Burnley 2, City 0

SO PRE-season is done and City head towards the proper stuff with more answers and fewer questions.

There are still dilemmas to solve for Phil Parkinson in the rapidly-reducing run-up to the weekend trip to Swindon.

That second keeper needs to be nailed down, whether it is Jussi Jaaskelainen or another contender, and he is still locked on to the extra centre half he has targeted.

Will Joel Grant, an unused sub at Turf Moor, get the nod as the back-up right winger to shadow latest capture Paul Anderson? What about the two trialist full backs who have hung on from the opening training session?

And the word in York is that Parkinson – who was watching City's Capital One Cup opponents against Newcastle in midweek – might be interested in young striker Reece Thompson. The Frickley Athletic frontman scored in the match while on trial for the Minstermen.

But there are more ticks in the boxes than crosses or question marks. From the low point a fortnight ago when Filipe Morais crumpled on the training ground, City are heading into the new campaign with the growing air of a prize contender.

The mood of social media may not be the safest barometer but there were only positive messages flying around over the weekend as news broke of Anderson's two-year deal.

The manner of City's performance against a Burnley side fresh from the Premier League added to that upbeat vibe.

The visitors played their full part in stretching one of the Championship's promotion favourites in an entertaining, open encounter that had more of a real feel to it than the previous friendly fodder.

City knocked the ball around well and created plenty of chances – the big frustration being that they failed to put one of them past Tom Heaton.

They were certainly close enough – Tony McMahon rattled the bar with one of his impressive free-kicks and James Hanson scorned a couple of gilt-edged openings.

But the fact they were able to pass their way around a team who are bankers to be top six in the division above illustrated the confidence and self-belief growing within the group.

There was also the tasty sub-plot of the goalkeeping scenario.

Phil Parkinson gave his keepers a half each and Ben Williams used his 45 minutes as a timely reminder that he is not going to roll over for the competition, whoever it might be.

Williams saved well from Burnley's lively front two Jelle Vossen and Lukas Jutkiewicz and showed a stomach for the battle in goalkeeper unfriendly conditions as a first-half monsoon made handling tricky.

He was beaten by a quality finish from Jutkiewicz on 33 minutes. Ben Mee fed Michael Kightly wide on the left and Jutkiewicz swivelled on his low pass and drove a cross-shot past the keeper.

City had threatened themselves before that point with Hanson, who appears to have been given the vice-captaincy role, once again ruling matters in the air.

The game might have been played for Michael Duff's testimonial but there was nothing held back in the tussles between centre half and centre forward.

Hanson should have fired an immediate equaliser within a minute of Burnley's opener as Billy Clarke engineered an opening. But his stretching strike partner poked the ball past Heaton and the far post.

McMahon then sent a dipping volley fizzing past the other side before smashing a free-kick against the woodwork with Hanson's follow-up kept out by Mee in the scramble that followed.

Mr "Play Anywhere" McMahon was operating at the base of a midfield diamond which saw Chris Routis to his right.

With Parkinson's post-match comments about his new recruits still getting up to speed and needing to be brought in carefully, it might have been a precursor for how City may take to the field at the County Ground.

Certainly the plan to attack, attack, attack with two wingers will suit the baying 18,000 plus Valley Parade audience but there are options for a more cautious, considered approach on the road.

Josh Morris was kept quieter than of late but City were still able to get forward – although not as impressively as George Boyd for the hosts. The afternoon's outstanding performer, well supported by debutant Tendayi Darikwa, gave James Meredith a torrid time.

Jaaskelainen made his first save in a City shirt from Vossen within two minutes of coming on and went on to produce an athletic tip-over from Sam Vokes – even if the ref awarded a goal kick.

But the Finn had no chance with Burnley's second, a free-kick expertly put in the top corner by newly-arrived substitute Matt Taylor.

Burnley: Heaton, Darikwa (Dummigan 89), Duff (Ward 82), Keane, Mee, Kightly, Arfield, Jones (Ulvestad 66, Taylor 72), Boyd,Vossen (Sordell 66), Jutkiewicz (Vokes 66).

City: Williams (Jaaskelainen 46), Darby (Liddle 57), McArdle, Clarke, Meredith (Sheehan 79), McMahon, Knott (Marshall 70), Routis, Morris, Clarke (James 77), Hanson (Davies 76). Subs (not used): Leigh, Hendrie, Mottley-Henry, Grant.

Attendance: 4,825 (943 away fans)