Manchester City hold possession in Bournemouth’s half as they wait for the imminent full-time whistle.
90' +1
The referee indicates an additional four minutes at the end of the match for stoppages.
90'
Gabriel Jesus enters the game and replaces S. Agüero.
Aguero’s match ends without a goal as Gabriel Jesus replaces the Argentina international with just minutes remaining.
84'
J. King gets yellow.
K. Walker gets yellow.
Walker receives a yellow card for a very poor tackle right in front of the technical area. A bit of pushing ensues, but Guardiola makes sure to send his right-back away from the fracas, saving him from a potential red card.
King also receives a yellow card for his part in the melee.
83'
J. Ibe enters the game and replaces J. Simpson.
Diego Rico enters the game and replaces N. Clyne.
The final Bournemouth substitution sees Rico replace Clyne.
Simpson is replaced by Ibe with less than 10 minutes left in an attacking switch.
75'
L. Mousset enters the game and replaces D. Brooks.
Eddie Howe makes a substitution as Mousset replaces Brooks with 15 minutes remaining.
71'
Zinchenko fires an awkward, bouncing cross across the face of goal which Simpson gets the slightest of touches to – putting it out for a corner-kick.
69'
Sterling centres the ball for Aguero after a quick break, but the Argentina international needs a touch to control the ball before firing a shot with the outside of his foot towards goal that Boruc sees the whole way.
67'
Smith wins a free-kick just outside his penalty area after a cynical foul from Sterling – allowing Boruc to send his team upfield as he takes the set-piece long.
Minute
Description
65'
N. Otamendi gets yellow.
Otamendi is shown a yellow card for an intentional handball during a Manchester City corner.
63'
Fraser finds some room on the left and sprints towards Ederson’s goal – but Walker comes across and wins the ball in what the referee deems to be a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge. The change in possession leads to a City counter-attack which Sterling cannot make the most of as he gets the better of Simpson – but not Boruc.
61'
Bournemouth have opened themselves up to attack a little bit more since going behind, but they are really lacking a forward thrust. Injuries to Callum Wilson and Dominic Solanke have certainly not helped Eddie Howe, who has limited options to change things from the bench. Perhaps the pace of Ibe could be useful as we are now in the final 30 minutes of play.
57'
Now a goal behind, Bournemouth must come out of their shell and attack as they search for an equaliser. Their attack has been subdued for just about an hour – so perhaps a change is needed from the bench in order to spark the home team into life.
55'
R. Mahrez has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by David Silva.
David Silva's vision led to the goal as his perfectly weighted assist allowed Mahrez to attack it at the first time of asking.
MAHREZ MAKES THE DIFFERENCE AS CITY LEAD 1-0! The breakthrough has finally come after some quick ball movement in and around the penalty area allows David Silva to find Mahrez near the right-hand post. It’s a simple rolled pass to the former Premier League winner with Leicester City – who fires his shot first time past Boruc!
52'
David Silva finds Aguero inside the penalty area on the left, and the Argentina international attempts a chipped cross towards the penalty area – which would have reached its target if not for a nifty back-heel flicked clearance from Simpson whose improvisation may have just saved Bournemouth’s clean sheet.
50'
Stones has only just been deemed fit once again after a spell on the sidelines, but it looks as though Guardiola is unwilling to risk the former Everton centre-back any further. Kompany’s prowess in the air could also be quite important for City who may need a goal from a set-piece to open the floodgates.
48'
V. Kompany enters the game and replaces J. Stones.
Guardiola makes a second change as Kompany replaces Stones in defence.
46'
Bournemouth get the second half underway from the kick-off.
45' +3
HALF-TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-0 MANCHESTER CITY.
45' +2
R. Mahrez enters the game and replaces K. De Bruyne.
Confirmation of the change which sees an injured De Bruyne replaced by Mahrez.
45'
As the half-time whistle approaches, De Bruyne looks to have picked up a knock following a rather innocuous pass. That should come as a concern to Guardiola as his main source of creativity will not see the second 45 minutes.
43'
Play is stopped as a collision between Mepham and Stones leaves the former in some discomfort following a corner. He’ll step off the pitch to receive some treatment as Bournemouth look to hold on for the final moments.
41'
Sterling cuts inside from the left and whips a curling effort towards the far post which goes well wide of Boruc’s goal – despite the shot dipping wickedly. The goalkeeper will be relieved as that could have been dangerous.
39'
With just over five minutes left in the half, Eddie Howe must be pleased that his side have maintained the clean sheet. They’ve allowed City all of the possession but have done well to close down space and force their opponents to take awkward shots or put crosses in that Boruc has dealt with.
35'
Brooks powers forward into Manchester City’s half and sprays a pass forward for Fraser to latch onto on the left. Walker comes steaming across to make a ball-winning challenge which also sends the winger to the ground. Once again Bournemouth players protest for a free-kick, but the match official waves away the claims.
33'
Smith finally gets Bournemouth into Manchester City’s half but an attempted flick over the head of Gundogan ends with a free-kick for City as the City midfielder is caught in the head with a flailing arm.
29'
Chants of “come on City” can be heard ringing around the Vitality Stadium as the visitors yet again pin their hosts back around their penalty area. It’s quite impressive that the Cherries have kept the match goalless after 30 minutes, considering City have managed four shots and 80% possession thus far.
25'
Fraser finally gets into an attacking position on the left and puts a cross to the near post which is cleared at the first time of asking by Walker. It’s a poorly constructed cross which Fraser should do much better with considering the rarity of the opportunity.
