Match Report
AFCB 0 v 1 Man City
2 March 2019
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| The Cherries do their best to try and hold City |
Bournemouth fans could expect a rough ride for this match against the champions and yet their first half performance was inspiring for the team's organisation and dogged defiance. City cam to plunder and they tried every trick to try get behind Bournemouth's defence. The stalemate couldn't last in the end, and Riyad Mahrez scuffed shot sped past Boruc at his near post to put City in front. It was then a question of whether Bournemouth could change their game around and attack. They just didn't have the players to do it, and any hostility was left for Kevin Friend the referee, who didn't have the nerve to send Kyle Walker off after City's right-back had scythed through Josh King.
The Cherries made three changes with Lys Mousset, Jordan Ibe and Dan Gosling moving to the bench and a surprise start was given to Jack Simpson, who also had Charlie Daniels and David Brooks for company. There was no Callum Wilson on the bench despite a late fitness test for the striker.
There are more images on Match Day Gallery.
Bournemouth set up very defensively with a back five of Clyne, Mepham, Simpson, Aké and Daniels. The strategy seemed to be to stop City from getting down the sides and the plan was carried out well up to half-time. The first five minutes saw Aguero have a shot blocked and Otamendi have a header go wide.
Mepham and Simpson were making their tackles and getting a foot in when ever Clyne was turned by Sterling. It was Aké that Bournemouth were looking to the most. He was winning headers and shielding the ball from Aguero.
Aké almost caused Bournemouth problems on 13 minutes when he headed a City corner down into the ground, but luckily Boruc was there and could catch the ball easily. Boruc was also ready when de Bruyne floated a cross in from the right.
Bournemouth fans might have even thought this could be the way of things to come when De Bruyne shot wide on 19 minutes. Meanwhile, Boruc was having goal kicking troubles in judging the wind and the North stand weren't letting him forget it.
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Fraser had a chance to relieve some pressure but a poor touch didn't give Brooks a chance to keep the break going. Brooks was having enough trouble in getting fouled and Kevin Friend deciding he hadn't been fouled. The home crowd was then on the referee's back for the rest of the game.
Corners were being cleared if a bit fortuitously at times. It was backs to the wall stuff. Otamendi attempted a bicycle shot on one corner which went over. Aguero was next to fire over after Daniels challenge. Still, De Bruyne had started to find space in behind AFCB's defence.
The home crowd were getting behind Bournemouth's stern defence and when Fraser went down they were furious that Friend didn't blow for a free kick.
Man City weren't getting flustered, but there didn't seem any space and Aguero was caught offside as soon as he tried to find a way through the middle.
Sterling's shot just over the corner of the goal brought another big cheer, but it was more a cry of relief. De Bruyne went down injured on 45 minutes and had to be subbed for Mahrez and the two minutes of added time saw City get as close to a goal as they had all half, when a combination of Aké, Simpson and Boruc cleared the ball off the line with Aguero looking to stab the ball home.
Second half
There was no early capitulation second half. Bournemouth had something to battle for. Aké even tried to get his head on a free kick that came as a result of a foul on King, but Ederson punched the ball and took out Aké at the same time.
Vincent Kompany then came on for John stones.
Adam Smith showed how hard it was for Bournemouth to keep any possession as he ran most of the pitch, but couldn't get a pass off before he was surrounded by blue shirts.
Sterling won a corner on 50 minutes and Simpson somehow flicked the ball from behind him away before Brooks could finish the clearance. Man City kept testing Bournemouth's defence, and finally found a way through moving the ball from the left to the right, where Mahrez was standing on his own and half-hit a shot that bobbled past Boruc at his near post.
Bournemouth had held out for 54 minutes, but they hadn't managed to test City at all. Boruc had to make low save from Zinchenko, as City drove forward again. Aké was making interceptions well while Fraser came off worse in a 50:50 shoulder barge challenge when the referee saw no foul. Sterling was then left in space with Simpson chasing but the City winger could only shoot into the side netting.
Otamendi was booked after a City corner on 65 minutes, but the decisions didn't feel like they were going AFCB's way. Daniels long throw into City's box came out to Surman who had a high boot in the face, but again there was no foul given.
Sterling and Aguero were linking well and Aguero forced Boruc into a good save on 69 minutes. Brooks was then subbed on 75 minutes for Mousset.
