Saturday 31 August 2019

Key players need to start performing

Bournemouth have netted four goals so far this season which is just 1.33 goals a game. That is a bit lower than what might have been expected from the first three games and it is clear that of the goals Bournemouth have got, we haven't seen anything from key players like Ryan Fraser or Callum Wilson yet.
Key players need to fire against Leicester City.
Goals will surely come from the two stars of last season at some point. But they have been spoken about so much that other teams are now well aware that these two players hold a lot of the threat that AFCB have, and stopping them goes a long way to stopping AFCB.

Bournemouth need to get a bit more creative with their attacks and try and get Josh King and Harry Wilson in good shooting positions as well as Ryan and Callum. The crosses have not been particularly accurate so far this season, and some of the shots have been rather hurried. It really throws a light on some of the player's poor shooting accuracy when you see how well Harry Wilson shoots in comparison.

Advertisement
Harry Wilson should not be leading the way, but he already is. It is down to some of the other players to step up if they are going to stretch teams like Leicester City. Bournemouth need to find more energy and precision in their forward play and while we know our players have got it within them, Eddie Howe needs them to start finding the net.

I am not sure that Dominic Solanke is good enough to replace Callum or Josh King, but Howe will be forced to give Siolanke a start soon if our top duo can't start to look more of a threat up front. But coming up a defence like Leicester's is a chance for Bournemouth's best players to show they still can take the game to an in-form team and come out on top.



Leicester Till I Die - Cherry Chimes answers some pre-match questions


AFCB Potential line-up
AFCB Subs: Travers, Mepham, Kilkenny, Simpson, Surman, Ibe, Solanke

AFCB TV Preview


Cherry Chimes Newsletter - out tomorrow!
Cherry Chimes' September Newsletter brings you the best stories on the blog and the thoughts behind them from last month. It's out tomorrow, with special story - New signings find their feet.

To sign up for the newsletter just complete the form below - like all good things it's free!





Email Format




Friday 30 August 2019

Can AFCB stretch Leicester City?

Bournemouth are going to come up against a side that has had a confident start to the season and under Brendan Rodgers they have a manager that prepares well for every game. It's true to say that Bournemouth have always had good battles against Leicester City and this one is perhaps one of the most important games of the season for AFCB coming off the back of their first defeat against Man City
Fraser and co need to stretch the Leicester City back-line.
Leicester have only had one clean sheet which was against Wolves in their first game of the season, but they have conceded just two goals so the absence of Harry Maguire hasn't been showing yet. They have not been bagging a lot of goals, but Vardy has scored along with Ndidi. They've also had a youngster in Harvey Barnes stun Sheffield United with a late winner.

So I expect Leicester to be organised and trying to play to Vardy's strengths.The tricky James Maddison is the player that Bournemouth will hope to shackle right from the start as everything good tends to go through him while there could be another problem in the new record signing of Youri Tielemans who is no doubt eager to get his first goal at his new club.

While Bournemouth do have some strong counter-attacking players, they will need to do much better in front of goal from what we saw when the team played Man City and Forest Green. Callum Wilson and Josh King are likely to start, but they have to put more pressure on Casper Schmeichel than we have seen Bournemouth do to other keeper's this season. AFCB's weakness is that they have not shown they can keep a clean sheet, and if their strikers are not able to find a bit of form in front of goal, it could be a time of major reflection for AFCB during the international break.

Leicester City are a good team, but AFCB will be left in the wrong half of the table with a defeat. So Eddie Howe needs to get the team working well for this match and while he is unlikely to change the team much from the Man City game, he needs more spark from players like Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser who had such good seasons last year.

T-Shirt Competition
Try and predict the correct score between Leicester City and AFCB to win a Cherry Chimes T-Shirt. Send your prediction to @CherryChimes on Twitter. We will pick an entry from the hat if there are more than one correct scoreline prediction.