24'
Brooks picks up the ball in Manchester City’s half and looks to head towards goal before a crunching Otamendi tackle wins possession back for the visitors. It looked a clear foul – a point which Bournemouth’s players are not shy of voicing to the referee – but Kevin Friend is unconvinced.
22'
Stones finds David Silva with a pass in midfield, and the Spain international immediately sets his sights on an incisive pass through the heart of defence for Aguero, but the striker is unable to get there ahead of Ake and resorts to fouling the defender – giving Bournemouth a free-kick on the edge of their penalty area.
20'
It seems a training exercise as Bournemouth are forced to continuously chase shadows in their own half. To their credit, Howe’s side have remained compact and focused, but how long can they be forced to defend before a costly mistake allows City a chance to capitalise?
16'
Bernardo Silva passes it back to De Bruyne on the bottom corner of the penalty area, who floats a first-time cross into the penalty area. Boruc is aware of the intention and quickly readjusts his feet to make the catch
14'
It's been a thoroughly dominant first 15 minutes for Manchester City as they come forward and attack yet again. Only Ederson remains in the visitors’ half as Stones and Otamendi join in on the siege. Guardiola’s side have seen over 80% of the possession so far, with the Cherries having no impact on the flow of the match.
12'
Aguero gets in behind the defence but he’s called offside! It’s a tight decision as the Argentina international waits on the shoulder of the last man but slightly mistimes his run – allowing Boruc to clear with a booming free-kick.
10'
Gundogan receives the ball on the edge of the penalty area and chips a lovely ball over the top, searching for the run of either Sterling or Aguero. The Germany international puts a little too much on the pass though as it rolls out for a goal-kick.
8'
Sterling breaks into the penalty area and attempts to feed a pass through for Aguero, but the Bournemouth defence are well placed to clear the ball – though they gift it right back to the Manchester City defence who move forward once again to initiate an attack.
6'
The free-kick is floated to Otamendi at the far post, who knocks it down for Aguero. The striker attempts a long-range volley which is closed down for a corner.
5'
Mepham goes into a crunching tackle from behind on Sterling which sends the winger to the ground. The referee awards Manchester City a free-kick, well outside the penalty area on the left.
3'
Bournemouth seem to have lined up with a four-man defence to start the match, but instructions from the touchline have made their way onto the pitch as the Cherries go to a three centre-back system, with Ake and Mepham either side of Simpson.
1'
Manchester City get the match underway from the kick-off!
What looked to be a confidence-inspiring 4-0 victory over Chelsea at the end of January has turned into a distant memory as Bournemouth have only picked up one point in their four matches since. A side known for their free-flowing attack, the Cherries have managed only two goals in that span – one coming as consolation in their 5-1 dismantling at the hands of Arsenal. The stats don’t bode well for the hosts who are looking to get back to winning ways, as they have never beaten Manchester City in the Premier League – losing eight of their nine meetings.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Premier League fixture between Bournemouth and Manchester City!
It’s been a dream week for Manchester City, who successfully claimed the League Cup trophy in last Sunday’s drama-filled final against Chelsea before beating former manager Manuel Pellegrini and West Ham 1-0 in the league. A win would restore City to the top of the table and keep pressure on Liverpool ahead of their Merseyside Derby tomorrow.
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Danilo, Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Arijanet Muric, Leroy Sane, Phil Foden, Vincent Kompany.
MANCHESTER CITY XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva; Bernardo Silva, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling.
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Asmir Begovic, Jordon Ibe, Kyle Taylor, Dan Gosling, Sam Surridge, Diego Rico, Lys Mousset.
BOURNEMOUTH XI (4-4-1-1): Artur Boruc; Charlie Daniels, Jack Simpson, Chris Mepham, Nathaniel Clyne; Ryan Fraser, Andrew Surman, Nathan Ake, Adam Smith; David Brooks; Joshua King.
A lengthy injury list is partly to blame for Bournemouth’s downturn in form, as Eddie Howe has up to six players unavailable due to various ailments. In 12th place – nine points above the relegation zone – the hosts should have relatively little fear of being dragged into a fight for survival, though things can change very quickly at the bottom of the table, especially with key matches against Newcastle and Burnley on the horizon.
Let's have a look at the confirmed teams for today's match.
Manchester City have quite a lengthy injury list of their own – though they haven’t let that affect their form as the visitors have strung together a run of 14 wins in 15 matches in all competitions. The loss of Fernandinho is key to this match, as Pep Guardiola relies heavily on his central midfielder. Gundogan was used in that role in midweek and is set to deputise yet again.
De Bruyne’s injury at the end of the first half will be concerning to Guardiola, but perhaps the introduction of Mahrez will serve to stretch a compact and resolute Bournemouth defence. City have played confidently in the first half, but they’ll need a bit more incision to hurt Ake and company. Eddie Howe must instruct his side to step forward in the second half and keep hold of the ball. Otamendi and Stones have not been tested whatsoever in defence, and Ederson has not had to make a save. It looks as though the hosts will need a goal from somewhere if they want to take something away from the game – as City look almost nailed on to score from one of their opportunities.
That concludes our Premier League commentary of the fixture between Bournemouth and Manchester City! We hope you enjoyed it!
Manchester City are in action again next Saturday when they face Watford, while Bournemouth will be looking for their first win in five matches when they travel to face Huddersfield Town on March 9.
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