Manchester, England (SportsNetwork.com) - Ashley Barnes fired home a late equalizer with nine minutes to play on Sunday as Burnley earned an impressive point with a 2-2 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The defending champions came into Sunday's clash in excellent form, riding a nine-game winning streak across all competitions and with plenty at stake a win would close the gap to within one point of league leaders Chelsea.
Working with the motivation of getting closer to the top of the table, the Citizens jumped out in front after 23 minutes when David Silva found the back of the net.
The defending champions then doubled their advantage 10 minutes later as Fernandinho stepped up and ripped it from distance off the under side of the crossbar and over the goal line.
The Citizens looked to be in cruise control, holding the 2-0 lead at the break on home soil, but Premier League newcomers Burnley showed resolve in the second half and pulled one back in the 47th minute when George Boyd raced past two City defenders on the left side of the field and slid it under goalkeeper Joe Hart to make it a one-goal affair.
The tying tally came in the 81st minute when Barnes got into a good position in the penalty area as the second ball following a long delivery into the box fell to Barnes and he ripped it into the top left corner, saving a point for the Clarets -- an impressive result following a 1-0 loss at home to Liverpool on Boxing Day.
The result lifts Sean Dyche's club to 16 points from 19 games played, but they remain in the bottom three. City, meanwhile, wasted an opportunity to draw within one of Chelsea and remain three points back after 19 games.
Also in the Premier League on Sunday, Chelsea were held to a draw after battling Southampton to a 1-1 stalemate at St. Mary's Stadium.
Sadio Mane gave the Saints the lead after 17 minutes, but Eden Hazard fired home the equalizer on the stroke of halftime for his seventh goal of the season as the clubs were forced to settle for a point apiece.
Sunday's early fixture saw Tottenham-Hotspur and Manchester United battle to a scoreless draw at White Hart Lane.
United came into the game riding a nine-game unbeaten streak, while Spurs has also been in good form, having won four straight across all competitions, but neither side generated much in the way of quality scoring chances and things ended goalless.
Aston Villa and Sunderland played to a scoreless draw at Villa Park, while Riyad Mahrez's 32nd-minute strike handed Leicester City its first win since September 21 with a 1-0 result over Hull City.
Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace also played to a scoreless draw at Loftus Road, while Mame Biram Diouf netted a pair of second-half goals to give Stoke City a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.
Arsenal moved into fifth place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win over West Ham United at Upton Park.
The Gunners opened the scoring after 41 minutes when Santi Cazorla fired home a penalty kick and former Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck put the visitors two up in the 44th minute.
The Hammers pulled one back in the 54th minute through Cheikhou Kouyate, but it wasn't enough as Arsene Wenger's side held on for an important three points.
In Sunday's late fixture, Newcastle United hung on for a nervy 3-2 win over Everton at St. James' Park.
The Toffees had the upper hand early as Arouna Kone opened the scoring with his first goal in over 18 months, but Papiss Cisse found an equalizer in the 34th minute, tapping it home from close range following an assist from Mike Williamson.
The Magpies then turned it around in the second half as Ayoze Perez put the club ahead in the 51st minute and Jack Colback scored his first goal for the club in the 68th minute to make it 3-1.
Everton made it a one-goal contest with seven minutes to play when Kevin Mirallas got on the end of a through ball from Leighton Baines and chipped it home, but the Toffees couldn't muster an equalizer and lost for the fifth time in their last six games across all competitions.
The result lifts Newcastle into ninth place with 26 points, while Everton remains in 12th place on 21 points through 19 games.
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