Rival Lines: 'You have always been our bogey team,' says Leicester Till I Die

Rival Lines
Leicester City v AFCB
Blogger Interview: Leicester Till I Die
Twitter: @Leicestertid


This week I spoke with Leicester Till I Die blogger Chris Forryan about his team's start to the season and the impact that Brendan Rodgers has had at the club. Leicester have also lost one of their main central defenders to Manchester United and yet they seem to still be able to get some good results as they sit fourth on the table.

CC: Were Leicester City fans annoyed at the lateness of the Harry Maguire deal to Man Utd going through or did you feel Leicester got the best of the deal with the final price-tag that was achieved?

LTID: To be honest, No. Deep down think we knew he was going would have been more annoyed to lose him last summer post world cup when he was playing better and err yes £80m+ for a player we paid £17m for and we didn't wear a mask lol.

CC: How do you feel the defence has done since Maguire's exit?

LTID: Maguire who? Soyuncu & Benkovic were bought last summer ready for a possible Maguire exit and Morgan retirement, so despite being linked with every defender available with two man of the match performances from Soyuncu, lets just say we havn't missed him.

CC: Were you happy with signing Ayoze Perez from Newcastle United for £30m and has he shown signs of repaying some of that yet?

LTID: Was a shock and very un-Leicester like. Target a player, check his get put price and pay it. He's being used as an Albrighton replacement at the moment, but has scored a few pre-season and may prove an adequate replacement for any Vardy injuries.

CC: Just how good is Youri Tielemans and are you surprised that Leicester beat off the competition for him and breaking the Foxes transfer record?

LTID: Watch out for the big boys knocking on our door next summer, this guy could be the new Hazard and I think it speaks volumes of our club that he WANTED to come to Leicester following his loan spell with us over some of the so called top six sides that were chasing him.

CC: How important was the win against Sheffield United and was it a harder game than expected?

LTID: Always hard against the new boys but that first win is always going to be important, and it keeps us unbeaten.

CC: Who do you see as the three weakest sides in the Premier League this season?

LTID: Wow that's a difficult one. I think it will be very tight down at the bottom, more so than for many a year. Brighton I think will struggle as will Newcastle who are like the Titanic looking for the Iceberg. Sheffield United will find it tough going and I hope to see Villa in the bottom three, but that is more personal.
Advertisement
CC: What have you seen about Brendan Rodgers way of playing that has been better than Claude Puel?

LTID: We now play, fast, attacking, football aimed at getting the best out of Vardy. None of the aforementioned could be said in the same breath as Puel.

CC: Which player form Bournemouth's team would you happily have in your squad this season if you could and why?

LTID: Nathan Ake was linked during the 'will he won't he' leave Maguire saga and if we had managed to sign him I would have been very happy. Callum Wilson would be a good addition as we do struggle if Vardy is out, but that said I have never been happier over a LCFC squad going into a new season.

CC: Would it be disappointing not to get European football at the end of this season for Leicester fans?

LTID: Winning the League has meant we always start a new season thinking we can do it again. Blue tinted glasses off though, and yes it would be disappointing. Having a good, young, squad with an experienced attack minded manager, I think we could break into the top six. But then what do I know? Lol.


CC: How do you expect to line up against Bournemouth and has Leicester any major injury worries or long-term absentees?


LTID: Nothing long term from the main squad Ndidi, & Chilwell short term worries but -

Schmeichel
Pereira, Soyuncu, Evans, Chilwell/Fuchs
Chowdry/Ndidi, Praet
Perez, Maddison
Vardy

CC: What is your score prediction for the match?

LTID:You have always been our bogey team but I think we might just have too much for you this game so I'm going a 2-1 win to the Foxes.

