Howe ‘devastated’ as drop looms for Cherries after battling defeat at City
● Silva and Jesus strikes give City the edge
Eddie Howe was “devastated” after a battling 2-1 defeat at Manchester City pushed his Bournemouth side closer to relegation.
The Cherries produced a spirited performance at the Etihad Stadium but fell short despite a late goal from David Brooks in a rousing finish.
The result left the Cherries 18th in the Premier League, three points off safety and having played a game more than West Ham and Watford above them.
Howe said: “It is not about performance at this stage of the season because we want results but I can’t fault the lads for today. We were in it right to the end. The lads gave it everything right to the last kick.
“We certainly looked a real threat in front of goal. There was a lot of quality in our performance. We played at the right times and mixed it up well. I’m just absolutely devastated to come away with nothing after putting so much into the game.”
After five years in the top flight, Howe’s side now need a dramatic change in fortunes to survive. They host Southampton at the weekend before travelling to Everton for their final match.
Bournemouth went close when Junior Stansislas had a free-kick pushed onto the post and Josh King had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside before Brooks gave them late hope in the 88th minute.
Yet, ultimately, City had the quality when it really mattered, with David Silva’s sixthminute free-kick and a fine strike from Gabriel Jesus six minutes before half-time proving decisive.
Harry Kane went past 200 club goals to hand Jose Mourinho a first Premier League win at St James’ Park at the eighth attempt as Tottenham beat Newcastle 3-1.
The England captain brought up the milestone before his 15th league goal of the season took him past 200 in all competitions for the sixth successive campaign and clinched the points after Matt Ritchie’s piledriver had cancelled out Son Heung-min’s opener.
In the process, he ended former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Mourinho’s barren run on Tyneside.
Victory kept Spurs in the hunt for European qualification, while a third successive defeat for Steve Bruce’s men dented his hopes of beating the
LAST NIGHT
Premier League
Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1, Burnley 1 Wolverhampton 1, Man City 2 AFC Bournemouth 1, Newcastle 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3. 45 points the Magpies managed last season under predecessor Rafael Benitez.
Chris Wood’s stoppage-time penalty denied Wolves victory at Turf Moor as a 1-1 draw meant the battle for European places intensified.
Raul Jimenez’s 75th-minute strike appeared to have boosted Wolves’ Champions League hopes, but Burnley refused to roll over as they extended an undefeated home league run that stretches back to New Year’s Day.
Wood, having missed a sitter moments before, went for an ambitious overhead kick in the area and drew a handball from Matt Doherty. Wolves appealed for a high boot and
Sky Bet Championship Birmingham 1 Charlton 1, Bristol City 1 Stoke 1, Nottm Forest 2 Swansea 2, Brentford 1 Preston North End 0. TONIGHT (7:45 unless stated) Crystal Palace v Man Utd (8.15), Everton v Aston Villa (6.00). Leicester v Sheff Utd (6.00), Southampton v Brighton (8.15)
Leeds v Barnsley (5.00)
Nice v Celtic (5.15), Lyon v Rangers
VAR took a long look before Wood fired his spot-kick into the top corner.
The result means Wolves are only three points off the top four, having played a game more than Leicester and Manchester United, but are also under pressure from behind, with Spurs one point back and Sheffield United two back in seventh. Burnley are five points back in ninth.
Liverpool suffered only their third league defeat of the season when they went down 2-1 at Arsenal.
The champions deservedly took the lead after 20 minutes, Sadio Mane finishing off a slick move that also involved Roberto Firmino and Andy Robertson down the left flank.
But Virgil Van Dijk gifted Arsenal an equaliser 12 minutes later. The Holland international, under pressure from Reiss Nelson, passed the ball straight into the path of Alexandre Lacazette, who was left with a simple finish to haul Arsenal level.
Things then went from bad to worse for the Liverpool defence when goalkeeper Alisson looked to play out from the back but only picked out an alert Lacazette and he played in Nelson to give Arsenal the lead six minutes before halftime.