OGUN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) –Manchester City‘s hard-fought victory over Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium left them one point behind Liverpool, the Premier League leaders.
City got off to a poor start, but midway through the first half, Phil Foden headed home after Neto had saved an Erling Haaland shot.
After dominating the second half, the visitors were lucky not to be pegged back, with Marcus Tavernier first scuffing a shot into the ground from Antoine Semenyo’s cross and then missing after excellent work from Dominic Solanke.
Solanke had a header punched off the line by Ederson as Bournemouth continued to apply pressure, while Haaland had another shot saved by Neto with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Second-half substitute Enes Unal headed agonisingly wide in stoppage time for the hosts, as City held on to consolidate second place ahead of crucial games at home to Manchester United and away to Liverpool in early March.
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Bournemouth, now without a win in their last seven league matches, stay eight points above the relegation zone but drop a place to 14th.
Solanke then sent a header straight at Ederson from a corner, but the City keeper – standing over a yard behind his line – only just managed to punch the ball clear before it crossed for a goal.
Dango Ouattara dragged a shot wide in the closing stages and Bournemouth fans thought Unal had rescued a point in added time, but the Turkey international’s header only rippled the side-netting.
Only Burnley have collected fewer Premier League points in 2024 than the Cherries, who have drawn three and lost three of their six league games since the turn of the year.
However, as was the case in recent games against Fulham and Newcastle, there was enough in this performance to suggest Andoni Iraola’s team will turn the tide eventually – particularly with what looks like a favourable run of fixtures coming up next month.
Source: BBC Sport