Manchester City 3-3 Burnley: Late Nugent equaliser earns Burnley first away point of the season

Kevin McDonald tapped home an 87th-minute equaliser to give Burnley a share of the spoils at Manchester City.

After establishing a two-goal lead through Graham Alexander and Steven Fletcher, it seemed the Clarets were slumping to yet another defeat when City roared into the lead thanks to Shaun Wright-Phillips, Kolo Toure and Craig Bellamy.

But when Fletcher's nod-back fell kindly for McDonald, he wasted no time in delivering the visitors' first away point since their top flight return, and extending City's sequence to five successive Premier League draws.

Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure returned to the Manchester City line-up this afternoon as Mark Hughes' men looked to cement their place in the Premier League's top four by beating Burnley at Eastlands.

Stephen Ireland was also included in place of Nigel de Jong as Hughes went for an attacking approach in a bid to end a run of four successive draws.

Burnley had their own sequence to alter, having lost every away match so far, former City defender Stephen Jordan nursing an added incentive to gain a positive result.

City created their first opportunity inside the opening seconds, when Ireland lobbed a pass forward to Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Jordan's attempt to intervene and nod back to keeper Brian Jensen fell just short and Wright-Phillips was not that far away from turning home despite the exceptionally acute angle.

Steven Fletcher won a corner off Kolo Toure and there would have been a major inquest in the City defence if Clarke Carlisle had been able to volley home at the far post, having been left completely unmarked. Instead, he screwed his effort well wide.

Robbie Blake stabbed a near-post effort wide from a low Graham Alexander free-kick, then Carlos Tevez lashed a 25-yard effort wide as City looked to counter, having been pressed back by the Clarets encouraging start.

Craig Bellamy misread Adebayor's direction and backheeled the ball away from the Togo striker when a more accurate pass would have put him clean through.

City were not imposing themselves on the game as they might have expected, although Andre Bikey's wayward pass into touch invited more pressure, with Wright-Phillips earning his side a corner with a direct run at Jordan.

The Blues could not capitalise, even though Gareth Barry's set piece evaded Jensen.

A shock was on the cards though as Tyrone Mears swung over a cross from the left which struck Joleon Lescott on the hand.

The far-side assistant was in no doubt. And, after consultation, referee Stuart Attwell awarded a penalty which Alexander drove home with relish.

As a couple of tight offside decisions went against their team, the City fans were distinctly unimpressed.

The Blues eventually did get a free-kick for Fletcher's foul on Wright-Phillips, then another when Jordan impeded the same man, bringing furious protests from the Burnley players.

Lescott and Carlisle went for Barry's cross, but neither made decent contact and Jensen was able to collect as it bounced up.

Chris Eagles' long-range effort at the other end struck Lescott and bounced away for a corner, although City cleared easily.

Bikey was booked when he slid towards Wright-Phillips and left the City winger with no option other than to take evasive action, and Craig Bellamy met with the same fate when he caught Eagles. Predictably, the Welshman was not amused.

He had even more to moan about moments later when Wayne Bridge went AWOL from his left-back berth.

Suddenly, Burnley had three men filling the space where he should have been. Eagles was provided with the opportunity to cross and Fletcher timed his run to perfection and tapped home with ease.

Jensen did well to turn away Bellamy's effort and then came forcefully to punch clear when the ball was propelled into his penalty area once more.

City needed a response. And Wright-Phillips provided it two minutes before the interval when his 20-yard effort flicked off Jordan and flew past Jensen into the far corner.

City were quickly on the offensive after the break, with Wright-Phillips again proving to be the dangerman.

The England star was brought down by Bikey close to the Burnley area, offering Carlos Tevez the chance to unleash a curling free-kick, which Jensen saved comfortably.

Tevez's surging run and cross led to Bellamy setting up Ireland but the midfielder's shot was poor and it curled way over the bar.

Zabaleta flattened Blake to provide Burnley with a rare free-kick as City began to turn the screw.

The Argentinian was soon going head-to-head with Jordan, who was possibly lucky to avoid stronger sanction that a joint lecture by Attwell, who was struggling to keep order.

The young official seemed confused which decision to give when Ireland was sent tumbling by Alexander.

Eventually, he went for City, which proved to be a major decision as Barry's free-kick dropped to Lescott at the far post.

The former Everton man, eager to atone for conceding the earlier penalty calmly knocked the ball to an unmarked Toure, who had the easiest of finishes.

City were now on a roll and when Ireland sent Wright-Phillips racing into the box, his low cutback fell to Bellamy, who stroked the hosts ahead from 10 yards.

Coyle made a double substitution in response to the setback, Kevin McDonald and Joey Gudjonsson the men introduced in place of Blake and Bikey.

Tevez arrived at speed at the near post but could not keep his effort down after Bellamy had crossed. It was the Argentina star's last involvement before he was replaced by Martin Petrov.

David Nugent headed off the line as the visitors struggled to relieve yet more pressure on their goal.

Petrov's low cross just evaded Adebayor's outstretched leg before Mears clashed heads with Wright-Phillips inside the Burnley half.

It seemed City were certain victors. But, three minutes from time, Nugent found space to cross, Fletcher turned a header back into the danger zone and McDonald gleefully tapped home the equaliser.

Mark Hughes fumes at 'poor result' but refuses to blame Lescott

Manchester City v Burnley match report, pictures and stats