Manchester City 2 Burnley 1: Pep Guardiola won the game, Fernandinho a liability and Jesus Navas isn’t good enough

MANCHESTER CITY climbed back up to third in the Premier League as they shrugged off going down to ten-men to beat Burnley.

Midfielder Fernandinho was sent off for a two-footed tackle to leave City playing with a man down for an hour.

But Gael Clichy fired City into the lead and Sergio Aguero made a point after being dropped by squeezing home the second goal from a narrow angle.

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And Pep Guardiola’s side held out for a vital three points despite Ben Mee pulling a goal back for Burnley after another error from keeper Claudio Bravo.

SunSport brings you five things we learnt from City’s crucial win at the Etihad.

Fernandinho is becoming a liability for City

Playing catch-up in the Premier League, City need leaders with calm heads. They don’t need loose cannons flying around the pitch like Fernandinho.

The Brazilian was sent off for a needless two-footed tackle, leaving his teammates to battle on with ten men for the best part of an hour.

It was Fernandinho’s third red card in six domestic and Champions League matches for City, and now he faces a four match suspension at a crucial time for the club.

For such an experienced player, that record is unacceptable.

City have to sign another world class striker

The squad has looked thin all season up top, despite Kelechi Iheanacho impressing in patches when he has been called upon.

But it is surely too much to expect this squad to go through the season in four competitions with only two recognised strikers at the club.

Injury for either Iheanacho or Sergio Aguero would leave City woefully exposed and short of options and Pep Guardiola which could prove costly in the next five months of the season.

They have to get someone in quickly.

Guardiola’s tactics won the day for City

It was a bold call leaving out Sergio Aguero and David Silva from his starting line-up, but all the planning went out of the window once Fernandinho was sent off.

Yet there were no thoughts of shutting up shop from Guardiola, who used half-time to bring on his star duo and order his players to go out and attack Burnley.

They responded in style against the team with one of the best home records in the division, hitting two goals and then holding out for the win.

He has had his critics, but Pep should be applauded for such a brave move.

Sergio Aguero is not Pep’s golden child

There were raised eyebrows earlier in the season when Aguero was left on the bench for the Champions League game in Barcelona, but it could be argued he was being rested at the time to protect his fitness.

No such excuses this time round as Aguero was axed by Pep Guardiola just one game after sitting out three matches through suspension.

The Argentine is without doubt a huge goalscoring talent, but there are suggestions he doesn’t do enough in his all round game for his manager.

Aguero in full flow is unstoppable, but he is no longer a certain starter and that will reverberate around the Etihad dressing room.

But at least he did his talking with his feet by scoring the winning goal.

Time has to be running out for Jesus Navas

Given a start, the Spanish winger was hauled off at the break after another inept display.

Doesn’t score, fails to deliver crosses and has little impact on matches when he does get a chance, how much many more chances will he be given?

Navas just isn’t up to standard.