FOR all Manchester City’s magic, and this vintage have plenty of stardust to sprinkle, Burnley’s 5-0 defeat at the Etihad owed much to failing to fulfil one of the most basic virtues in the footballing handbook: Play to the whistle.

The Clarets, behind to Sergio Aguero’s first half goal, were very much in the game against the defending champions when David Silva kept his wits about him while Burnley’s defenders switched off.

Referee Jon Moss had appeared ready to give a penalty for Jack Cork’s challenge on Leroy Sane but, with whistle to lips, waved play on. The ball appeared to run over the byline but Silva played on and his cutback was swept home by Bernardo Silva.

Sean Dyche and Burnley were outraged, and they had a case, but it doesn’t excuse the collective lapse in concentration.

Two minutes Fernandinho curled home an excellent third after the Clarets failed to clear a corner and it was game over.

Riyad Mahrez added a delightful fourth and Sane rounded off the scoring with a neat finish in the final minute as Burnley were ultimately over-run.

For large parts of the game City played in cruise control, with David Silva and Sane excellent.

But the hosts had just one goal to show for their efforts at the break and Burnley were still in the contest before the two-goal burst just after the hour.

City, and Vincent Kompany in particular, survived a scare inside the opening minute. The home side attempted to play out from the back but Aymeric Laporte’s chipped pass gave his captain a lot to do and Aaron Lennon nipped in and Kompany’s chest high challenge could, on another day, have brought a red card.

Sam Vokes headed the resultant free kick over and after that City were into their stride.   

Their first chance came via the head of Aguero but his diving effort was off target from a super Mahrez centre.

Hart was called into serious action for the first time on 15 minutes when he spread himself well to deny Aguero from close range but the Burnley keeper was beaten two minutes later.

Sane cut in from the left and danced into the box before feeding David Silva and his low cross was turned in at the back post by the predatory Aguero.

Burnley were struggling to make an imprint on the game with Charlie Taylor blocking an Aguero effort and David Silva flicking the rebound over before Mahrez hit the side netting after cutting in onto his left foot.

The visitors fashioned a chance 10 minutes before the break when Cork won the ball back in midfield and fed Hendrick on the edge of the box. The Irishman evaded Kompany but his clipped left foot effort struck John Stones and Lennon smashed the rebound over.

The Clarets continued to grow into the game and gave City a taste of their own medicine with some patient build-up before Steven Defour, back in league action for the first time since January, slid a good ball into Johann Berg Gudmundsson but his curling effort sailed over.

At the other end, Hart, on his first return to the Etihad, produced a moment of magic to deny David Silva with the Clarets keeper at full stretch to palm away the Spaniard’s close-range header before Aguero somehow scooped the rebound over.

That meant there was only one goal in it at the break but City put the game to bed in the space of 120 seconds just after the hour.

The controversial second was chaotic, the third soon followed and the game was over as a contest.

Three up and with three points in the bag, Guardiola opted to send on Kevin De Bruyne in place of Bernardo Silva.

It was the Belgian’s first appearance since August and he was given a warm reception from the home fans.

City continued to enjoy the majority of possession with Aguero denied by Hart’s legs at the near post before the scorer of City’s first was replaced by Gabriel Jesus.

Burnley sent for reinforcements too, with Chris Wood and Ashley Westwood replacing Sam Vokes and Aaron Lennon.

The Clarets gamely battled on but a moment of real quality from Mahrez brought a fourth when he bent a delicious strike into the top corner.

Sane got the goal his performance deserved when turning home Benjamin Mendy’s cross in the final minute of normal time.

Burnley can perhaps count themselves unfortunate to be on the end of a 5-0 loss but there are lessons to be learned ahead of next week’s Turf clash with Chelsea.