AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was philosophical in defeat to Manchester City.
The Cherries had gone into the game without a victory in seven outings in all competitions, including consecutive defeats to Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
To make the trip even harder for AFC Bournemouth they were without captain Simon Francis, Charlie Daniels, Harry Arter, Joshua King and Jermain Defoe through injury.
With such limited options defensively, youngster Jack Simpson was handed his Premier League debut alongside Steve Cook and Nathan Ake.
In attack Junior Stanislas supported Callum Wilson, who returned to the side following an injection to his knee ahead of the Liverpool game.
Stanislas would only last 12 minutes however before he was added to the injury list with a hamstring pull.
Despite Manchester City dominating possession it took almost half an hour for the home side to break the deadlock.
Sergio Aguero beating Asmir Begovic after some needless, overplaying at the back.
Predictably Raheem Sterling got his customary goal just after half time, whilst Aguero scored his second with ten minutes remaining.
Substitute Danilo made it 4-0 before the end.
Howe told afcb.co.uk…
‘Manchester City are a very difficult team to play against.
‘We came with a gameplan to make it difficult for them to find spaces in midfield and to stay in the game – then have a go at it later on.
‘I felt we did that for large periods of the first half, the first goal came from our own mistake and the second was a killer, it was too much in the end.
‘Games against Manchester City are one offs and you have to balance whether to be brave, if not they’ll expose you.
Manchester City have now clocked up 17 consecutive Premier League victories, leaving them just 2 victories shy of Pep Guardiola’s own record whilst at Bayern Munich where they enjoyed 19 straight wins.
If Manchester City can surpass 19 they’ll set a new record for clubs competing in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
Europe`s top 5 leagues – longest winning runs
19 – Bayern Munich 2013-14 (Guardiola coach)
17 – Man City 2017 (Guardiola coach)
17 – Inter Milan 2006-07
16 – Monaco 2017
16 – Real Madrid 2016
16 – Barcelona 2010-11 (Guardiola coach)#PL #MCFC pic.twitter.com/6rKeiDbw72? Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) December 23, 2017
.@ManCity are the 1st club to score 100 PL goals in a calendar year#MCFC are the 1st top division team to score a century of league goals since Liverpool (106) in 1982 #PL
? Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) December 23, 2017
Your Say…
redharry wrote…
60 goals in 19 games for City, incredible record.
Amazing to think it was only Mike Dean that robbed us of a point against them at home. – Join the conversation here.
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