CC: A big thanks to Chris who is no doubt feeling pretty good about the table at the moment and the prospects for Leicester City. Fo Bournemouth, this is a chance to go up against a side that is likely to finish in the top 10 and to try and get against a team that is unbeaten so far. Such games between Leicester and Bournemouth are usually tight, so it is bound to be quite a nervy watch this weekend. To read more about Leicester City and to see my answers to Chris' questions on AFCB Bournemouth, head over the the Leicester Till I Die website.


Thursday 29 August 2019

Can Callum Wilson find his form?

While most of Bournemouth's players have been battling hard to win their spot in the team, the one name that Eddie Howe probably expects to put on the team sheet quickly is Callum Wilson. It may only be three games played but it was a disconsolate Callum Wilson who was walking off 20 minutes before the end of the Man City game.
Callum Wilson is yet to break his goal scoring duck.
It is not often that we see Callum being subbed. He has earned his place to start and usually takes his chances well. But against Man City he didn't have as big a game as he would have wished with just the one big opportunity to score at the start of the second half, which unfortunately was saved by Ederson.

It hasn't been a fast start to this season for Callum. There is another Wilson who is getting the headlines. But it seems hard to imagine Callum coming under pressure from Dominic Solanke. Eddie Howe will be trying to get his main striker back on form very quickly as having not scored against two newly-promoted sides, Callum has perhaps missed a chance to bag a few early goals.

Whether it is Callum not quite making the most of his chances or whether he is finding that there are not many chances being created for him is difficult to be clear on. The chance against Man City was certainly scoreable, but keepers are going to save some one-on-ones.


Advertisement
I just think Callum needs a goal to go in and he'll be back to making as many runs as we expect from him. Howe has to have faith in his number 13 and keep the team playing to his strengths. That is probably why Callum was played in the match against Forest Green Rovers. He just needs a goal from open play to get him going again.

Travers saves the day in Carabao Cup penalty shoot out



Bournemouth dominated the match against League Two side Forest Green Rovers, but just couldn't find a finish to beat Joe Wollacott. Bournemouth had to wait until the last three minutes to have their best chance of the game but Josh King couldn't find the net. It was another blank night of scoring for Callum Wilson and it took three saves from Mark Travers to see AFCB through the penalty shoot out 3-0 to take Bournemouth through to the third round of the Carabao Cup. Bournemouth will play Burton Albion away in the next round.

Mark Travers lets his gloves do the talking.
Eddie Howe played a couple of big names for the visit of Forest Green Rovers which were perhaps a tad unexpected to be in the starting line-up. Callum Wilson was given a start following his barren three game start to the league season, along with Dominic Solanke. Meanwhile, Harry Wilson was also given more time on the right wing. The other positions were perhaps more expected although it was good to see Mark Travers get an outing in goal instead of Artur Boruc, and Jack Stacey had a start at right back while Gavin Kilkenny tried his luck in central midfield having impressed in pre-season.

Bournemouth's bench was also pretty strong with Ryan Fraser, Nathan Aké, Philip Billing and Josh King among the subs.

Official AFCB Tweets
01 Forest Green get us started and we'll be kicking towards the Ted MacDougall Stand for the first half.

02 Chance for the Cherries...
Callum Wilson does brilliantly to keep hold of the ball and plays a lovely one-two with Solanke. He gets a shot away, but it's over the bar.  

04 Penalty shout?
Ibe goes down in the box after a challenge from a Forest Green defender, but the referee blows any appeals away.

10 Free-kick... Solanke is brought down within shooting range and, of course, Harry Wilson is behind it! The Wales international strikes it, but it's just over Wollacott's bar.

13 Best opening so far...
We get the ball into a good position and Harry Wilson is played through...  He has a go from close range, which the 'keeper saves, and it bobbles around in the box before being cleared.

20 Pressure being applied...
The rain is coming down thick and fast here at Vitality Stadium and we've seen lots of the ball in the first 20 minutes.  Surman has just hit a wonderful ball from the edge of the area, but it's drifted just wide.

23 Great ball from Stacey!
The right-back links up well with Kilkenny and then Harry Wilson, before fizzing a low ball into the box, but no-one is there to get on the end of it and it evades everyone.

