Bournemouth 0-1 Manchester City: Phil Foden continues his hot streak to help move Pep Guardiola’s side within one point of table-toppers Liverpool
No team can match Bournemouth when it comes to stories of brutal suffering at the hands of Manchester City. There aren’t many players who have pushed the champions this close for a while either.
Truly, this was both a brilliant match and a pleasant surprise as there was no indication of form or history to suggest that Andoni Iraola’s side would come within striking distance of a positive result.
But they did, even if the relevant fact is that they ultimately suffered a fourteenth defeat in fourteen top-flight games with City. Those numbers are pretty black and white, and yet this game was nothing of the sort. Ederson was indeed by some distance the man of the match and that tells its own story.
He made four good saves and was further spared by a significant number of near misses during the second half, with Bournemouth doing everything they could to cancel out Phil Foden’s early tap-in.
By all, we mean they attacked in waves on one side and largely chained Erling Haaland on the other. Even when he did get through, with one excellent chance in each half, he shot wide or too close to Neto.
Phil Foden continued his hot streak by scoring the only goal as Man City defeated Bournemouth
Foden scored a rebound inside 24 minutes after Erling Haaland’s effort was saved
Despite finishing in second place, Bournemouth battled hard with the champions on Saturday
He was sent off in frustration after 75 minutes, which will have to be enough encouragement for a Bournemouth team that has now gone seven league games without a win.
As for City and the more pressing matter of another title charge, this was a victory we had to endure rather than enjoy; they were neither beautiful nor effective.
That they got themselves over the line amid the busy schedule saw them labeled ‘supermen’ by Pep Guardiola, but in the details this was a match in which City’s surrender of the midfield in the second half was quite alarming. The defense also had a few too many vulnerabilities, which was evident when Enes Unal received and squandered a free header to level the score at the death.
But a win is a win and City now have fourteen in their last fifteen games in all competitions. This is that ominous time of year when they always find a way, although several aspects of the performances against Chelsea, Brentford and now Bournemouth can nibble at Guardiola, even if he didn’t show it. On the contrary: he was on the edge of euphoria.
He said: ‘I love my players. They are supermen, who play every three days. When people say, “Can you play in the Premier League in the same conditions?” No. We play more games than everyone else.”
To do this, he made three changes to the team that won 1-0 against Brentford. Kevin De Bruyne was once again on the bench to limit pressure on a problematic hamstring ahead of several tough games in March.
While the 32-year-old maestro was limited to an 82-minute viewing time, Mateo Kovacic provided much of the creativity from deeper angles. He shares that De Bruyne has a knack for discerning Haaland’s runs before they start, and that he was reliably solid in his first start in a month.
As a unit, City were less convincing, even though they had 68 percent of the ball in the first half and could have taken the lead inside ten minutes when Haaland was tapped through on goal by Foden. He drilled wide from his right foot.
Ederson was by some distance the man of the match and in many ways that tells its own story
Moments later, Bournemouth caused some concern with Milos Kerkez’s dipper that Ederson tipped over, but Foden’s opener was not long in coming.
Kovacic was key to creating it with a chip that fell over the backline to Haaland, who weaved his way around Marcos Senesi before getting a shot in.
Neto saved well, but the rebound earned Foden a tap. He is having an exceptional campaign with sixteen goals in all competitions.
Guardiola said: ‘He used to be a little boy with good deeds. Now he has grown into a world-class top player. Awesome.’
That strike put Bournemouth at risk of going into hiding, but that didn’t happen. Instead, Ederson had to save from Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert either side of the break, before Marcus Tavernier smashed home a very doable volley.
Haaland was denied by Neto and was later sent off on a frustrating day for the Norwegian
Bournemouth piled on the pressure late on, but failed to score the goal they so desperately wanted
The pressure reached a peak when Dominic Solanke got a header off the line from Ederson and continued when Haaland was blocked by Neto in his final contribution before being taken off the pitch.
Dango Quattara and Unal each had good chances to take the point, but fell a fraction short as Bournemouth suffered their usual fate in this match.
Iraola said: “We can’t ask much more from the players. We had chances to score, but we didn’t take them.’