Manchester City may have their fate in their own hands after the midweek triumph at Old Trafford. But that is not enough reason for the defending champions to put on a smile as history suggests they should be wary of underestimating Burnley this weekend who are presumed bad omen to defending and reigning champions.
The Sean Dyche’s side has proved to be dangerous opponents for reigning champions in recent seasons and will be plotting another upset at Turf Moor on Sunday when the two sides meet t a time when City is racing up against Liverpool for the League title.
Burnley have beaten the defending champions in each of their previous four PL seasons and can now make it five in a row to keep intact their record.
Here is a look at their performance in some of the matches incidents they have shown no respect for the champions.
Burnley 1 Manchester United 0, August 19, 2009
A play-off final win over Sheffield United had pushed Burnley into the top tier for the first time in generation and Sir Alex Ferguson’s all conquering United were the first visitors to Turf Moor.
Burnley lost at Stoke on the opening day but that was quickly forgotten just a few days later.
On a night where Turf Moor was rocking, Robbie Blake’s wonder volley secured the points for the Clarets as they won 1-0.
Burnley 1 Man City 0, March 14, 2015
The Clarets had surprised plenty in coming up from the Championship in Sean Dyche’s first full season in charge.
When City visited Turf Moor in mid-March the Clarets had lost five and drawn two of their previous seven games and were battling to beat the relegation.
That fight would ultimately prove unsuccessful but Burnley did get one over City’s megastars with George Boyd netting the only goal of the game on the hour.
Joe Hart, now at Burnley, was in the City goal that day while David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero were also in the starting XI.
Burnley have lost six of their seven matches against City since, shipping 22 goals in the process.
Burnley 1 Leicester 0, Tuesday, January 31, 2017
The Foxes had stunned the football world with their remarkable triumph under Claudio Ranieri in 2016.
They didn’t get close to a repeat of the title and were beaten at Turf Moor by a late Sam Vokes effort, the Welshman netting with three minutes remaining.
The ball hit the hand of Vokes as he found the net but Leicester appeals were waved away. The night also saw then record signing Robbie Brady unveiled to the home crowd at half time.
Chelsea 2 Burnley 3, August 12, 2017
The Clarets stunned Antonio Conte’s side on the opening day of last season. A Sam Vokes brace a superb Stephen Ward strike had Burnley three up at the interval.
Chelsea was hampered by the early dismissal of former Clarets loanee Gary Cahill and was reduced to nine men in the second half when Cesc Fabregas was sent off on 81 minutes.
The Blues rallied, scoring through Alvaro Morata while David Luiz, the boo boy from this season’s trip to Stamford Bridge, made it a nervy finish when he struck two minutes from time.
But couldn’t stop Burnley from securing a memorable victory which set the tone for a season which ended with a seventh-place finish and European football.
History hs a tendency of repeating itself and City could fall, victim of the same when they face Burnley on Sunday although they seem more lethal than they have been before Burnley has not been asleep either they must have been working to better.