Jesus scores four goals as Pep’s men put one foot in Carabao Cup final

IT took just 37 minutes for Nigel Clough's Wembley dreams to go for a Burton.

Manchester City already had four goals by then and had secured their place in the Carabao Cup final for a fourth time in six years.

From then on it was just a question of how many goals Pep Guardiola's ruthless and brilliant men would score.

It turned out to be nine  - with Gabriel Jesus getting four of them - to chalk up their biggest win in over 30 years.

And it took their goal tally to 16 in two brutal but mesmerising cup perforamnces - in the space of just four days.

And to think Clough is a former City player - some welcome back this turned out to be.

The Clough family have a real tradition in this competition - with the legendary Brian winning it four times as a manager - two of them with Nigel in the team.

This was also the third time Clough jr has reached the last four as a manager - having also done it with Derby and Sheffield United.

Yet guiding Burton to a win over two legs against mighty Manchester City would surely have topped the lot.

The Brewers had beaten four teams from divisions above them to get this far - including Premier League Burnley.

Burton's fans got stuck in traffic on the M6 on their way north and only just made it in time for kick off.

Unfortunately for them, most of them were in their seats in time to see City take the lead inside the first five minutes.

Skipper for the night David Silva whipped over a delicious cross from the left and Kevin de Bruyne was there to nod in a simple opener.

The Belgian impressed on his latest comeback against Rotherham on Sunday but did not find the net - so that would have felt good.

It looked as though it could be a long night for Albion yet they almost scored a shock equaliser minutes later.

Lucas Akins crossed from the left and it reached Marcus Harness at the back post - but he skied his effort over the bar.

Clough must have feared the worst when that didn't go in - and so it proved.

On the half hour, the home side doubled their lead as Ilkay Gundogan - who set up four in the rout against Rotherham - was at it again.

He found Leroy Sane with a super pass before swapping passes again to put his countryman clear on goal.

The winger was denied by Bradley Collins but it popped up for Gabriel Jesus to nod home from close range.

Four minutes later, Gundogan was again the architect as he picked out SIlva - who squared it for Jesus.

The Brazilian - who was clearly offside when the initial pass was played - took a touch but firing a low shot in off the post.

A VAR check showed Jesus was not interfering with play in the first instance and Silva was marginally onside so the goal was allowed to stand.

And eight minutes before the break, City fans could start booking their trips to Wembley.

Only Alex Zinchenko will know whether he had spotted Collins off his line or was trying to whip over a cross from the left.

But it looped over the Brewers keeper and into the top corner - and to be fair to the Ukrainian it looked decent.

The VAR must have taken pity on the visitors as it over-ruled a penalty claim for Jesus jsut before the break.

And Collins made a spectacular save to tip a volley from Mahrez over the bar - but there was no respite for them.

He was beaten again before the hour as Silva and Mahrez combined to tee up Jesus to complete his hat-trick with a simple header.

Then Gundogan threaded a pass through to Jesus who was denied by Collins but sub Phil Foden rolled in the rebound.

The 18-year-old would have been disappointed not to start - but a second goal at the Etihad in four days probably softened the blow.

Another goal came as Sane controlled superbly on his chest and crossed low to Jesus to cleverly turn in his fourth - and City's seventh.

Sub Bernardo Silva sent Mahrez away down the left and his cross was turned in expertly by sub Kyle Walker.

And there were still seven minutes remaining when Bernardo skipped down the left and crossed for Mahrez to poke home number nine.

"We want 10" shouted the home fans - but for once their team could not quite oblige.