CITY 5 BURNLEY 1
Nationwide Division One
29th December 2001
Attendance 34,250
Scorers
City Wanchope(2, 28 & 45), Berkovic(38), Huckerby(90)
Burnley I Moore(61)
City Nash, Mettomo, Howey, Wiekens, Edghill, Horlock, Benarbia, Berkovic, Tiatto, Wanchope Goater – subs Dunne(21), Wright-Phillips(80), Huckerby(65), Haaland(unused), Weaver(unused)
Burnley Michopoulos, West, Cox, Gnohere, Briscoe, Little, Ball, Grant, A Moore, Taylor, I Moore- subs Papadopoulos(71), Ellis(81), Armstrong(unused), Johnrose(unused), Cennamo(unused)
PAULO OPENS THE SCORING
THEN MAKES IT 2-0 BEFORE THE HALF HOUR
CARLO NASH IS CONGRATULATED AFTER SAVING A PENALTY
From 50 YEARS OF MANCHESTER CITY, THE BEST AND WORST OF EVERYTHING by STEVE MINGLE
City’s promotion challenge was gathering momentum as Kevin Keegan’s side had largely eliminated their early season inconsistency. The visit of leaders Burnley was expected to provide a tough test but this was the day that City demonstrated that they weren’t just in the race, but rather that they were by far the division’s outstanding team. The front five of Ali Bernabia, Eyal Berkovic, Darren Huckerby, Paolo Wanchope and Shaun Goater were all in top form but, on this occasion, it was the maverick Wanchope who took the headlines with a tremendous hat-trick.
Some of City’s football was irresistable, combining slick inter-passing and movement with a level of individual skill which most teams in the top flight would have struggled to contain. All of Wanchope’s goals were superbly constructed and taken, but the pick of the five was a low twenty yard drive from Berkovic after being set up by delightful interplay between Goater and Wanchope. City weren’t totally convincing at the back, relying on a Carlo Nash penalty save to maintain their early lead before they really cut loose, but when their attacking talents fired like this, it didn’t really matter.
