Match Report
Man City 2 v 1 AFC Bournemouth
15 July 2020
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| AFCB don' get the VAR decision but put in a great performance at the Etihad. |
Bournemouth made four changes for this game. It was a bit of a surprise to see Callum Wilson replaced by Josh King in the starting line up. Steve Cook also came in for the injured Aké and Billing made a start ahead of Danjuma, while Stanislas came in at wing back and Brooks was also on the bench.
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Man City are keeping the ball and are inching closer to the Bournemouth goal, but Walkers' cross goes past everyone. Rico makes a cross and Gosling's header is at the keeper. Jesus is found by Ederson on his own, but the pass from Jesus goes astray.
Billing loses it in midfield, not strong enough. Lerma slides in on Silva and it's a free kick. David Silva hits it right in the top right corner, off the cross bar, 1-0 to Man City on six minutes.
Solanke almost gets on the end of a lose ball. Fernandinho with a shot from distance, goes just wide. A well hit shot. Rico down to Billing, but Gosling can't keep it play.
Bournemouth are getting penned in, but escape with a free kick for Gosling. The long ball upfield and Ederson beats Steve Cook to it. Lloyd Kelly picks up a card for pulling back Jesus on 17 minutes.
The passing in the middle of the park is crisp from Man City, but Bournemouth are finding it hard to get a sequence of passing going. It has been like a training session or a game of chess with Man City just looking to find gaps on the field. King was doing well helping out the midfield. Stacey put in a great cross, but Stones beats Gosling to the ball.
Bournemouth have a press on. City get a throw though. Solanke over hits a pass for Josh King. Lerma intercepts, but gives it straight back to City.
Gosling keeps a chance alive, Josh King turns but puts the shot wide. Encouraging for Bournemouth. Lerma make a sliced clearance for a Man City corner. Bournemouth clear.
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A long throw from Kelly and Billing knocks it on before Man City clear. It is still a pedestrian pace. Man City are taking their time and Bournemouth are doing all the running. Every now and a gain Lerma or Gosling get a foot in.
Foden has a snap shot, but clips it over from Mendy's pass. Solanke takes the ball down well from a Ramsdale kick. Stacey crosses, but the Bournemouth players can't win the header.
Solanke wins a free kick off Otamendi on 32 minutes. Stanislas is looking to take the kick. It's tipped onto the post at full stretch by Ederson. So unlucky for Stanislas, because the keeper didn't know where the ball was. It could have gone in off the back of his head.
Gosling crosses and King heads over. Bernado Silver shoots wide on the volley from a cross from the left. King to Gosling and Solanke is blocked on the six yard line by Otamendi. Another header goes over from Billing.
David Silva on the left and Jesus opens up the Bournemouth defence and fires in to the bottom corner cutting past Stacey and Steve Cook. It's 2-0 to City on 39 minutes.
King does ever so well, but doesn't shoot or pass at the need when Stacey was available. Ramsdale gets to a cross and juggles it, he's lost it. Lerma has to clear, but he has caught Jesus. VAR has not given a penalty. Few.
Two minutes of added time.
Second half
Sterling and Garcia come on for Bermardo Silva and Carl Walker. Josh King wins a corner. Rico takes the corner, but it's headed out and he doesn't find Billing.
Man City are keeping possession now. Kelly heads clear a Mendy cross. Bournemouth just aren't able to get forward. They are being hemmed in their own half. Ramsdale catches a City corner.
Mendy crosses again and King wins a free kick. A ball over the top for Jesus, but Stacey has it covered. The pace of the game has been noticeably ponderous in the second half.
Man City are keeping possession now. Kelly heads clear a Mendy cross. Bournemouth just aren't able to get forward. They are being hemmed in their own half. Ramsdale catches a City corner.
Mendy crosses again and King wins a free kick. A ball over the top for Jesus, but Stacey has it covered. The pace of the game has been noticeably ponderous in the second half.
Solanke does well to keep the ball. Stanislas does great work down the right and cut's back and King taps in, but is he offside? VAR will check. 60 minutes have gone and VAR says offside.
Billing is on the box but can't find a team-mate. Rico has a cross down the left, but it goes out of play. Stanislas puts in a cross from the right and Ederson spills it with Solanke coming in and Gosling spoons his shot wide - a real chance on 64 minutes.
King gets in behind and goes down the byline and Stones is forced to give a corner away. Lerma tries to head it back but it's too strong.
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Sterling fouls Kelly. Man City sub Gündogan for Rodri on 68 minutes. Callum Wilson and David Brooks and Lewis Cook are on for Solanke, Stanislas and Gosling.
Silva puts a ball in low from the left. Jesus in the penalty area is taken down by Steve Cook - penalty. VAR is checking. Maybe Cook got some of the ball. No penalty!
Sterling is trying to get in down the left. Jesus gets free on the left but shoots past the left post. Mahrez and Zinchenko come on for Mendy and Jesus on 76 minutes.
King is replaced by Harry Wilson on 77 minutes. Billing out to Harry Wilson and he's down in the box. Where is VAR? Oh, it was a dive.
City have a corner. Mahrez crosses but Ramsdale saves. Brooks on the right, pulls it back to Callum Wilson and he has squeezed it wide of the left post.
Eight minutes left. Can Bournemouth reduce that goal difference? Garcia puts on a deep cross and Foden beats his man, but Ramsdale saves at the near post.
Kelly has a long throw. It hits David Silva's hand, but not a penalty! Billing and Callum Wilson but Bournemouth lose it. Bournemouth are pressing for this goal.
Rico a ball down the left Callum Wilson and Brooks has turned it in on 88 minutes.