28 Good save from Wollacott!
Ibe wins it back and drives into the box with the ball. He pulls the trigger and forces a low save from the Forest Green 'keeper, who keeps it at 0-0.

31 Another good ball in... This time it's Ibe who delivers and he's aiming for Solanke, but Forest Green get back to defend and clear the danger.

34 Another scramble in the box...
Kilkenny plays a neat little ball through to Solanke, who is put under pressure and goes down in the box. Play goes on and it eventually falls to Stacey, who drills his shot wide.

39 Superb from Stacey again... The ball breaks to Harry Wilson and Stacey sprints 50 yards to overlap him. The ball goes in from the right, but Callum Wilson can't quite poke home.

44 Attempt missed. Harry Wilson (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Andrew Surman.

Well that was completely dominant. We look so lively, but just haven't found that killer touch.
It's been one way traffic and Andrew Surman went close, before Harry Wilson and Jordan Ibe both forced saves from the keeper.



Second half
Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Ebou Adams replaces Dayle Grubb.


51 First second half opening...we take a clever free kick and Ibe comes forward with the ball. The space opens up for him and he tries a shot, but it's high ad wide of Wollacott's goal.

59 A double substitution.. King and Fraser are on in place of harry Wilson and Callum Wilson

61 Solanke has a go.. The striker works an opening just outside the box, but scuffs his shot and it goes for a goal kick.

65 Shot for Forest Green. Adams picks it up and brings the ball forward He's 20 yards out and decides to have a go, but it doesn't challenge Travers and goes over.

68 substitutes line up...Fraser and King link up well with the latter getting into a good position and firing towards goal but its saved.

70 Huge chance.. stacey plays a quick throw to King, who is rapid down the right. His low cross gets deflected and falls into the arms of Forest Green's keeper with Solanke ready to pounce.

73 off the post! How has that not gone in? Stacey drives a low ball into the box after being played in by Ibe. It comes off the post, but no-one can react to stab home.

75 King almost strikes! A ball is played over the top and King brings it down superbly. He takes a touch and  has a shot but Wollacott is equal to it

77 Another Forest Green sub... Mondal is off and Mills is on in his place.

83 Our final change.. Billing is on in place of Kilkenny, who has one well throughout the evening.

86 Another push... Fraser whips in a corner and it bubbles about eventually falling to Simpson, but the defender wasn't expecting it and couldn't get it under control. Wollacott collects as a result.

87 What a save! Biggest chance of the game. Wollacott saves again. Another corner comes in and King is on the end of it but Forest Green's keeper produces an outstanding save to keep the scores level.

Full time We've had all the possession but couldn't convert one of many chances. We're heading for a penalty shoot out.

AFCB possession 74%, shots 23, shots on target 6, corners 11, fouls 10
Forest Green possession 26%, shots 6, shots on target 2, corners 3, fouls 6

Penalties in front of Ted MacDougall stand
King scores 1-0 AFCB
Mills saved by Travers 1-0 AFCB
Solanke scores 2-0 AFCB
Travers saves again from Kevin Dawson 2-0 AFCB
Ibe has penalty saved 2-0 AFCB
Travers saves James Morton's penalty 2-0 AFCB
Billing scores 3-0 AFCB

Mark Travers is the hero with three penalty saves!

In other news Sam Surridge scored twice in Swansea City's 6-0 demolition of Cambridge Utd.

Wednesday 28 August 2019

Rico's big opportunity

I have not been the biggest fan of Diego Rico. He has had enough time to be competing for a first team place, but has always looked a little below the level needed in the Premier League to date. The Carabao Cup tie against Forest Green Rovers is his big chance to show he is ready to fill Charlie Daniels boots, and to provide more of the top calibre of crossing and defending that we want to see from him.
Top defender required - can Rico deliver?

