AS KIDS we would use a plastic gun, an ill-fashioned stick or even a pointed finger and it would always prompt a shout of 'Hands up!'

The correct response was "I surrender" and not much has changed.

In modern day football the last thing you can do is put a hand up - you run the risk of surrendering the game.

Whether it is to an opponent in self-defence or to make a point, or merely as an instinctive reaction to a ball passing you in a dangerous position, the use of a hand means one thing -- you see red.

Unless you are Richard Edghill, that is. The City defender's arm went up against Clarets defender Arthur Gnohere in the closing stages of the game but the referee who, until that point had been happily showing cards to all and sundry, decided only to book the right-back - and Gnohere.

But the arms-raised lesson is one that Gordon Armstrong was taught and will have no need to dwell on.

As committed as he is to the Burnley cause Armstrong will be regretting a momentary lack of thought that essentially undid the Clarets' chances of taking something from a pulsating clash with the side from the big city down the road.

There is no doubt that Armstrong would put his hand up to accept responsibility for conceding a needless penalty after 35 minutes, as he blocked a Tony Grant shot with cover behind him, but even he cannot have expected the ultimate penalty of being sent off - it was harsh.

And it was harsh, certainly, but an important catalyst in a game that was always going to be less than predictable.

His dismissal had an immediate consequence as Clarets keeper Nik Michopoulos saved Kevin Horlock's spot kick.

It had a secondary consequence as Niko's save and the underdog scenario dragged great performances out of Burnley's ten as they fought for their lives.

But the telling consequence was that against a good side a man down is never going to be enough.

Having come into the game with a 100 per cent record the Clarets were strangely downbeat.

City boss Kevin Keegan's employment of a 3-5-2 system seemed to instantly win the day as Burnley manager Stan Ternent's 4-4-2 system was over run in midfield and found little outlet.

If anything the Clarets were surrendering ground and defending deep, but as that tactic had served them well in previous games it was hard to question.

But the evidence was that City were in control for the opening phase and Paulo Wanchope had wasted one good chance before Shaun Goater converted another on 17 minutes when he met Richard Edghill's pin-point cross with a powerful header into the top corner of the net.

The pattern did not look set to change as the revitalised Edghill almost served up another chance for Wanchope, squandered with an erratic header over the bar, four minutes later.

But the pattern changed when Clarets pressure led to a corner, which Glen Little delivered to the back post.

Skipper Steve Davis guided his header through the six-yard box melee on the perfect angle to find the far corner of the net.

Back on level terms Burnley picked up their previously slow pace and almost took the lead when Edghill's shoddy clearance allowed ex-Sky Blue Gareth Taylor to play Little in but his shot was cleared off the line by a relieved Edghill covering behind keeper Nicky Weaver.

Then came the turning point as Armstrong managed to put palm to ball and the seeds of disaster, however character-building and glorious, were sown.

Horlock's failure to score from the spot still drew a tactical change from Ternent.

French capture Arthur Gnohere was introduced for Dean West and the Clarets went for three at the back as they attempted to try and pack a midfield that City had already made look over-weight.

And it was looking good as the first half closed with Ian Moore and Gareth Taylor causing problems in the City defence before midfielder Kevin Moore fired over, and then Taylor went close to upsetting his old pals as he guided a header narrowly wide from a Little cross.

Little was clearly back to his old self after wilting in the heat of the New Den at the weekend, and almost served up a goal of the season candidate as a neat turn and then a push and run nutmeg gave him access to the City box but his shot skipped away off the crossbar.

Sadly the next goalmouth action was at the other end where a classy move put the Sky Blues back in front.

Centre back Richard Dunne bedevilled those who criticise the defender's trade with an intelligent back-heeled ball, Edghill swept in and delivered a cross that Wanchope stooped to meet but guided into the net with unerring accuracy of a geometry student specialising in acute angles.

Again the lead was short-lived.

A Little ball into the box broke for Ian Moore whose shot was deflected into lottery-land in the City defence and Taylor was the first to buy a ticket returning the ball into the box Lee Briscoe to bundle in his first goal for the club.

Still the weight of numbers were stacked against Burnley and it became all too apparent on the hour when, from Tiatto's ball into the box, Wanchope involved enough cover in his assist to pull everyone away from Goater who fired home in relative freedom.

The Clarets worked at it with Cox heading over from a free kick and Gnohere putting a good chance straight into Weaver's hands, but the killer blow was coming.

Goater spurned his hat-trick for the first time when he hit the inside of post in volleying a Horlock cross, but then tied everything up four minutes from time as he strolled around Michopoulos to tuck away the fourth goal from a Wanchope assist.

Substitute Andy Payton and Taylor ensured that City didn't go home feeling comfortable as they went close but City seemed happy enough.

However, the Clarets cause now relies on a hands on, rather than a 'hands up', performance against promotion tips Bradford City on Sunday.

RESULT: Burnley... 2 Manchester City... 4

Scorers: Davis 25, Briscoe 53... Goater 17, 50, 86, Wanchope 60