AFC Bournemouth traveled to Manchester to face the current Premier League champions and UEFA Champions League winners, Manchester City.
Buoyed by the Cherries first victory in the Premier League under AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola, this game was more about maintaining some confidence in out convictions rather than trying to get a result in a highly unlikely fixture. That might not have been how the players and management looked at it, as professional elite sportsmen they would have been aiming for the three points of course.
Unfortunately, the gulf in class was just too much on this occasion and so, Manchester City remain the only club during AFC Bournemouth’s Premier League era who have not succumbed to a defeat or even a draw against us.
Speaking after the match AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports…
“The result has been harsh on the team, you are facing City but we didn’t concede as many goals to concede six goals. They were really, really clinical but I preferred the way we played first half than second half. While we defended very well in the first 30 minutes, we were not aggressive enough in the first half. But the second half we conceded also three.
“We needed the five at the back to match up with the players they have up front. If you go man-to-man you have to play five.
“We made the mistake to think we were doing well defensively. It can work for 30 minutes like today, but with the quality of players they have, they will find a shot from the outside of the box and a one-two.”
Man of the Match against Manchester City
Sinisterra
Solanke
Senesi
Someone that didn't start with an S
No one
Andoni provides his reaction to #MCIBOU 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/qmgHv0micD
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) November 4, 2023
Written by AFCB_Liam
Not unexpected but a disappointing effort to be honest. No attacking intent in the first half, just waiting to be put down.
Yes, City are an incredible team but I’d like to have seen more from us. Our defence was absolutely run ragged, we’ve looked open all season, let alone vs City.
Let’s just pray Scott is OK. Very few if any positives to take from today.
Alex Scott has just left the Etihad in a knee brace. Andoni Iraola says it was an impact injury and that Scott was optimistic, but it’s too early to tell how bad it is until further assessment.
It’s not the same knee that was injured before. #afcb@solentsport
— Jordan Clark (@jordanclarkcouk) November 4, 2023
Your say…
table wrote…
Well, we scored one, had one disallowed, hit the bar once, all in the same half. That’s about as much as we’ve done in all our combined away matches in the Premier League : )
This Man City team is possibly the best Man City team I’ve seen us play. Superb individual players, playing almost telepathic football as a team. They contained us, waited, or forced errors, and no matter where on the pitch, they were in on goal. It’s hard to judge how good or bad we are on this match, City are in top form, and playing a club like ours suits them. Go at them and I think we’d be 3 down quicker. Try and hold them as we tried and the goals come, only later : )
Downsides, Alex Scott limping off, looking properly injured ( fingers crossed it’s naught but a flesh wound ) Making Phillips look good when he came on : )
Upsides, Great to see Jaydon Anthony in with the fans and enjoying the limelight. Glad Sinisterra scored or I think we’d have had “just a shoat Jaydon Anthony” chant. It’s a mark of the man, that watching Nathan Ake play and score in a 6-1 defeat, it’s impossible not to like him : )
As usual, on such occasions, very subdued Riverside Rocket ( not even many fireworks going off outside ) but I’ve seen enough in the past week to believe in Andoni and his ways. Let’s have patience and keep the faith : ) – To join the conversation, click here.
