Sterling effort by City gives Cherries the blues

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Fraser 5 – Looked a little physically out-powered
Surman 7 – Tidy tonight and better ball use.
Arter 7 – Ball of energy and thoughtful ball useage.
Wilshere 5 – Struggled to get into game at all – out fought
Ibe 7 – Some great moments and the odd blip.

King 8 – Bright spark with invention/running/skill

(Mings 5 – Nervy again, Afobe 5 – probably a little out of class with this opposition)
Verdict
A better performance than of late and our best performance against a very strong City side in four attempts. Eddie set the team up with the fullbacks deep, his normal screen in and it looked much better until the unfortunate departure of Francis on the half hour mark while still 0-0.

The enforced substitution changed it for me, Mings isn`t at the races yet and sat nervously deeper which created space in midfield. Quality sides need space. It`s why Burnley have done so well at home. Once we conceded space we were on a ticking clock to conceding. I think we compounded that with the second substitution. We removed the stretching pace of King from the forward line and added his lack of midfield know-how into the 10 slot. Surely Gosling or if in the squad Lewis Cook would have been a better replacement for Jack? We went from being in semi control to always chasing.

Still, much to commend. The effort and passion were there, the crowd up for it, Arter and Surman`s understanding will prove key and makes you weep that we chose not to use it against Watford and Palace. These were games that mattered, tonight`s largely didn`t. We also, as against Arsenal and Liverpool, look like we can mix it with the top teams without getting taken apart which is a step on from last year.

I don`t think we will get much from the next couple of fixtures which then gives us two crucial home games against the Hammers and Swansea. We will need our back four, we will need to go at them more than we did today. These fixtures, Boro and Burnley at home and Sunderland and Leicester away will be where our season hinges. Play like we did for the first half hour and show the endeavour we did for the whole game and we will be ok. A lot of that will hinge on injuries. We have to have that back four fit and we need to keep King up front.

You get little reminders of how far we have come as a club. There used to be two old blokes behind me (sadly too old to come any more) who went through the same routine every-time the opposition went through a substitution. “Who is this coming on” the bald one would ask. “I don`t know but he can`t be any good as he is not starting” the beardy one would reply. Week after week after week. I thought of them when Aguero replaced Jesus and wondered if somewhere in an old age peoples home they were having the same conversation?.

Report by Neil Dawson