Brooks and Callum Wilson now with a chance. He has hit it wide, off the defender. He snatched at it.
Six minutes of added time. Surridge is on. Billing is off, Callum Wilson is in behind. Lewis Cook doesn't shoot Lerma is blocked.
Free kick and the keeper might not get it, Steve Cook heads on, Surridge goes in but Ederson saves second time. Man City are hanging on the ropes.
Bournemouth get back to thwart Sterling and Mahrez. Garcia is carded for a foul on Harry Wilson.
Brooks puts in a cross too deep. Surridge on the chase, but Ederson wins the race. Kelly with a throw Cook heads on and Stones clears.
Summary
Bournemouth won't get any closer than this to making life uncomfortable for Man City. A 2-1 defeat was not perhaps justice for the chances Bournemouth created. The chances came right at the end, but Bournemouth couldn't convert them. Still, they did get one goal back from Harry Wilson and that could be vital when it comes to goal difference with Watford still to play Man City. Bournemouth made 14 chances which is the most of any team coming to the Etihad in the four years of Guardiola's reign. This is a team that is fighting and the fight goes on. VAR has again been cruel and Bournemouth aren't getting the strong referees that they need at times, but Man City is the toughest of tests and the remaining games will be easier for Bournemouth to try and win.
AFCB Ratings
Ramsdale 5, Stanislas 7 (Brooks 6), Stacey 6, S Cook 5, Kelly 6, Rico 6,
Billing 6 (Surridge 5), Lerma 5, Gosling 5 (L Cook 5), King 6 (H Wilson 5),
Solanke 5 (C Wilson 5)
AFCB MoM: Junior Stanislas
25 Fernandinho, 8 Gündogan, 20 Bernardo Silva, 21 Silva (Sterling 45), 47 Foden, 9 Gabriel Jesus (Mahrez 76)
Silva puts a ball in low from the left. Jesus in the penalty area is taken down by Steve Cook - penalty. VAR is checking. Maybe Cook got some of the ball. No penalty!
Sterling is trying to get in down the left. Jesus gets free on the left but shoots past the left post. Mahrez and Zinchenko come on for Mendy and Jesus on 76 minutes.
King is replaced by Harry Wilson on 77 minutes. Billing out to Harry Wilson and he's down in the box. Where is VAR? Oh, it was a dive.
City have a corner. Mahrez crosses but Ramsdale saves. Brooks on the right, pulls it back to Callum Wilson and he has squeezed it wide of the left post.
Kelly has a long throw. It hits David Silva's hand, but not a penalty! Billing and Callum Wilson but Bournemouth lose it. Bournemouth are pressing for this goal.
Rico a ball down the left Callum Wilson and Brooks has turned it in on 88 minutes.
Brooks and Callum Wilson now with a chance. He has hit it wide, off the defender. He snatched at it.
Six minutes of added time. Surridge is on. Billing is off, Callum Wilson is in behind. Lewis Cook doesn't shoot Lerma is blocked.
Free kick and the keeper might not get it, Steve Cook heads on, Surridge goes in but Ederson saves second time. Man City are hanging on the ropes.
Bournemouth get back to thwart Sterling and Mahrez. Garcia is carded for a foul on Harry Wilson.
Brooks puts in a cross too deep. Surridge on the chase, but Ederson wins the race. Kelly with a throw Cook heads on and Stones clears.
Summary
Bournemouth won't get any closer than this to making life uncomfortable for Man City. A 2-1 defeat was not perhaps justice for the chances Bournemouth created. The chances came right at the end, but Bournemouth couldn't convert them. Still, they did get one goal back from Harry Wilson and that could be vital when it comes to goal difference with Watford still to play Man City. Bournemouth made 14 chances which is the most of any team coming to the Etihad in the four years of Guardiola's reign. This is a team that is fighting and the fight goes on. VAR has again been cruel and Bournemouth aren't getting the strong referees that they need at times, but Man City is the toughest of tests and the remaining games will be easier for Bournemouth to try and win.
AFCB line-up
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AFCB Subs: 1 Boruc, 6 Surman, 13 C Wilson, 14 Danjuma, 16 L Cook, 20 Brooks, 22 H Wilson, 25 Simpson,
44 Surridge
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Ramsdale 5, Stanislas 7 (Brooks 6), Stacey 6, S Cook 5, Kelly 6, Rico 6,
Billing 6 (Surridge 5), Lerma 5, Gosling 5 (L Cook 5), King 6 (H Wilson 5),
Solanke 5 (C Wilson 5)
AFCB MoM: Junior Stanislas
Ref Watch: Lee Mason 1/10 not very good at spotting penalties but Man City were already 2-0 up when he missed Lerma's foul. Then he thought Steve Cook had given a penalty away and VAR overturned it. Still, not sure why Davi Silva's handball was not given either.
Man City
31 Ederson, 2 Walker (Garcia 45), 5 Stones, 30 Otamendi, 22 Mendy (Zinchenko 76), 25 Fernandinho, 8 Gündogan, 20 Bernardo Silva, 21 Silva (Sterling 45), 47 Foden, 9 Gabriel Jesus (Mahrez 76)
Man City Subs
7 Sterling, 11 Zinchenko, 14 Laporte, 16 Rodri, 17 De Bruyne, 26 Mahrez, 33 Carson, 50 García, 69 Doyle
They are maybe the most unlucky team in the PL this year. King had at least three and maybe four goals cancelled by VAR, with a total offside length of maybe 4 inches, it is silly really!that one yesterday didn’t count. Probably the best game they have played all year. I am semi optimistic they escape at Watford’s expense.
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