It’s game, set
FODEN FIRES PEP’S ACES TO WITHIN
IT was more tight tiebreaker than straight sets – but tennis fan Pep Guardiola took another step towards his own threetrophy Grand Slam.
Phil Foden’s first-half goal – an easy smash – was enough to take Manchester City to within a point of Liverpool at the top of the table.
But Bournemouth almost served up a shock result as they created much more in a lively second half and had a penalty appeal turned down when Adam Smith was brought down by Jeremy Doku.
Substitute Enes Unal also saw a late header go inches wide.
As it is, this defeat is the Cherries’ 13th in 13 Premier League matches against City, who they have never beaten in 19 attempts.
Guardiola had reeled off the names of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal in the week as examples of sustained greatness.
A big part of City’s dominance has been their resilience and ability to grind out wins.
They went off the boil badly after the break but dug in, ground it out and looked to goalkeeper Ederson to earn his corn when needed.
Foden’s goal settled it but Unal,
Dominic Solanke and Marcus Tavernier all came close to an equaliser.
Guardiola had mixed things up with his selection and left Kevin De Bruyne on the bench.
But the quality and precision of Foden, Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Mateo Kovacic in a suffocating midfield soon left Bournemouth breathless.
A nonchalant flicked volley from Foden should have enabled Erling Haaland to open the scoring but the striker drove his finish off target.
Bournemouth’s reply was their best and only genuine shot across City’s bows in the opening 40 minutes.
Milos Kerkez had time to measure a strike from 25 yards which sent Ederson scrambling before he tipped the ball over.
For the rest of the half the hosts were in containment mode until first-half injury-time when a rare attack ended with Ryan Christie again forcing Ederson into a save.
In between times, City
eased themselves ahead and could have had a bigger lead.
Foden had already had an effort well saved by Neto before the England star scored his customary goal against Bournemouth – his fifth against the Cherries in as many games.
It came when a neat chipped pass by Kovacic enabled Haaland to muscle up against Marcos Senesi.
The Bournemouth defender found himself the wrong side of the Norwegian and although Haaland’s shot was saved, Foden showed his instinct by following up to score.
Andoni Iraola’s men were able to cling on until half-time and just after the restart Justin Kluivert stung Ederson’s palms.
Tavernier twice went close to remind City they still had work to do.
That would normally be the signal for them to get back on the job but the greater application was all coming from the home side.
And the Cherries again came close to getting a reward when Solanke powered in a header that Ederson managed to save, even though the keeper’s feet were well behind his goalline.