There has been an insistence around Manchester City that it really was a matter of time. Pep Guardiola would have preferred they arrived with regularity before now but here they were. Some goals, at last.
Burnley are always obliging at the Etihad Stadium and this was no different. Sean Dyche's screams of 'get out, get out' fell on deaf ears and City gallivanted freely - Riyad Mahrez, who left with a first league hat-trick in five years.
A primary reason why they are six adrift of Liverpool, the final pass, has lacked for much of this season.