The final ball has always been Rico's problem from where I sit. Not enough of his passes make it to other Bournemouth players and when he does cross there needs to be more assists. Whether a run in the first team will help him at this stage is what we probably should be hoping. He is expected to start on Wednesday night and if he can have a good game it will set him up for the next league match against Leicester City.

Eddie Howe hasn't a lot of choice on the left side with Charlie Daniels and Lloyd Kelly out, but he always has the option of moving Adam Smith over to the left and bringing in Jack Stacey at right-back. That is why it is so essential that Rico has a good game against Forest Green Rovers. The speed he has and the desire to get back are admirable, but it's the simple things that he has to start perfecting and Eddie Howe is going to have to be reliant on the likes of Rico in the next few weeks when AFCB need to keep accumulating points.


Advertisement
We have seen players do well in the cup and progress. Tonight is a chance for some of the younger players like Kilkenny, Ofoborh and Simpson to get 90 minutes in a game and impress Eddie Howe in front of a good crowd. But for the first team it is probably even more important that we see Rico and hopefully Lewis Cook get some minutes in a game.


Chimes to camerarelive the tension of AFCB v Man City

Forest Green Rovers - who are they?

Forest Green Rovers are a club that try to be green in everything they do, and there is much that the big clubs could take on board from their owners that are the first vegan club and carbon neutral certified by the United Nations. But for any supporter it is what a club does on the pitch that get fans coming back match after match and Rovers have done pretty well of late by beating Championship side Charlton Athletic in the last round of the Carabao Cup 5-3 on penalties.
Will it be a reasonable crowd for Forest Green Rovers?
Taking on AFC Bournemouth second-string won't be any easier for Forest Green Rovers and for them it is a dream tie in many respects to get a Premier League club, even if Bournemouth's gate is not a big one. Lying third on League Two, Forest Green Rovers are a club on the up and they have won three of their five games this season in League Two.

Joseph Mills, 28, is their leading goalscorer. He has scored in his last two league games and has three league goals in total. Mills is a defender which gives you an idea that Rovers like to get their defenders forward. He is the main penalty taker and club captain. He played 28 games for Southampton earlier on his career so we can only imagine what it would mean for him to score against Bournemouth. Taylor Allen, 18, and Junior Mandal, 21, have also been on the score sheet this season.


Advertisement
Mark Cooper is the manager who came to the club in 2016,. He has an extensive playing and managerial career, but it has been mainly in the lower leagues.

Tuesday 27 August 2019

The Premier League is a perfect stage for Harry Wilson

We have only seen Harry Wilson in a couple of games for AFC Bournemouth, but we can already see that he is something special. It is not every player that can come into a new team and have the confidence to take a free kick from the regulars, and then go and slot it in the top corner. Harry Wilson wants to make a name for himself while he is at AFCB and he has set about doing that in some style.
Harry Wilson is setting the standard.
Two goals in two games has taken Harry Wilson straight to the top of the goal scorer's chart for AFCB. The one quality we know Harry has is that he can hit a ball from distance very accurately and it's a quality that not many players have. He might not have every part of his game on song yet, but when he sees a chance to shoot he just gets on with it.

The quality he has in striking the ball so cleanly is breathtaking. Bournemouth have not had such a good free kick specialist as this before. Where he probably needs to improve is on making challenges, learning to manage quick breaks better and finding the right places to run into to make those breakaways work for AFCB. But that will come.

Advertisement
I'm more than impressed with this loan signing. It is going to be hard for David Brooks to shift Harry Wilson when he does get fit again. I don't mind that as both players have great qualities. It was a surprise to me that Eddie did not pick Harry to start against Man City, but he's going to have some pressure on him now to pick him for the match against Leicester City. 

