MAN CITY 2, AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1
You had to feel sympathy for relegation-threatened AFC Bournemouth following their unlucky loss at Manchester City who recorded a 10th straight Premier League win against the Cherries.
City, who had steamrollered Newcastle United and Brighton 5-0 in each of their last two games, were never going to repeat those emphatic victories as they maintained their 100 per cent record against their opponents.
Indeed, City were clinging on to the slenderest of winning margins as the visitors, who had also been denied by the frame of the goal, pressed for an equaliser.
The Cherries deserved some reward for their considerable efforts as they created 14 goal attempts to a mere eight from City.
What they lacked was clinical finishing, something City possessed as David Silva and Gabriel Jesus produced super first-half strikes.
Bournemouth, buoyed by Sunday’s 4-1 win against high-flying Leicester City, had great scoring opportunities but, Brooks apart, they lacked the cutting edge needed if they are to pull off a great escape at the foot of the table.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity manager Pep Guardiola described being baffled for his side not being awarded a penalty shortly before half time after Jesus looked to be fouled.
“It is the first season of VAR. It will improve next season,” he said.
Guardiola praised talisman and mercurial David Silva who is leaving at the end of the season – yesterday he celebrated 10 years at the Etihad.
“He has been playing incredibly and been in top form since lockdown scoring for two games in a row. He had a fantastic game,” explained Guardiola.
City’s manager was asked if could persuade the 34-year-old to stay.
“He has decided to leave and, once you decide, he isn’t going to change his mind after 10 seasons here,” he said.
Guardiola praised spirited Bournemouth.
He said: “It was difficult, but our opponent played really well.
“They were really good and they pushed us a lot. Their needs are higher than ours, but we played our game.”
City mad six changes from the side that beat Brighton on Saturday.
John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi returned to the centre of defence, meaning Guardiola could use Fernandinho as a holding midfielder again, as he did in the defeat by Southampton.
Ilkay Gundogan and David Silva returned in midfield, with Phil Foden joining Jesus and Bernardo Silva in City’s attack.
Eric Garcia, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri, Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez dropped to the bench, as did Raheem Sterling, who with 27 goals in all competitions, is the leading scorer in English club football this season.
The Cherries made four changes as they look to build on their astonishing comeback win over Leicester.
At the back Steve Cook comes in for Nathan Ake, who was injured in that win over the Foxes which breathed new life into their survival bid.
In midfield, Philip Billing and Junior Stanislas replace Arnaut Groeneveld and Brooks on the flanks, while up front, Joshua King recovered from a hamstring problem and replaced Callum Wilson.
City made a dream start taking a sixth minute lead through David Silva who curled a free kick over the defensive wall and into the top corner with keeper Aaron Ramsdale beaten, his sixth goal of the season.
The debatable free kick was conceded by Jefferson Lerma about 22 yards from goal.
And City immediately almost doubled their lead when a drive from Fernandinho flashed just wide.
The Cherries weathered the early storm and Josh King had a chance to equalise mid-half when his shot on the turn flew narrowly wide.
They were desperately unlucky not to make it 1-1 in the 33rd minute when Junior Stanislas bent a free kick over the defensive wall only to see Ederson turn the effort on to the upright.
Moments later they had another chance when King’s header deflected off Dominic Solanke and narrowly cleared the bar.
Solanke found himself free in front of goal and, just when he was about to pull the trigger, Otamendi made a heroic block.
From the corner, Billing headed over from six yards as Bournemouth enjoyed a great spell.
But hopes of an equaliser were dashed as City made it 2-0 in the 39th minute when David Silva provided the assist for Jesus who cut in from the left, stepped inside Jack Stacey and Steve Cook before drilling a low shot into the far corner, his 21st goal of the campaign and third successive game in which he has found the net.
City also had a strong shout for a penalty turned down after Jesus looked to be clearly caught by Lerma.
The Cherries were unlucky, however, to find themselves 2-0 behind at the break given they had eight goal attempts to City’s six.
City made a double change at the break as Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva made way for Eric Garcia and Sterling.
It was not Bournemouth’s day as they had a goal ruled out for the most marginal offside decision, a matter of inches.
Solanke got away on the right and his cross eluded Ederson but King, standing three yards out, had just strayed offside.
City made a third switch mid-half when Gundogan was replaced by Rodri.
City were denied a penalty which was awarded by Lee Mason for a challenge by Steve Cook on Jesus.
But VAR official Simon Hooper ruled Cook got a touch on the ball before making contact with the Brazilian.
All credit to Bournemouth who almost halved the deficit when Brooks cut the ball back for fellow substitute Callum Wilson to roll his shot one yard wide with Ederson beaten,
The Cherries were finally rewarded for their considerable efforts when they finally found the net in the 88th minute.
Callum Wilson broke down the left and square the ball for Brooks to sweep home his first goal for 16 months. It was the first home goal City had conceded since January.
Stunned City ought to have been pegged back moments later when Callum Wilson, on his weaker left foot, shot narrowly wide from 18 yards.
The Cherries pressed for an equaliser in the six minutes of added time, but City held on for what was a far from convincing victory.