Manchester City 3-0 Burnley: Leroy Sane and Nicolas Otamendi add to Sergio Aguero's controversial penalty as Pep Guardiola's side move five points clear at the top of the Premier League

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Despite the final scoreline, this was stuttering rather than scintillating Manchester City. But in a heavy downpour they passed the test of champions by winning without playing well, as Manchester United flunked theirs at Huddersfield.

Pep Guardiola's 11th victory in a row in all competitions was among the hardest-earned with a controversial Sergio Aguero penalty putting them ahead after 30 minutes with Burnley boss accusing Bernardo Silva of excessive gamesmanship. It was only deep in the second half that City could finally put their visitors away with goals in quick succession from Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane.

City's victory left them five points clear at the top of the table and one suspected it gave Guardiola as much satisfaction as the previous weekend's 7-2 demolition against Stoke. 

Sergio Aguero opened the scoring for City on Saturday, netting from the penalty spot after half an hour at the Etihad

Nick Pope was adjudged to have fouled Bernardo Silva in the penalty box but Burnley were not happy with the decision

The two sets of players clash after Roger East awarded City the controversial first-half penalty in the Premier League clash

Sergio Aguero remained composed for the home side, howeve and fired in the bottom corner, sending Pope the wrong way

Burnley, it should be remembered, have already picked up points at Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool and Everton this season.

'If people come here and always think we're going to be 5-0 up in 20 minutes, I can tell them it won't happen,' said Guardiola.

'While the game was still goalless, it was difficult for us but we were stable. We created chances and scored when we had to.

Centre back Nicolas Otamendi doubled the lead on 73 minutes as City stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League

The Argentina international headed in Kevin De Bruyne's corner as City made sure of the three points in the closing stages

Leroy Sane added further gloss to the scoreline, netting two minutes later to ensure City finished 3-0 winners at the Etihad

The forward latched onto a pin-point De Bruyne through ball before finishing left-footed past Pope with 15 minutes to play

MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson 7.5; Walker 6.5, Stones 6, Otamendi 6, Delph 7; De Bruyne 6.5 (Gundogan 80 6), Fernandinho 7.5 (Toure 78 6), D Silva 6.5; B Silva 6.5, Aguero 7 (Jesus 76 6.5), Sane 8

Subs not used: Bravo, Danilo, Jesus, Gundogan, Mangala, Sterling, Toure

Goals: Aguero 30, Otamendi 73, Sane 75

Yellow cards: Sane 29, Fernandinho 44

Burnley (4-2-3-1): Pope 6.5; Lowton 6, Tarkowski 7.5, Mee 7, Ward 6.5; Cork 7, Defour 6 (Westwood 84); Brady 6, Hendrick 6.5 (Gudmundsson 71 6), Arfield 7; Wood 6.5 (Barnes 20 5.5) 

Subs not used: Bardsley, Gudmondsson, Lindegaard, Long, Taylor, Westwood

Yellow cards: Tarkowski 29, Cork 52, Barnes 57

Referee: Roger East

Attendance: 54,118

 

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Leroy Sane added gloss to the scoreline at the Etihad when he netted City's third goal 15 minutes from time. For more statistics and information visit Sportsmail's brilliant MATCH ZONE here.

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'We know that Burnley's physicality is amazing. They are a group with a huge work ethic and it's always demanding for us mentally and physically a few days after the Champions League.

'But we defended the first and second balls really well. Maybe last season, we struggled in bad moments but we don't have that feeling now. It was more difficult than last week but we stayed in control.'

City had scored 29 goals in their opening eight league games but Burnley were never going to let it become a case of 'how many?'.

Indeed, the first genuine chance of the game fell to the visitors after 15 minutes following a long clearance by Jack Cork.

Chris Wood beat Kyle Walker to the bouncing ball and took it past Otamendi before City goalkeeper Ederson came out bravely to smother at Woods' feet.

When the ball slipped from his chest on a slippery surface, he then dived again at an onrushing Scott Arfield hunting for the rebound.

Referee Roger East ruled that Arfield had gone in too strongly on the goalkeeper, leaving an irate Dyche to holler 'what's that' at the fourth official as Burnley were denied the chance to score.

If the visitors felt aggrieved by that, it was nothing compared to the incident approaching the half-hour mark.

Burnley's Jack Cork trails City's Belgian talisman De Bruyne during the first half of the Premier League clash at the Etihad

City goalkeeper Ederson dives at the feet of striker Chris Wood - the New Zealand forward had to be substituted shortly after

Wood is forced from the field after clashing with Ederson early in the first half - the forward was replaced by Ashley Barnes

Burnley failed to hold out for long and Sean Dyche's side went behind after only half an hour thanks to Aguero's strike

City captain David Silva battles for possession with Cork as the home side looked to continue their fine start to the season

David Silva played in Kevin De Bruyne who was thwarted by an excellent save from Pope but as the keeper went to ground to challenge Bernardo for the rebound, the Portuguese forward – travelling away from goal - fell dramatically.

Mr East pointed to the spot and then had to separate arguing players with Sane and James Tarkowski particularly aggrieved, both ending up in the book.

Fortunately for Guardiola, Aguero remained cool as he slotted home the penalty for a milestone goal, his 177th for the club equalling Eric Brook's record.

There was relief too – the Argentine had missed seven of his previous 21 penalties including his last against Shakhtar this season, a few days later before he was involved in a car accident which left him with damaged ribs.

That Dyche thought the penalty decision was harsh is an understatement. 'There is contact but it's so minimal I don't know how the ref sees it. For him (Bernardo) to get that high up in the air with his arms outstretched is impressive in itself. If I'd kicked my kid in the garden, I don't think he would fall like that.'

Dyche stopped just short of describing the Silva as a cheat but said; 'You can't fall like that as a 13-stone professional. There has to be honour in the gmae but that's out the window because it's not there.

'As a former defender, I totally understand gamesmanship but that was stretching it I feel.'

Burnley's recovery from perceived injustice was impressive. They could have levelled when Kevin de Bruyne miscontrolled on the edge of his own area and Scott Arfield's shot deflected just wide.

Pep Guardiola's side were looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table against Dyche's Burnley

Aguero fires a left-footed shot at goal but the home side headed into the break leading Burnley by a solitary goal on Saturday

Fernadinho, who played in central midfield alongside Silva and De Bruyne, passes the ball under pressure from Steven Defour

Ederson is sent tumbling to the floor head first after coming to collect a ball into the penalty area during Saturday's clash

City showed flashes of quality in patches with Aguero twice denied by Pope's legs and James Tarkowski bravely blocking a Bernardo Silva shot full in the face.

But while the home fans were nervous, Guardiola was delighted to see his players refuse to panic.

Their reward came after 73 minutes after Pope had saved from David Silva. Sane's outswinging corner was met by a leaping header by Otamendi that contained too much power for Steven Defour to hack it off the line.

Two minutes later, De Bruyne produced his obligatory world-class pass for Sane to run onto and beat Pope with a strong low finish and Aguero was then replaced by Gabriel Jesus, record-breaking goal No178 to wait another day. 

Silva fires a left-footed shot at goal but City's had to wait to double their lead, despite enjoying three-quarters of the ball

City central defender Otamendi is up-ended by Barnes during the second half - Barnes was booked shortly after the break

Burnley defender Ben Mee attempts to play the ball under pressure from Aguero, scorer of the opening goal on Saturday

Guardiola watches on as his side continued their unbeaten run to the start of the Premier League season with a 3-0 victory