A mistake from Simpson trying to head back a ball, after Vincent Kompany had headed it forward, alerted Sterling who was on to it like a flash. Brocu came out and forced him wide before Mahrez smashed his shot over.
Mepham and Aké were still having to make blocks. Aguero almost made the game safe with a lofted chip that came off Boruc's crossbar with the keeper well beaten, but Bournemouth were keeping it at 0-1.
Simpson was subbed for Ibe to come on and Rico replaced Clyne with 10 minutes to go. The referee was called into question again on 84 minutes when King was taken out by Walker on half way. It could easily have been a red, but Kevin Friend only showed a yellow. Josh King got a yellow too, probably for something he said.
Boruc made another save from Mahrez's header following a corner as the last five minutes were entered. Mousset might have done better with a rare misplaced City pass, but he choked when facing the last line of City's defence and couldn't find a player to pass to.
Aguero still looked for his goal and had a run across the box that ended with a wide shot. Aguero was then subbed for Jesus to come on in the 90th minute. Four minutes of added time still weren't enough to give Bournemouth a shot on goal.
Summary
After the humiliating 5-1 defeat at Arsenal, I think the fans could understand that the players needed to get some confidence back. For that reason most fans could except the negative set-up and the need to just try and keep City out for 90 minutes. The plan didn't quite work, but it was not due to a lack of effort from Bournemouth who tried to cover every City move. On another day this could have been a dull 0-0 draw. But City were just great at keeping their heads and in the end Bournemouth didn't manage to mark everyone tight enough with Mahrez able to get the winner in what could so easily have been a bad day for City and a great one for AFCB.
Boruc 7 - despite the poor kicks
Clyne 6 - hard tackling and close attention
Simpson 7 - a natural defender, he deserves get more games
Mepham 6 - gaining confidence
Aké 8 - Bournemouth's main man
Daniels 5 - worked hard but found it tough going at times
A Smith 5 - A few good runs but couldn't influence the game
Surman 5 - Some good clearances
Fraser 6 - Gave his all but didn't get much protection from the referee
Brooks 6 - Finding his way back, the minutes will do him good
King 5 - Didn't see much of the ball and needs to do his work in the opposition's box
Ref Watch: Kevin Friend - 2/10 Got affected by home crowd getting on his back. Walker was lucky not to see red.
Man City
Ederson, Walker, , Stones (Kompany 48), Otamendi, Zinchenko, De Bruyne (Mahrez 45+2),
Gündogan, Silva, Bernardo Silva, Agüero (Jesus 90), Sterling
City Subs
Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Sané, Mahrez, Jesus, Foden
The Cherries made three changes with Lys Mousset, Jordan Ibe and Dan Gosling moving to the bench and a surprise start was given to Jack Simpson, who also had Charlie Daniels and David Brooks for company. There was no Callum Wilson on the bench despite a late fitness test for the striker.
There are more images on Match Day Gallery.
Bournemouth set up very defensively with a back five of Clyne, Mepham, Simpson, Aké and Daniels. The strategy seemed to be to stop City from getting down the sides and the plan was carried out well up to half-time. The first five minutes saw Aguero have a shot blocked and Otamendi have a header go wide.
Mepham and Simpson were making their tackles and getting a foot in when ever Clyne was turned by Sterling. It was Aké that Bournemouth were looking to the most. He was winning headers and shielding the ball from Aguero.
Aké almost caused Bournemouth problems on 13 minutes when he headed a City corner down into the ground, but luckily Boruc was there and could catch the ball easily. Boruc was also ready when de Bruyne floated a cross in from the right.
Bournemouth fans might have even thought this could be the way of things to come when De Bruyne shot wide on 19 minutes. Meanwhile, Boruc was having goal kicking troubles in judging the wind and the North stand weren't letting him forget it.
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Corners were being cleared if a bit fortuitously at times. It was backs to the wall stuff. Otamendi attempted a bicycle shot on one corner which went over. Aguero was next to fire over after Daniels challenge. Still, De Bruyne had started to find space in behind AFCB's defence.
The home crowd were getting behind Bournemouth's stern defence and when Fraser went down they were furious that Friend didn't blow for a free kick.
Man City weren't getting flustered, but there didn't seem any space and Aguero was caught offside as soon as he tried to find a way through the middle.
