Bournemouth vs Manchester City. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance11,184.
Match report and free highlights as Man City beat Bournemouth to move one point behind Liverpool at the top of the Premier League; Phil Foden's first-half goal enough to give champions hard-fought victory on the south coast; City stretch unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions
Sunday 25 February 2024 07:07, UK
Manchester City moved one point behind leaders Liverpool at the top of the Premier League as Phil Foden inspired the champions to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
With Liverpool in Carabao Cup final action this weekend, it was an ideal opportunity for Pep Guardiola's side to close the gap and they took full advantage of their game in hand thanks to Foden's 16th goal of the season in all competitions.
The England international, who has now also scored in his past five appearances against Bournemouth, was at his brilliant best on the south coast and, after exquisitely setting up Erling Haaland for an early chance, was on hand to sweep home in the 24th minute after the Norwegian saw his initial effort parried by Neto.
Bournemouth had their moments against the treble winners. Andoni Iraola's team should have equalised early in the second half, but Marcus Tavernier lacked composure on two occasions in quick succession while Dominic Solanke and new signing Enas Unal both went agonisingly close with headers.
But it was City and Guardiola's night. The victory was their 13th in 14 games across all competitions and puts them on 59 points, one clear of third-placed Arsenal, who thrashed Newcastle at the Emirates later in the day.
Bournemouth have now lost all 14 of their top-flight games against City and are 14th in the table, eight points above the relegation zone. Their wait for a first league win since Boxing Day continues.
Manchester City edged past Brentford on Tuesday night thanks to a goal from Haaland, but his shooting boots deserted him after nine minutes at Vitality Stadium.
Sent through after Foden had flicked on Bernardo Silva's lofted pass, current Premier League top goalscorer Haaland curled the ball wide from 20 yards to spark big cheers from the home faithful.
The Bournemouth fans were almost on their feet celebrating 60 seconds later when Iraola watched his team create an opening for left-back Milos Kerkez, who tested Ederson with a dipping effort.
Chances remained at a premium with the main first-half flashpoint Adam Smith's forceful tackle on Matheus Nunes until Foden continued his outstanding month with a 24th-minute opener.
It was more akin to route one than excellent football with Mateo Kovacic able to chip the ball into the path of Haaland, who brilliantly rolled Marcos Senesi before Neto saved his effort but Foden stroked home from close range for his sixth goal involvement in February.
Guardiola was on his haunches moments later when Silva failed to play through Haaland as City started to get into their stride with a Rodri effort also bravely blocked by Ryan Christie.
Bournemouth had spent most of the first half allowing their frustration with referee Jarred Gillett to get the better of them but eventually posed City problems with Ederson called upon to parry Christie's low effort in stoppage time.
Whether Iraola's players could keep it up was another question, but they fashioned a decent opening which was wasted by Kerkez early into the second period.
Justin Kluivert tried his luck soon after and, while Ederson saved his 25-yard strike, the City goalkeeper looked unconvincing.
The champions nearly highlighted their overwhelming power minutes later when Haaland bundled his way into the area, but Illia Zabarnyi got back well to block with his backside.
It failed to halt Bournemouth's momentum and they should have levelled in the 55th minute. Antoine Semenyo again got the better of Nathan Ake and his cross found Tavernier, but the Cherries attacker fired his effort into the ground and Ruben Dias headed the wayward shot clear for good measure.
Bournemouth were in the ascendancy now and another guilt-edged chance was squandered when in-form Solanke twisted away from Dias and set up Tavernier, who dragged his 14-yard shot wide.
Guardiola had seen enough and Jeremy Doku was the first to get the call from a star-studded bench but it did not have the desired effect.
The latest chance for the hosts came and went with 67 minutes played when Tavernier's inswinging corner found Solanke, but his header was clawed away on the goal-line by Ederson and Kerkez's follow-up shot was blocked by Rodri.
Fireworks were let off close by to the stadium moments later before Haaland was substituted by an increasingly agitated Guardiola, with 15 minutes left straight after Neto had denied the Norway international from close range.
Iraola's side carried on taking the fight to the visitors and after Dango Ouattara arrowed an effort wide, the final opportunity of the night went to Bournemouth's January recruit Unal, but he headed Semenyo's cross off target to ensure City claimed the points.
The win for the champions keeps them firmly in the hunt for another title ahead of a bumper month of March with league clashes to come with Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal - all live on Sky Sports.
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports: "Even when you play well and put them under pressure - second half I think they were suffering - but you have to take your chances and be more clinical.
"It was the type of game we expected. We did well for 25 minutes and then started to lose the high press as we got tired.
"They scored the goal but the second half was very good from our side. But in the end, we missed the most important thing which was the finishing.
"We were brave in the second half and we were close to having something, but we couldn't do it.
"It is very difficult to get a result against them. We defended well but on the other side, we didn't finish the things we created.
"I think we are playing well. Now I hope we continue with this level of football and intensity."
Man City manager Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports: "I adore my players - they are supermen. They are so good. Where we come from for many years, playing every three days - they [Bournemouth] had seven days to prepare for the game and we always have less.
"So when people say, you play in the same conditions in the Premier League, no, no - we don't have the same equality, we have much more games than the rest to play, and this is a tough place to come, they are a fantastic team, they won 3-0 at Old Trafford.
"We demand too much of our players but they respond. I know people say 'they earn a lot of money' but it [the schedule] is too much. Honestly. But business must go on and it surprises me every time how we are still there, they have an incredible character and are so competitive even when they are tired, they give extra.
"Our fans have to be so proud of these guys.
"The last 10-15 minutes were tough - we won the Treble and people think we have to win every game 4-0, 5-0 but that is not the reality and hopefully soon we can have a week off and refresh our minds and legs."
Bournemouth host Leicester City in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday at 7.30pm before visiting Burnley in the Premier League on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 1pm.
Manchester City travel to Luton Town in the FA Cup on Tuesday; kick-off 8pm. They return to Premier League action on Super Sunday when they host Manchester United, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 3.30pm.