Bournemouth put up a fight but City are still too good

Some 24 hours after the defeat against Man City gives everyone some time to reflect on a game that just got away from AFCB. There wasn't much in the general play that saw Bournemouth struggle and they certainly competed. It was just a few moments when City managed to unlock the door that will haunt Eddie Howe, but he'll know his team put up a strong performance against the Champions.
AFCB fight hard but it's not enough.
Going into the match, what Bournemouth didn't want to see was a one-way procession by Man City. Eddie Howe perhaps has the players now that are more expressive and that could look to tie-up City's main threats, while keeping some possession. It is what AFCB did with that possession which was more pleasing in this match than in previous attempts against City. Bournemouth looked like they could score and in the end they did get one goal past City.

The shot count for Bournemouth was very encouraging with 10 shots and seven on target. That was the point they slipped up on though in not converting more of those seven shots that were on target. Limiting Man City to 19 shots meant about 10 each half, but City only had five shots on target. The problem is that City took three of those five chances.


Getting better at both ends of the pitch is what AFCB will keep working at. But just to be in a game where Man City were tested and given some problems is a good improvement for AFCB. There are some encouraging signs and it's important for the team to go on and beat some of the mid-table teams now to get them moving back up the table.

Monday 26 August 2019

Man City pick-off Bournemouth 1-3

Match Report
AFB 1 v 3 Man City
25 August 2019
Attendance: 10,486
AFCB take on Man City on a hot afternoon.
Bournemouth did all they could to get their first ever point against Man City in the Premier League but they had no answer to Aguero's sharp finishing and Sterling's dance through the defence. In a frantic first half the challenges came in thick and fast with Carl Walker and Ederson grateful to only see yellow cards. Bournemouth fell behind to an incisive run up the left side that Aguero tucked away just inside the post in the six yard box. The game looked over when Sterling doubled the lead by stabbing home past Ramsdale, but a terrific free kick from Harry Wilson pegged City back to 1-2 before the break. While the Bournemouth fans did what they could to lift the home team it was Aguero who wrapped up the win with the final goal to leaving Bournemouth fans dreaming of what could have been.

Eddie Howe made one change from the last game with Harry Wilson moving to the bench and Chris Mepham coming into the starting line-up.

There are more images on Match Day Gallery.
Bournemouth begin with a back five.
Bournemouth kicked-off in sweltering heat with a cacophony of noise. King has the first run at goal, tackling de Bruyne, but he hit a tame shot at Ederson. Zinchenko then fouled Adam Smith.

A bad foul from Walker took out Nathan Ake and yet he got away without a booking.  The first big chance from City came from Sterling making a pull back to Bernardo Silva who squirted his shot wide of right post corner on seven minutes.

A second City corner followed but King took it clear. The referee then missed a handball in the middle, much to the annoyance of Bournemouth fans.

Walker was booked for following through on Ake on 11 minutes.

City kept coming forward with De Bruyne winning a corner off Ake. Wilson was caught by Ederson who rushed out of his goal and took the striker down. Bournemouth fans were again outraged as he was only given a yellow card on 13 minutes. Bournemouth pushed on going close with a header before Ake sees his shot go over off the keeper.

City's break with Zinchenko down the left and de Bruyne miss-hits his shot that falls to Aguero and he puts his shot round Aké and inside the left post 0-1 City on 15 minutes.



Advertisement
A volley from David Silva is saved by Ramsdale diving to his right. Mepham is offside after Daniels put him in down the right, and he blazes wide anyway.

Aké blocks de Bruyne on 23 minutes. City are happy to play in front of Bournemouth and take their time to find a killer pass. Sterling can't get in the game yet. He's offside.

Aguero shoots and it comes off David Silva. Daniels drives a cross into the box, but is injured on 32 minutes. Daniels is getting stretchered off. Harry Wilson replaces Daniels. Ederson catches the ball from the free kick .

Fraser has gone to left back. King is on the left wing as Bournemouth reorganise. Harry Wilson crosses, there is a delay in clearing the ball as it hit Otamenid's shoulder and Smith puts it over off the keeper's head! Corner, and Ederson catches well.

