Burnley 1 Manchester City 6:Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice as Manchester City closed in on a Champions League slot thanks to a devastating attacking exhibition and wretched defensive display by the hosts at Turf Moor.
The homeside were three nil down inside eight minutes prompting many Burnley supporters to make for the door before 10 were up. Roberto Mancini’s side were five up at the break and added another through Vincent Kompany in the second half before scant consolation came from the boot of Steven Fletcher.
By that time, Burnley had long since given up hope of seeing the game abandoned because of torrential rain. It wasn't the only deluge they could not prevent and relegation is a near
certainty for the team in 19th place.
Adebayor started the ball rolling in the fourth minute and added his second on the stroke of half time.
In between Craig Bellamy, Carlos Tevez and Patrick Vieira, with his first for the club, also found the target.
City went above Tottenham, who lost to Sunderland, and into that coveted fourth spot with six games remaining.
Adam Johnson saw a shot take a deflection off a defender and rattle the post before the visitors made the breakthrough in the fourth minute.
Burnley were guilty of slack marking when Johnson delivered a corner from the left and Adebayor took advantage to rifle in a shot that seemed to take a deflection on the way in.
A minute later it got even worse for the home side when Bellamy latched on to a through ball from Tevez and guided it past Brian Jensen.
The Burnley goalkeeper conceded a third in the seventh minute after making a basic error.
He spilled Adebayor’s weak shot and Tevez was on hand for his 26th goal of the season.
Burnley hit back, however, with Robbie Blake dragging a shot narrowly wide.
City extended their lead in the 20th minute with Vieira’s first goal for the club. He powered home a header following a corner from Johnson.
Burnley were refusing to lie down and Graham Alexander whipped in a shot from the edge of the area in the 27th minute that went narrowly over the crossbar.
This was a spirited response by the home side and six minutes later Fletcher dragged a shot wide of the post.
David Nugent then saw a header blocked by City goalkeeper Shay Given before Jensen found himself in difficulty again.
He pushed away a shot from Adebayor but Vieira found himself crowded out as he prepared to latched on to the rebound.
Jensen looked out of his sorts and he was beaten again in the 44th minute only for Tevez’s effort to come back off the post after being released by Bellamy.
City did not have long to wait for another goal, however, with Adebayor extending their lead with a clinical finish after being released by Tevez.
Burnley almost pulled a goal back in the 51st minute when Nugent showed a good turn of pace only to find the wrong side of the post with his effort.
However seven minutes later the home side failed to deal with another Johnson corner and Kompany headed home for his first goal of the season.
It was the third time Burnley had failed to deal with one of the former Middlesbrough winger’s delivery and conceded a goal in the process.
Burnley fans at last had something to cheer in the 72nd minute when Fletcher pulled a goal back with a good finish after being set up by substitute Jack Cork.
Adebayor was given a rousing reception by the visiting fans 12 minutes later when he was replaced by former Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz as City wrapped up a stroll in the park.
For Burnley the clock is ticking and those home wins over Manchester United and Everton are but a distant memory.