Burnley snatch 3-3 draw at Man City

Nov 7, 2009 - 6:05 PM By GEOFF McALLISTER STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Substitute Kevin McDonald snatched a late equaliser to earn Burnley their first Premier League away point in a pulsating 3-3 draw with Manchester City at Eastlands.

Burnley, who had lost their previous five away matches, stormed into a 2-0 lead only for City to come back and lead with only minutes remaining.

But then McDonald lashed home a shot from ten yards to deflate rampant City who looked to have completed a remarkable recovery with a stunning victory.

Burnley surged into a 19th minute lead when Joleon Lescott handled a cross from Tyrone Mears and Graham Alexander crashed home the penalty with his customary efficiency.

Worse was to follow for City when Robbie Blake sent Chris Eagles clear down the right in the 33rd minute and Steve Fletcher headed in Eagles' cross.

But City gradually regained their poise and two minutes before the break, Shaun Wright-Phillips exposed defensive frailties with a shot deflected in by off Burnley defender Steven Caldwell.

City were a different team after the break and swarmed around the Burnley goal, their dominance leading to an equaliser after 55 minutes.

Lescott and Gareth Barry were the creators and Kolo Toure was in the right place to finish off a bright move.

Burnley looked like a beaten side when Craig Bellamy scored from ten yards after Stephen Ireland, restored to the side in place of Nigel de Jong, had put Wright-Phillips clear on the right.

But as City fans started to celebrate, McDonald came up with his priceless goal.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes made no effort to hide his disappointment at the way Burnley had been allowed to snatch their late leveller.

Hughes said: "The reason we did not get maximum points was the poor way we played in the first half. Give credit to Burnley, they closed us down in the first half and got the ball into our box quickly.

"We made a huge effort to get back into the match and got in front but in the end you can't give teams in the Premier League a two-goal start and expect to win.

"We showed our quality in coming from behind so it was hard to take when we let Burnley in again right at the end. We have to sort out some defensive difficulties."

Burnley manager Owen Coyle feared the game had slipped from his team's grasp when City got back to lead 3-2 and only a few minutes remained.

Coyle said: "We got off to a great start and I thought we deserved to be a couple of goals ahead but the problem was in holding on to it.

"We like to get forward as much as we can but at this level you cannot leave yourself too open and maybe that is what happened to us.

"City have a team full of top quality players who have cost a fortune so to get a point is a great achievement."