BOURNEMOUTH 0, MANCHESTER CITY 2
- Gabriel Jesus goes off injured after 14 minutes
- Raheem Sterling poaches City’s first goal
- Bournemouth have a goal correctly disallowed for a foul
- Tyrone Mings turns Sterling’s cross into his own net under pressure from Sergio Aguero
Manchester City’s comfortable 2-0 win at Bournemouth sent them back to second, just eight points behind league leaders Chelsea.
The gap, described as “massive” by Pep Guardiola, is the same gulf that was bridged by Roberto Mancini’s team in 2012 after looking dead and buried in April of a historic season for the Blues.
Raheem Sterling’s first half strike was followed up by a Tyrone Mings own goal in the second period as City moved from fifth to second.
With just four points separating City in second and Manchester United in sixth place, the race for Champions League qualification is hotter than ever.
Two of City’s player who made history that season, Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero, started on the bench at the Vitality Stadium.
While Kompany’s injury woes over recent seasons have been well documented, Aguero’s three game recent stint on the bench has been due to the form of new signing Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazilian had scored three goals in three starts for City and was named in a City team with just one change from the side that beat Swansea City – Bacary Sagna came in for Gael Clichy – but the teenager last just 14 minutes before he sustained an ankle knock.
Pep Guardiola prays for Jesus
Guardiola admitted he would be “praying” that the youngster hasn’t sustained a serious injury when the club doctors examine him tomorrow.
Aguero got an early introduction to the action, then, but it was Raheem Sterling who broke the deadlock after 29 minutes when Leroy Sane’s cross was deflected to him by an unfortunate Steve Cook.
Willy Caballero was a safe pair of hands in goal throughout the game, making notable saves from Jordan Ibe and Harry Arter while the Cherries had a goal correctly ruled out for a shirt pull by Josh King on the impressive John Stones in the first half.
Stones, along with Caballero, seemed to be comfortable with a long clearance while David Silva came into his own as their hosts sagged following injury troubles.
Bournemouth struggled after they suffered their own injuries to Simon Francis and Jack Wilshere allowing City to control the second half.
City increased their lead in the 69th minute when Sergio Aguero appeared to have scored his first goal since an FA Cup strike against West Ham in January.
It later turned out to be the luckless Tyrone Mings who got the last touch on Raheem Sterling’s cutback, sending the ball into his own net under pressure from the Argentine striker.
The slightly ring-rusty Aguero still struck fear into the Bournemouth back-line and will surely be motivated if, as now seems certain, he starts against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup at the weekend.
City should have put the game completely beyond Bournemouth but Fernandinho’s header was off target while Sane hit the bar and shot wide late on.
Artur Boruc also saved from Kolarov and Aguero but City were deserving winners even if Guardiola, as Mancini before him, denied that the title race was back on.