Title challenge still on course, insists Pellegrini

 

Title challenge still on course, insists Pellegrini

Man City manager remains confident despite disappointment of 2-2 draw with Burnley

    

Manuel Pellegrini admitted his side "thought the game was over" as they squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Burnley on Sunday but insisted the result does not significantly the race for the Barclays Premier League title.

City looked to be heading for an eight straight BPL victory with goals from David Silva and Fernandinho in 10 first-half minutes. But Burnley rallied and claimed a share of the points with a goal from George Boyd just after the break and a fine strike from Ashley Barnes nine minutes from time.

The result also meant City were unable to close the gap at the top of the table to league leaders Chelsea, who had earlier been held at Southampton.

"I am not saying we were unfortunate," said Pellegrini. “In the second half, they grew [in confidence] and we couldn't keep the goal advantage. It is clear we couldn't keep the same intensity. Their first goal was important for them and they had trust in what they could do.

"I don't analyse individual performances. Burnley didn't have too many chances to score but they scored the goals they needed. It was not the fault of one player.

"In the way we are playing, we need a lot of movements and work. You need to run a lot of metres. Winning 2-0, we thought the game was over but it is not finished until the last whistle. We couldn't continue with the same pace.”

City remain in second place in the table, two points behind Jose Mourinho's Chelsea.

"The game against Burnley was a chance to have two points more but it was not a chance to win anything else,” Pellegrini added. “We have to play the rest of the season.

"We finished the first half of the season with 43 points - a good amount. After you are winning 2-0, it is more disappointing to lose two points but we have the rest of the season to see who will be the best team."

Burnley manager Sean Dyche was delighted with his team’s display at the home of the defending BPL champions as they claimed a result that puts them within one point of moving out of the relegation zone.

"All things being considered, that goes down as an outstanding performance,” he said. “At half time, we are two goals down and everyone has written us off, apart from the group of people that I work with.

"We put down the marker of getting the first goal, and building on that. We did that, not only in terms of getting the goal so early, but also the relentless nature of the performance after that. The quality, endeavour and organisation were high. I was very pleased with everything.”

And Dyche was full of praise for Burnley striker Barnes, who has now scored three league goals in the last four matches.

"That was one of the best centre forward performances I have seen in a long, long time," Dyche added. "He is a player who has adapted and is moving forward. His finish is absolutely top drawer.

"He came to see me earlier this season and I said his chance would come. It has, and he is taking it, make no mistake about that.”

Elsewhere, Mourinho praised the efforts of Southampton after his side had to fought back after Sadio Mane's opener to draw 1-1 thanks to Eden Hazard's equaliser.

"I can believe Southampton defended with everything they have - with organisation, spirit and solidarity of players and the effort they fought to get the point," Mourinho told Sky Sports. "A point is a point against a difficult team."