Burton Albion v Manchester City Live Commentary & Result, 23/1/19, League Cup

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Guardiola's side have a final date against either Tottenham or Chelsea to look forward to next month, but there is plenty of football to come before then. Next up for City, who have won their last seven matches in all competitions, is a home match against Burnley in the FA Cup on Saturday. Burton, meanwhile, take on Bradford City in League One on the same day.

Man City are through to the EFL Cup final with a 10-0 aggregate win over Burton. Guardiola's much-changed side scored just the one second-leg goal, coming via Aguero in the 26th minute, but they missed a couple of chances to extend their lead late on through saved shots from Jesus and Danilo. Burton, to their credit, gave a much better account of themselves in this return fixture and came close to scoring 20 minutes from the end when Boyce and Miller both had presentable opportunities to find a way through.

90' + 3' FULL-TIME: BURTON 0-1 MAN CITY

90' + 1' LATE SAVE! City win a free-kick a little over 25 yards out, which Danilo sends up and over the wall. The ball dips and it is an awkward one for Collins to deal with, the keeper happy to lift it over the bar.

89' JESUS DENIED BY COLLINS! This is City's best opening in a while, as Jesus gets away from his man and sets himself for the shot. The attempt is on target but Collins spreads his body to keep it out.

87' Akins tries his luck from 25 yards with a half-decent attempt, the ball ending wide of the post. Burton's fans are still here in their numbers, urging their side on for a goal that would be nothing more than a consolation in the grand scheme of things.

85' Garcia gets to the ball and clears it to safety following yet another slip from a Man City player. The visitors look as though they want a second goal, but Burton keeper Collins has barely been tested all match.

83' Burton have produced an improved second-leg display, but they have now lost the momentum they had built up and do not really look as though they have a goal in them. Man City are doing what they do best, knocking the ball around in search of the perfect passing angle.

81' City centre-back Garcia is now into triple figures for passes completed today. To put that into some context, no Burton player has completed more than 27!

79' City have offered very little since Aguero missed a sitter shortly after the hour mark. Since then Burton have had a couple of attempts on target - one saved by Muric and one blocked on the line by Garcia. Albion, on the basis of this second half, deserve a goal.

C. Daniel

L. Boyce

77' Daniel, who joined on loan from Peterborough United earlier this week, takes over from Boyce in Burton's third and final change.

76' The League One hosts are showing a lot more attacking intent all of a sudden, knowing that they really do not have anything to lose. City have had 70 per cent of the ball but there has not been a great deal between the sides, in truth.

74' Burton have now had two shots on target today, bettering their total from the first leg.

73' Harness takes the ball off Nmecha before the youngster can set himself for the shot. The Burton midfielder took a slight risk as he barged into his opponent, but there was not enough contact for Kevin Friend to point to the penalty spot.

71' OFF THE LINE! Burton really should be on level terms here. Sandler slips at the back and Boyce is through on goal, but he cannot find a way past Muric. Miller latches onto the rebound and strikes it on target, where Garcia is waiting to block it on the line.

69' City are dominating possession but are not really breaking a sweat. Mahrez helps the ball across for Danilo, whose cross has too much on it for any of his team-mates to convert at the back post.

F. Nmecha

O. Zinchenko

67' Nmecha is the latest City youngster to make his debut, coming on for Zinchenko with a little over 20 minutes to go.

66' Jesus, only on the field for five minutes, gets away from one man and then a second, but he is unable to squeeze it past McFadzean. The visitors are struggling to build any sort of momentum in this second period.

65' City were seven goals up at this point in the first leg. It has been a far more balanced game today, but Burton have not really done enough to trouble their opponents at the back. Still plenty of time for that to change, though!

B. Mendy

K. De Bruyne

63' Mendy makes his first appearance since November 11, coming on for De Bruyne for the final 27 minutes.

Gabriel Jesus

S. Agüero

63' Jesus, who scored a hat-trick in the first leg, comes on for goalscorer Aguero. Burton's defenders will be pleased!

62' SITTER! An offside Foden cuts the ball back for Aguero, who sidefoots the ball wide of the post from 10 yards. City's record scorer was wide open and will wonder just how he managed to miss from that range.

60' Templeton gets past his man down the left but fails to pick out a team-mate. The rebound falls nicely to him but he is again denied when trying to pick out a player in yellow and black. Burton are starting to grow in confidence.

58' Delph goes on a strong run through the middle of the pitch and enters the box, but McFadzean ushers the ball out of play before the shot arrives. Mendy looks as though he will be brought on shortly.

