MANCHESTER CITY 3, BOURNEMOUTH 1
Manchestester City recovered from a slow start to beat Bournemouth with a flourish after it seemed like Eddie Howe’s men could get something from the game.
Bernardo Silva’s opening goal had been cancelled out by Callum Wilson’s equaliser before Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan handed City the winning margin in the second half after Sterling turned on the style with an eyecatching run.
Record breaking Sterling became the first player in Premier League history to score in each of his first six games against a single opponent as he went top of the Premier League goalscoring charts with eight so far.
Bournemouth will be sick of the sight of him after eight goals and two assists during that time.
Sergio Aguero was omitted from from Manchester City squad as Pep Guardiola made five changes from the side that drew with Lyon in the Champions League.
Guardiola admitted that Aguero had a ‘muscular disturbance’ and was not being risked in the squad against Bournemouth with important games to come in a packed December and January fixture list.
Kyle Walker, John Stones, David Silva and Riyad Mahrez stepped down to the bench as Danilo, Nicolas Otamendi, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus returned from injury to start.
After a cagey start, Leroy Sane tried his luck with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s through ball at point blank range from Asmir Begovic.
The Bournemouth keeper could only parry the ball and it fell nicely for Bernardo Silva who reacted first to stab it home from 12 yards after 16 minutes.
City rested on their laurels after the goal after a tough week and that proved to be a wake-up call.
Complacency almost let Bournemouth in towards the end of the first half with Josh King’s cross for Callum Wilson rousing the casual City defence before Ederson came off his line to touch it away.
The warning was not heeded though and the Cherries were level just before the break when Simon Francis’ lofted cross was headed in by Callum Wilson.
Oleksandr Zinchenko had to go off with a bloody nose after taking Fernandinho’s elbow in his face.
City finally took inspiration from a Sterling run into the area past five players, but his shot was deflected by Andrew Surman and onto the post where it was cleared less than ten minutes after the restart.
City played better after Sterling’s moment of magic and retook the lead after the England winger poached another goal – his ninth of the season – after Danilo’s shot had been spilled by Begovic in the 57th minute.
Gundogan made sure of the result 11 minutes from time when Leroy Sane’s cutback was converted by the German.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, Bournemouth 1
Ederson: 6. Tipped away Josh King’s curling cross for Callum Wilson after a long period of boredom.
Danilo: 7. Grew into the game after long layoff. Made one mistake but tracked back and redeemed himself. His shot was spilled by Asmir Begovic but Raheem Sterling was there to make sure it counted.
Nicolas Otamendi: 6. Dealt with most of the physical stuff from Bournemouth.
Aymeric Laporte: 6. Caught out a bit when Josh King’s cross came in – otherwise a solid game.
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 7. Good passes into dangerous areas – set up City’s first goal. Got accidentally elbowed in the face by Fernandinho at a Bournemouth set piece and had to come off early in the second half.
Fernandinho: 7. Good link play as usual, had a couple of pot shots on goal too and started the move that Sterling scored from.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7. Quiet first half but might have had an assist in the second half had Asmir Begovic not tipped away Gabriel Jesus’ header from his free kick. He was there to score City’s third goal from Leroy Sane’s cutback late on.
Bernardo Silva: 7. In mercurial form. Was first to react for a tap in when Asmir Begovic couldn’t keep hold of Leroy Sane’s shot after Zinchenko’s through ball found him.
Raheem Sterling: 8. Posed a danger whenever he got on the ball. Some of his crossing could have done with a taller striker to get on the end of them but he was lethal from the rebound after Danilo’s shot was spilled by Asmir Begovic.
Gabriel Jesus: 6. Unlucky with an early cross from Zinchenko which was a little too far in front of him and an inventive header in the second half which Begovic saved.
Leroy Sane: 8. Dangerous down the left flank. He hit Zinchenko’s through ball straight at Begovic forcing the goalkeeper to parry which left Bernardo Silva an easy goal. His cutback handed City a comfortable lead late on after it was converted by Ilkay Gundogan.
Fabian Delph (for Oleksandr Zinchenko 54): 6. Steadied the ship with the game poised.
David Silva (for Gabriel Jesus 77): 7. Released Sane to run to the touchline and his cut back handed Ilkay Gundogan a goal to extend City’s winning margin.
Riyad Mahrez (for Bernardo Silva 87): Too late to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 3, Bournemouth 1
Man City 1, Bournemouth 0: 16. Bernardo Silva stabbed in the rebound from 12 yards after Asmir Begovic had got to Oleksandr Zinchenko’s through ball before Leroy Sane. #mcfc #afcb
Man City 1, Bournemouth 1: 44. Callum Wilson’s header from 10 yards out levels the scores before the break following Simon Francis’ cross from the right.
Man City 2, Bournemouth 1: 57. Raheem Sterling fires City back into the lead after stabbing in the rebound from 6 yards out after Danilo’s shot was spilled by Asmir Begovic.
Man City 3, Bournemouth 1: 79. David Silva released Leroy Sane to run to the touchline, his cutback was stabbed in from 6 yards out by Ilkay Gundogan
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, Bournemouth 1
Man City: Ederson, Danilo, Otamendi, Laporte, Zinchenko (Delph 54), Fernandinho, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva (Mahrez 87), Sterling, Jesus (David Silva 77), Sane
Man City Subs not used: Muric, Walker, Kompany, Foden
Goals: Bernardo Silva 16, Sterling 57, Gundogan 79
Bournemouth: Begovic, Francis, Steve Cook, Ake, Mings, Daniels, King (Stanislas 85), Surman, Lewis Cook, Fraser (Brooks 72), Wilson (Mousset 85)
Bournemouth Subs not used: Boruc, Gosling, Mousset, Defoe, Rico
Goal: Wilson 44