Guardiola needed his players to respond with a statement of intent. And while City may have fallen short on that front, lacking any real fluency and style, the resilience and endeavour they showed ultimately saw them over the line.
But victory came at a price, with Guardiola now unable to call upon Fernandinho, one of his most influential players, for the next four games.
The Blues' boss did his best Arsene Wenger impression afterwards, claiming he "didn't see it" when asked for his reaction to the Brazilian midfielder's 32nd-minute dismissal.
Guardiola's touchline reaction to the sending-off - taking off his coat and throwing it to the ground in clear frustration - suggested he had, indeed, seen the incident.
It was a rash challenge, a two-footed scissor tackle and one which earned Fernandinho his third red card in six weeks following early baths against Borussia Monchengladbach and Chelsea.
As he had just returned from a three-match ban for that latter dismissal and was wearing the captain's armband, Guardiola, his fellow players and their fans are entitled to expect more from a player of Fernandinho's experience.
His enforced absence has been compounded by the fact City are already missing key central midfielders heading into key games against West Ham, Everton and Tottenham.
(Photo: Getty)
(Photo: PA)
(Photo: Reuters)
City are without Ilkay Gundogan, who is out for the season, and Fabian Delph remains injured while Fernando cannot even make it into Guardiola's matchday squad.
In that context, Fernandinho's recklessness has left the manager with a problem he could do without.
The only positive from the day was the plundering of three points to move within seven of leaders Chelsea, who play away at Spurs on Wednesday.
City were struggling for their usual fluency when the key flashpoint of the game arrived just after the half-hour mark.
When his pass to Kevin De Bruyne was cut out, Fernandinho's only intent was to retrieve the ball, but as soon as he launched himself at Joey Gudmundsson with both feet, he was in trouble.
Referee Lee Mason thought for a moment before producing a red card.
Guardiola waited until the break to make changes, bringing on Sergio Aguero and David Silva. City's star duo had been benched following the Anfield defeat, but circumstances forced their reintroduction.
The hosts found an unlikely first goal-scorer in Gael Clichy, whose 58th-minute angled shot found its way past keeper Tom Heaton.
It was defender Clichy's first goal at the Etihad over five years after signing from Arsenal.
(Photo: Getty Images Europe)
(Photo: Action Images via Reuters)
Four minutes later their lead was doubled, as Aguero claimed his 17th of the season with an outrageous finish — again from a tight angle.
Burnley gave themselves hope of salvaging something from the game with defender Ben Mee's 70th-minute goal off the underside of the bar, after City had tried to scramble the ball to safety.
But it was ultimately too little, too late.
The home side saw the game out, showing they have the collective strength of character to win games in adversity, even if discipline remains a problem.