MANCHESTER City fans are not used to seeing their team firing blanks but that was the case against West Brom on Boxing Day.

The free-scoring Blues have netted 55 goals in the league this season with the front players Shaun Goater, Darren Huckerby and Paulo Wanchope the key contributors.

The Clarets have scored only seven fewer than City but in contrast they have spread the goals around the team with no one player yet in double figures.

Bermuda's favourite son Goater has led the way for City with an incredible haul of 21 goals already this campaign.

Huckerby, who failed to convince Leeds United boss David O'Leary he was top flight material, has netted eight times in the league after getting in a run in the side following an injury to Costa Rican star Wanchope.

Wanchope has scored six times in just nine starts and his early season partnership with Goater promised much before he was ruled out of action.

His return from injury was well timed as Huckerby was suspended for the clash with the Baggies but despite dominating the game, even after being reduced to ten men, City could not find the net.

Keegan has stuck with his plans to go into games with a 3-5-2 formation but with Huckerby available for selection against the Clarets it remains to be seen if he will unleash his three main strikers.

City have lost just once at home this season, a remarkable 4-0 reverse against Wimbledon, and they have made good use of the traditionally fervent backing from their supporters.

And they are looking to be the first team this season to do the double over Burnley after winning 4-2 at Turf Moor in August, when they took advantage of Gordon Armstrong's first half dismissal.

On that occasion the defender handled a shot from Tony Grant, who will of course be lining up on the other side tomorrow.

Both sides will be going into the match after goalless games, the postponement at Rotherham meaning the 0-0 draw with Millwall was the Clarets last outing.

But it must be long odds on that scoreline given the fact that the sides have been the great entertainers in the first division this season, the 50 games they have played producing 170 goals.