Sheikh in, not stirred. Things are supposed to be different for Manchester City but it seems that not even the money of an Arab super-billionaire can rouse them from traditional bad habits.

This could have been a game from any point in City’s history: the points were lost, won back, and then lost again in a performance of ludicrous inconsistency. Only their supporters appear changed. Such ups and downs were once embraced but fans now expect from their team the ruthlessness of the rich.

Mark Hughes and his players were jeered when Stuart Attwell, who had a difficult game as referee, trilled the final whistle. When Hughes used a few oil drums of Sheikh Mansour’s vast stash to lavish £110m on new players over the summer, more was anticipated than home struggles versus Burnley. The fact the visiting team were vibrant, skilled and indomitable — virtues that are coming to characterise Owen Coyle’s brand of football — was irrelevant to City’s followers. All they know is their club have drawn five league games in a row and are not going to get into Europe, never mind the Champions League, like this.

Burnley’s hero cost Coyle £500,000 to pluck from the Scottish lower divisions and, having only turned 21 on Wednesday, has never started a Premier League game. But Kevin McDonald, the substitute who made it 3-3, was too good for a home defence comprising seasoned internationals, assembled for just under £70m. Amid it, Joleon Lescott was especially feckless but Wayne Bridge was also suspect. Both hope to be in the England squad Fabio Capello names this evening though on this form they would struggle to get a game for the Solomon Islands.

McDonald’s goal said everything about what is wrong with City. Already 2-0 down after 32 minutes thanks to feeble defending, Hughes’ side scrambled back to 2-2, took the lead through their star performer, Craig Bellamy, and had been playing their most fluent football. But, from the 80th minute onwards, levels of concentration began to dip and Burnley, who had thrown on fresh forwards in McDonald and David Nugent, were allowed to be a danger. Bridge was lackadaisical with a header, Nugent collected possession and crossed for Steven Fletcher, who cleverly cushioned a header into the path of McDonald. McDonald finished expertly, on the volley.

“There’s frustration because we’d got into a winning position,” said Hughes. “We’re 10-11 games in and we’ve done okay, no more, no less.”

The Welshman and those in his squad not on international duty go to Abu Dhabi on Monday and Mansour will doubtless be asking Hughes for a more detailed explanation. City slumped to sixth while little Burnley are 10th.

“We know we’re the smallest club in the Premier League but think we’re evolving,” said Coyle. “We believe we have some very good players and great spirit.” Both were evident in the game’s initial phase.

Posing problems through Tyrone Mears’ overlaps, and the clever midfield play of Wade Elliott and Graham Alexander, Burnley won a penalty when Mears crossed and Lescott handled. Lescott glared at Attwell, dumbfounded, but when the replays were shown he just looked dumb. Having thrown his arms up needlessly and deliberately, using one to stop the ball, he had transgressed. Alexander buried the spot kick beautifully.

Burnley remained ascendant and gave warning a second goal was coming when Shay Given was forced into a reaction save as Robbie Blake’s free kick ran through to him. Then, when trying to counterattack, City lost possession when Elliott robbed Gareth Barry. Blake fed Chris Eagles, who was played onside by Lescott and Fletcher finished simply with the home defence stood square.

The nouveau riche required good fortune to pull one back on the paupers. Shaun Wright-Phillips held the ball beautifully while Blake tried to tackle him and struck a shot which cannoned off Stephen Jordan and pinged fortuitously past Brian Jensen. Lescott atoned for some of his errors by getting beyond Clarke Carlisle to set up Kolo Toure to equalise, following Barry’s free kick, and City led when both Andre Bikey and Jordan responded sluggishly as Stephen Ireland sprang Wright-Phillips, who cut back for Bellamy to beat Jensen from 10 yards.

Carlos Tevez should have made the game safe from close range after more lovely work by Bellamy but shot high and wide. It was not the finish of a £25m player. Price tags are beginning to weigh heavily at Eastlands.

MAN CITY: Given 7, Zabaleta 6, Toure 7, Lescott 5, Bridge 5, Wright-Phillips 7, Ireland 7, Barry 6, Bellamy 8, Tevez 5 (Petrov 73min), Adebayor 5

BURNLEY: Jensen 7, Mears 7, Carlisle 5, Caldwell 6, Jordan 5, Alexander 7, Bikey 5 (McDonald 61min), Eagles 6 (Nugent 71min), Elliott 6, Blake 5 (Gudjonsson 62min), Fletcher 6