David Silva passes and Sterling is found on the edge of the box. He has it past the last defender and stabs it in to make it 0-2 on 43 minutes. Some slack defending from Bournemouth.

Six minutes of added time go up. Wilson is fouled on the edge of the box by Laporte as he tried to turn. Harry Wilson has slammed the ball into the top right corner, off the post, from the free kick. Amazing shot 1-2. Bournemouth are back in this.

David Silva crosses and Otamendi heads over. That's half-time.
Half-time 1-2 down.

Second half

Mepham fouls Laprte who rolls around ridiculously. Harry Wilson robs the ball is fouled and the ref plays advantage when AFCB have lost the ball.

Sterling goes down in the box, but there is no foul even with a VAR check. Ramsdale saves well from Aguero and Sterling is just beaten to the ball by Steve Cook for a corner.

Harry Wilson passes on to Callum and Ederson makes a great save on 52 minutes. That was a big chance for Bournemouth to level. Aguero breaks and plays it to de Bruyne who shoots wide.

Harry Wilson almost gets a shot from Callum Wilson's cross. Then Fraser crosses to the far post and Ederson has to punch ahead of Callum coming in.

City sub Gundagon for 16 on 58 minutes. Bernardo Silva has a shot blocked by Ake.

A quick throw and Bournemouth have lost it. Silva plays it to Aguero and he's in for a simple goal, 1-3 on 63 minutes.

Solanke and Ibe are coming on for Smith and Callum Wilson on 69 minutes. Ibe is playing right back and marking Sterling.

Billing takes a knock but continues. King beats three City players by the corner to win a throw and gets a big cheer.

Bernardo Silva subbed for Mahrez on 79 minutes. The match has slowed to a trot. Fraser wins a corner. Sterling heads away, Fraser didn't beat the first man. Billing puts the ball across the six yard box!

King puts Solanke in against Ederson, but he hits his shot at the keeper on 86 minutes.

Otamendi is booked for a foul on King. Walker is subbed for Cancelo on 90 minutes. There are four minutes of added time. Solanke gets up but can't direct the header.

A double tackle from Ake stop City in their tracks. Billing on the six yard line looks offside and his shot is saved.
A good performance but City were just too strong.
Summary
Bournemouth had a real go at the Champions. They came off worse but at least they traded challenges and competed which is much better than the rearguard action when they last met. Had Bournemouth seen a Ederson seen red rather than yellow it might have evened things up and Callum Wilson really had a great chance to make it 2-2 after half-time. Aguero doesn't miss many of his chances though and while Sterling only had one real chance he tucked that away too. Still, Bournemouth will take some confidence form the hard game they gave Man City, while Harry Wilson is clearly in sparkling form with his long-range shooting.
Bournemouth at least tested the Champions.
AFCB Ratings
Ramsdale 5, Smith 5, Cook 5, Mepham 6, Ake 6, Daniels 5 ( H Wilson 7), Lerma 6, Billing 6, Fraser 6, King 6, Wilson 5

Cherry Chimes' MoM: Harry Wilson


AFCB Line-up
AFCB Subs: Boruc, Rico, Simpson, Surman, Ibe, H Wilson, Solanke
Referee Rating -Andre Marriner 1/10: Really poor today. Was lenient on City challenges and didn't have the bottle to send Ederson off for his challenge on Callum Wilson and Walker had two bad challenges. Very little protection for AFCB's players.

Man City
31 Ederson, 2 Walker (Cancelo 90), 30 Otamendi , 14 Laporte, 11 Zinchenko ,
17 De Bruyne, 
20 B Silva (Mahrez 79), 21 D Silva, 8 Gundagon (Rodri 58) , 7 Sterling,
10 Aguero


City Subs
1 Bravo, 27 Cancelo , 16 Rodri , 47 Fogden , 25 Fernandino , 12 Angel, 26 Mahrez








tag: