Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is refusing to rule his side out of the Premier League title race despite Saturday’s surprise defeat at Burnley.

The reigning champions went down 1-0 at Turf Moor as Burnley clinched a hard-fought and deserved victory through George Boyd’s second-half volley.

It leaves City five points behind league leaders Chelsea who have two games in hand with 63 points from 27 games.

That means victory in their two games in hand would leave Jose Mourinho’s side 11 points clear of City as we approach the business end of the season.

But Pellegrini insists they can still retain the title.

“When you have a mathematical chance, you have a chance to win the title,” he said. “The reality is that it’s more difficult to do so now. Every point we drop will be more difficult.

“When you have mathematical chances you must continue fighting and see at the end of the season where you will finish.

“We are not worried about just our team. We know every time we drop it is more difficult. We have 27 points more we must fight for.”

Man City have won just one of their last three league games but are favoured to return to form next weekend with a price of 1.31 to beat West Brom at home.