Manchester City wasted a chance to put pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea as the champions crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat at struggling Burnley on Saturday.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side would have moved within two points of Chelsea with a victory, but instead they departed Turf Moor with their hopes of retaining the title hanging by a slender thread after a lacklustre performance was punished by George Boyd’s second half winner.
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City remain five points behind Chelsea, who can extend that advantage to eight with a victory against Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
To make matters worse for City, Jose Mourinho’s side will still have one more game in hand after facing Southampton.
The dismal defeat, their first against Burnley since 1974, was the worst possible warm-up for City’s Champions League last 16 second leg trip to Barcelona in midweek and added to the growing pressure on Pellegrini.
City captain Vincent Kompany and midfielder Fernandinho had both returned to the starting line-up after the pair were left out of their last game against Leicester following reports of a dressing room row.
But the third bottom Clarets took the lead in the 61st minute when Kompany’s header only reached the edge of the penalty area, where Scotland midfielder Boyd drove a fine low left-footed strike past City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
City had a strong penalty appeal turned down in stoppage-time when Pablo Zabaleta tumbled under a challenge from Ben Mee.
