Algerian forward Riyad Mahrez ensured his team’s persistent attack had three points to show for their 82% possession and 23 shots on goal as Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League standings after defeating Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.
Mahrez, who replaced Kevin De Bruyne on the stroke of half-time, popped up with the only goal 10 minutes after the break.
Pep Guardiola made four changes from the midweek win over West Ham United as Kyle Walker, John Stone, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling returned to the line-up.
City had to wait until the 18th minute for their first meaningful opening as David Silva’s first-time effort from close range sailed inches wide of the upright.
An audacious overhead kick from centre-back Nicolas Otamendi was the next closest City came to finding an opener before the interval – demonstrating how effectively Bournemouth restricted their opponents who enjoyed 83 per cent possession in the opening 45 minutes.
The injury woes continued early in the second period for Guardiola, with John Stones lasting 47 minutes on his return before making way for Vincent Kompany and icing his thigh on the bench.
From the home side’s perspective, the Cherries failed to register a single shot on target and, but had it not been for keeper Artur Boruc and the defensive solidarity, it would have been a far heavier scoreline.
Eddie Howe’s side remain 12th after a far more robust showing than in their 5-1 loss at Arsenal in midweek, but they offered little attacking threat from their disciplined 3-4-3 set-up, with just the second start for 22-year old Jack Simpson who was part of a three-man centre-back partnership with Nathan Ake and Chris Mepham.
City looking like ‘Champions elect again’, and at the business end of the season.
When Pep Guardiola walked towards the Manchester City supporters end at the Vitality, he had a look of steel on his face. Punching the air, he knew the importance a precious, gritty win against an opponent setup to negate the City attack, rather than play their own natural game. This win may not feature in City’s next year’s ‘Netflix Documentary’ but the win was more significant to Pep and his team leading City’s charge.
“Today is a special moment for all of us,” the Manchester City manager said. “We made an incredible performance, we didn’t concede one shot on target. They had 11 players in the box which meant there was no spaces, but somehow we found them.”
City had turned up without Fernandinho, which is like taking the metronome away from an orchestral rehearsal. But it was immediately apparent that his absence would not affect their passing. For most of the first-half it was, slick, smooth and sophisticated. And as always, City’s dominance with the ball was underpinned by a complete refusal to allow their opponents to linger long in possession.
These are the wins that get cherished the most in the backroom drawing boards, amongst the technical staff who train players to win through mental, tactical and physical obstacles.
It is a tactic the champions are familiar with, yet one that remains tough to beat given the generally high standards in the Premier League – especially at the end of an exhausting schedule
Pep knew it’s worth.
Bournemouth show rare, impressive defensive solidarity on home turf
Led by the imperious Nathan Ake, the Cherries defended superbly in the first half and restricted City to no more than half chances.
Bournemouth’s defence has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, having conceded eleven goals in the last five matches, the most in the division. Eddie Howe’s men stand a worrying fourth in the table for goals conceded only behind relegation contenders Fulham, Cardiff and Burnley.
A series of dangerous crosses were dealt with comfortably as City’s much-vaunted attacking armoury was blunted in the opening 45 minutes.
Although their heroic efforts proved in vain, they will give manager Eddie Howe encouragement going forward.
Even after the goal which came in 10 mins after the first half, an expected City landslide didn’t come, largely due to the Bournemouth floodgates remaining firmly closed.
39-year-old Boruc repaying Howe’s faith, could he have done better for the goal though?
Although Artur Boruc did not have too many saves to make in the first half, four important stops after the break kept the Cherries in the hunt.
He denied Raheem Sterling on two occasions – his second save seeing him race off his line to make an acrobatic stop on the edge of the box.
For the goal however, the 39-year Polish stopper should have done better it seems, as he was beaten at his near post by the former Leicester City player’s scuffed right-foot shot.
Boruc then thwarted Sergio Aguero with a top-drawer save and kept out a Riyad Mahrez header late on to earn the sponsors’ man-of-the-match award albeit.
It’s a job in which margins don’t exist Artur.
Tiredness and schedule thwarting City’s attacking prowess, but it’s only going to get tougher.
Man City look tired, hence this victory will taste sweeter for Pep. After losing Kevin De Bruyne to what looks like another hamstring injury, last season’s Premier League champions had to switch again early in the second half when John Stones had to be substituted; Vincent Kompany coming on to replace the England international.
By the midway point at the Vitality Stadium, Manchester City had gone five completed halves of football, plus a period of extra-time, without scoring from open play.
This followed the trend from midweek of not doing enough with the possession they had, with just five of 16 shots on target.
If the Premier League title is to be retained, the evidence of the past weeks shows Guardiola’s normally free-flowing attacking machine will have to laboriously plug away at disciplined and determined defences not giving them an inch. Along with a mounting injury list, competing for honours on four fronts appears to have robbed some of City’s star attackers of their sharpness.
Can unlikely hero Mahrez’s turn his City career tide?
Much maligned club record signing Riyad Mahrez scored a crucial goal, let alone in City’s title charge but also to propel his flailing career since joining from Leicester. He has divided opinions during his time at Manchester City so far but there can be no doubt about the importance of his contribution against Bournemouth on Saturday.
With Kevin De Bruyne trudging towards the touchline with what seems to be a hamstring injury – which the Belgian subsequently claimed is not serious – it is fair to say many City fans would not have wanted to see Mahrez coming on in his place. His guile and tact preferred to Sane’s direct pace.
City’s record-breaking title triumph was sparked by a late goal at the Vitality Stadium last season and the champions have a flawless record against Bournemouth, but the overriding emotion in the away end as the clock ticked down here was anxiety, eventually relieved by the wiry Algerian.
With amounting injuries and Pep not trusting Sane for the big games, Mahrez could still be a vital cog if City are to retain their title.
What’s next for both:
AFC Bournemouth: 9 Mar v Huddersfield Town (A)
Man City: 9 Mar v Watford (H)