Sterling's shot just over the corner of the goal brought another big cheer, but it was more a cry of relief. De Bruyne went down injured on 45 minutes and had to be subbed for Mahrez and the two minutes of added time saw City get as close to a goal as they had all half, when a combination of Aké, Simpson and Boruc cleared the ball off the line with Aguero looking to stab the ball home.
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| 0-0 at half-time. |
There was no early capitulation second half. Bournemouth had something to battle for. Aké even tried to get his head on a free kick that came as a result of a foul on King, but Ederson punched the ball and took out Aké at the same time.
Vincent Kompany then came on for John stones.
Adam Smith showed how hard it was for Bournemouth to keep any possession as he ran most of the pitch, but couldn't get a pass off before he was surrounded by blue shirts.
Sterling won a corner on 50 minutes and Simpson somehow flicked the ball from behind him away before Brooks could finish the clearance. Man City kept testing Bournemouth's defence, and finally found a way through moving the ball from the left to the right, where Mahrez was standing on his own and half-hit a shot that bobbled past Boruc at his near post.
Bournemouth had held out for 54 minutes, but they hadn't managed to test City at all. Boruc had to make low save from Zinchenko, as City drove forward again. Aké was making interceptions well while Fraser came off worse in a 50:50 shoulder barge challenge when the referee saw no foul. Sterling was then left in space with Simpson chasing but the City winger could only shoot into the side netting.
Otamendi was booked after a City corner on 65 minutes, but the decisions didn't feel like they were going AFCB's way. Daniels long throw into City's box came out to Surman who had a high boot in the face, but again there was no foul given.
Sterling and Aguero were linking well and Aguero forced Boruc into a good save on 69 minutes. Brooks was then subbed on 75 minutes for Mousset.
A mistake from Simpson trying to head back a ball, after Vincent Kompany had headed it forward, alerted Sterling who was on to it like a flash. Brocu came out and forced him wide before Mahrez smashed his shot over.
Mepham and Aké were still having to make blocks. Aguero almost made the game safe with a lofted chip that came off Boruc's crossbar with the keeper well beaten, but Bournemouth were keeping it at 0-1.
Simpson was subbed for Ibe to come on and Rico replaced Clyne with 10 minutes to go. The referee was called into question again on 84 minutes when King was taken out by Walker on half way. It could easily have been a red, but Kevin Friend only showed a yellow. Josh King got a yellow too, probably for something he said.
Boruc made another save from Mahrez's header following a corner as the last five minutes were entered. Mousset might have done better with a rare misplaced City pass, but he choked when facing the last line of City's defence and couldn't find a player to pass to.
Aguero still looked for his goal and had a run across the box that ended with a wide shot. Aguero was then subbed for Jesus to come on in the 90th minute. Four minutes of added time still weren't enough to give Bournemouth a shot on goal.
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| Plenty of applause for a gutsy AFCB performance. |
After the humiliating 5-1 defeat at Arsenal, I think the fans could understand that the players needed to get some confidence back. For that reason most fans could except the negative set-up and the need to just try and keep City out for 90 minutes. The plan didn't quite work, but it was not due to a lack of effort from Bournemouth who tried to cover every City move. On another day this could have been a dull 0-0 draw. But City were just great at keeping their heads and in the end Bournemouth didn't manage to mark everyone tight enough with Mahrez able to get the winner in what could so easily have been a bad day for City and a great one for AFCB.
AFCB line up
AFCB subs: Begovic, Rico, Gosling, Taylor, Ibe Mousset, Surridge
AFCB RatingsBoruc 7 - despite the poor kicks
Clyne 6 - hard tackling and close attention
Simpson 7 - a natural defender, he deserves get more games
Mepham 6 - gaining confidence
Aké 8 - Bournemouth's main man
Daniels 5 - worked hard but found it tough going at times
A Smith 5 - A few good runs but couldn't influence the game
Surman 5 - Some good clearances
Fraser 6 - Gave his all but didn't get much protection from the referee
Brooks 6 - Finding his way back, the minutes will do him good
King 5 - Didn't see much of the ball and needs to do his work in the opposition's box
Ref Watch: Kevin Friend - 2/10 Got affected by home crowd getting on his back. Walker was lucky not to see red.
Man City
Ederson, Walker, , Stones (Kompany 48), Otamendi, Zinchenko, De Bruyne (Mahrez 45+2),
Gündogan, Silva, Bernardo Silva, Agüero (Jesus 90), Sterling
City Subs
Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Sané, Mahrez, Jesus, Foden
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