56' PENALTY APPEAL! Templeton gets the better of Danilo and goes to ground inside the box. Premier League official Kevin Friend - who has the benefit of VAR today - says no, and replays suggest that he made the right call. There was no real contact between the two players.

54' SAVE! City have finally upped the tempo of the match. Danilo bursts clear down the right and chips the ball into the middle, but Delph scuffs the volley. He has a second crack at it, only succeeding in shooting at Collins.

52' Guardiola has emerged from the dugout to shout some instructions to his players. The Catalan is clearly not happy with the slow-tempo start to the second half - always a risk when you are 10 goals to the good, I guess!

50' Foden picks up an injury and play stops for a minute or so. Both sets of players are still struggling to keep their footing on the frosty surface.

49' Burton manager Clough has lost just one of his last five home games against Premier League opponents, winning half of them, with that defeat coming in the EFL Cup second round in 2016-17 (5-0 v Liverpool).

47' SHOT! Burton are clearly going to give this a real go in the second half. Templeton turns and gets a shot away, but it is always rising over the crossbar.

46' Burton, now 10 goals behind on aggregate, get us back underway at the Pirelli Stadium!

B. Fox

S. Quinn

46' Burton boss Clough is making a change for the start of the second half, bringing on Fox for Quinn in midfield.

1' Good goalkeeping from Muric to race off his line and get to the ball before Harness can flick it goalwards. A few shouts for a penalty from the home stands but Muric collected the ball down low before taking out Harness.

Clough will be pleased enough with his side's display in the opening 45 minutes, having restricted the Premier League champions to very little in terms of clear-cut chances. The target today was to hold City to a draw, and that is still entirely possible if Albion can find a way through. A big "if" there, admittedly.

The end of a fairly quiet first half at the Pirelli Stadium ends with Man City a goal to the good - and now 10-0 up on aggregate. Aguero scored 26 minutes in, profiting from a sublime deep pass from De Bruyne in the build-up. That aside chances have been pretty limited, with Boyce registering Burton's only shot on target with a smart flick that Muric was equal to.

45' + 3' HALF-TIME: BURTON 0-1 MAN CITY

45' + 1' A good passing move from City ends with Foden slipping as he attempts to get in the box. Two minutes have been added on at the end of the first half.

44' De Bruyne recovers to prevent Harness - who has stole possession from the visitors a couple of times - from getting in on goal. The match has gone very flat since the stoppage in play for Turner to receive treatment.

42' City are ending the half on top, knocking the ball around. Burton have not really been able to get at their opponents so far, but at 1-0 they still have hope of snatching a draw from the second leg.

R. Hutchinson

B. Turner

40' Clough turns to Hutchinson for the injured Turner - a blow for Burton so close to half-time.

39' It does not appear as though Turner will be able to continue. The physio is looking at his thigh but the initial signs are not good and Clough is readying a sub...

38' Man City, rather sportingly, put the ball out of play as Burton centre-back Turner is in need of some treatment. Home boss Clough may be forced into a change here, with Brayford a possible option to slot into the back four.

36' De Bruyne dinks a free-kick towards the back post where Garcia - possibly offside - is waiting to meet it. The young defender fails to pick out a team-mate, however, and the attack fizzles out.

34' Muric scrambles the ball clear after being put under some pressure - Burton are clearly targeting the untested keeper. Foden lunges in on Templeton from behind and is fortunate to evade a booking.

32' Aguero has scored in five of his last six EFL Cup semi-final appearances (five goals in total). This latest strike was a well-taken one, tucking the ball out of Collins' reach.

30' Good link-up play from Aguero and De Bruyne, only for the latter to overhit the attempted throughball for Poveda.

28' Better from Burton! Miller finds himself in some space on the edge of the box and goes for goal, sending the shot a couple of yards wide. Muric is happy to watch the ball all the way.

R. Mahrez

Assist

26' Mahrez did well to pick Aguero, who moved into a little space to create room for the shot, but this goal was all about the quality of the pre-assist from De Bruyne - a yard inside the Burton half of the field.

S. Agüero

Goal

26' GOOOOAAALLL!!! BURTON 0-1 MAN CITY! It may have taken a lot longer than it did in the first leg, but City finally have a breakthrough goal in this second leg through Aguero. De Bruyne creates it with a sublime pass into the feet of Mahrez from just inside his own half, the winger looking up and spotting Aguero, who sweeps it into the far corner from 12 yards.

25' City are happy to remain patient in search of an opening goal at the Pirelli Stadium. There is no pressure on the visitors, of course, as they are already nine goals ahead from the first leg. Zinchenko's left-sided cross is headed clear.

23' Aguero, tightly marked in the box, slips before he can get the shot away after latching onto Mahrez's pass. It is not quite happening for the City striker today.

21' The second leg is proving to be a lot more competitive than the first, even if Man City have enjoyed 80 per cent of possession. Harness gets the better of Zinchenko down the right but his cutback is met by De Bruyne.

19' Mahrez cuts inside from the right and sends his shot across goal. The Algeria winger is proving to be City's most dangerous player in the opening quarter of the match.

18' McCrory is having to remain alert to the diagonal - City's go-to pass. Mahrez has already got in behind once, but that aside Burton have done well to keep their opponents quiet. In fact, the League One side have come closest to making a breakthrough.

16' SAVE! Boyce diverts Quinn's free-kick goalwards with a smart flick eight yards out, but Muric reads it well and gets down to make the save. A little more power behind it and that would have been 1-0 to the hosts!

14' FIRST CHANCE FOR CITY! Delph pings a diagonal pass into the path of Mahrez, who gets a little fortunate with his first touch. It is set up nicely to curl into the far corner, but the Algeria winger does not get enough bend on the ball and it goes straight behind.

12' Third-tier Burton have been chasing shadows for the best part of 10 minutes. Harness nearly wins back the ball for his side towards the wing but he cannot quite bring it under control.

10' De Bruyne wins the ball back for his side and gets away his side's first shot of the contest, which is blocked on the edge of the box.

9' Guardiola's men are up to 73% but they have yet to register a shot - on target or otherwise. Aguero drifts towards the left-hand side to pick up the ball, only to be crowded out by a few opposition players.

7' Aguero misplaces a pass, which goes down well with the home fans. The Premier League champions are seeing a lot more of the ball now but they are not doing a great deal with it - Burton boss Clough will be pleased with that.

5' Man City have not yet been able to grab a foothold in the match. Mahrez initially does well to work some space out wide but his cross is headed clear.

3' Burton are pressing high up the pitch early on - lessons have clearly been learned from the first leg. The visitors have not really been able to get out of their own half of the pitch so far.

1' Man City, boasting a nine-goal lead from the first leg, get us underway!

The two teams are now out on the field at the Pirelli Stadium and we are moments away from kick-off.

The first leg at the Etihad Stadium marked the first time that these sides had faced off in a competitive match. The 9-0 defeat was Burton’s heaviest since becoming a Football League side in 2009 and it was also the biggest ever margin of victory in a semi-final of an English cup competition.

Clough has made five changes on the back of the heavy first-leg loss, bringing in McFadzean, Turner, Templeton, Wallace and Miller. Akins, the man responsible for Burton’s only shot on target in the reverse fixture, retains his place in the side and there are also starts for Northern Ireland international Boyce and Republic of Ireland international Quinn.

Man City show eight changes from their 3-0 win at Huddersfield Town on Sunday - De Bruyne, Aguero and Danilo the only survivors for this dead rubber of sorts. A number of Pep Guardiola’s regulars are given the day off, with several academy players included in the squad, including a senior debut for Poveda in the frontline and a first start for Sandler in the heart of a makeshift back four. Mendy is also on the bench and could make his return from injury.

Man City subs: Benjamin Mendy, Gabriel Jesus, Felix Nmecha, John Stones, Daniel Grimshaw, Luke Bolton, Taylor Richards.

MAN CITY XI (4-3-3): Aro Muric; Danilo, Philippe Sandler, Eric Garcia, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Kevin De Bruyne, Fabian Delph, Phil Foden; Riyad Mahrez, Sergio Aguero (c), Ian Carlo Poveda.

Burton subs: Ben Fox, Joe Sbarra, Reece Hutchinson, John Brayford, Stephen Bywater, Jake Buxton, Colin Daniel.

BURTON XI (4-2-3-1): Bradley Collins; Lucas Akins (c), Kyle McFadzean, Ben Turner, Damien McCrory; Stephen Quinn, Kieran Wallace; Marcus Harness, Will Miller, David Templeton; Liam Boyce.

This second leg is pretty much a formality, then, with damage limitation the order of the day for Burton. Nigel Clough’s side, who knocked out three Championship teams and Premier League Burnley to make it to this stage for the first time in their history, managed just one shot on target at the Etihad Stadium. An improved display is needed today if they are to avoid another thrashing.

Cup holders City can already look forward to next month’s final at Wembley, against either Chelsea or Tottenham, having won the first leg 9-0. Gabriel Jesus helped himself to four goals in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium two weeks ago, while Kevin De Bruyne, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez also registered against the League One side.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the EFL Cup semi-final second leg between Burton Albion and Manchester City at the Pirelli Stadium.

Burton Albion v Manchester City Live Commentary, 24/1/19

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