Premier League
BournemouthAFC Bournemouth1Man CityManchester City2

Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester City

By Matt DavisBBC Sport
Guardiola wants Sterling red card explained

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants an explanation after Raheem Sterling was sent off following his 97th-minute winner against Bournemouth.

After his deflected shot looped in to secure a 2-1 victory, Sterling ran to the City fans and was shown a second yellow card by referee Mike Dean.

"I don't understand. Hopefully they can call me and explain the reason why," Guardiola told BBC Sport.

Gabriel Jesus had earlier cancelled out Charlie Daniels' goal for Bournemouth.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and took a deserved lead on 13 minutes when Daniels drilled home a stunning half-volley off the crossbar from the edge of the area.

But City equalised eight minutes later with their first shot on target, David Silva picking out Jesus with a perfectly weighted pass for the Brazilian to roll the ball home.

The goal seemed to spark the visitors into life and they dominated the rest of the half without adding to their score.

Both teams had chances after the break, with Bournemouth's Joshua King and City's Nicolas Otamendi hitting the post.

King had another opportunity to win it for the hosts when he outmuscled Benjamin Mendy, but his shot was straight at Ederson.

Sterling's winner came moments later, sparking wild celebrations in a finale City captain Vincent Kompany described it as "madness".

He told Sky Sports: "The first thing I did was say to Benjamin Mendy and Bernardo Silva: 'Welcome to the Premier League'."

Was Sterling's red card right?

Final Score: Raheem Sterling red card a 'travesty' - Garth Crooks

While City's fighting spirit will draw praise, Dean's performance will not elicit the same response.

Football's lawsexternal-link state players must be cautioned if they "approach the spectators in a manner which can cause safety and/or security issues".

"We don't invite the fans? Maybe we play without fans?" Guardiola said to Sky Sports.

Former England striker Alan Shearer tweeted:external-link "Don't give me 'it's the law' nonsense. Mike Dean has clearly never experienced scoring the winning goal.

"And for all saying 'but it is the law' if we are going to rigidly apply law with no common sense, why did he only book Sterling?"

'Do me a favour!' - Shearer furious with Sterling red

Ex-West Ham striker Bobby Zamora wrote:external-link "Can't celebrate a goal now? Absolute joke."

And former Spurs striker Garth Crooks, speaking on the BBC's Final Score, said: "Who is Mike Dean appealing to by sending him off for that? It's certainly not the crowd."

Sterling is the first Premier League player to be sent off for excessive celebration since Frederic Piquionne for West Ham against Everton in January 2011.

But his dismissal was not the only controversial decision in the match.

Bournemouth's Nathan Ake could have been sent off for a blatant first-half trip on Jesus when the striker was through on goal. He was only booked.

"I think Mike Dean has got that one wrong," said former Premier League goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on BBC Radio 5 live. "Ake should have been sent off."

Guardiola rings the changes

Charlie Daniels
Charlie Daniels' first-half strike was Bournemouth's first league goal of the season

While Sterling's dismissal dominated the post-match analysis, all the talk before the game had centred on Guardiola's team selection.

The Spaniard made four changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Everton on Monday, with striker Sergio Aguero dropping to the bench.

Defender John Stones was also among the substitutes, while Mendy made his debut and Danilo came in for the suspended Kyle Walker.

City, who played three at the back against Everton and Brighton, reverted to a back four, with full-backs Mendy and Danilo pushed high up the pitch.

In between them, and after an uncomfortable opening 20 minutes, Otamendi eventually settled alongside Kompany.

City had more than 70% possession in the match, and Guardiola was happy his team came away with all three points.

He told Sky Sports: "Winning in the last minute is always special.

"It was a tough game. It is always complicated against Bournemouth. They play long balls, balls into the channels and play set-pieces, but we got into the game."

For Bournemouth's part, though they impressed for periods of the match, their third successive league defeat means they are yet to win a point this season.

Charlie Daniels
Daniels scored from a tight angle with a stunning finish

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe told BBC Sport: "We thought we had hung on for a point. We had chances to win it, too. I am disappointed for the players and the supporters.

"The second half was bitty, we wanted that to be the case. I am enthused by the performance, which was better than our first two.

"We started really well, very positively. We created more chances today than in our first two games, but we need to start getting some points quickly.

"We knew it would be a different test. We had to be disciplined, which I felt we were, but one or two moments of class from them can hurt you."

Howe 'enthused' despite Bournemouth defeat

Man of the match - David Silva

David Silva
His pinpoint pass set up City's first goal, and his control and distribution were crucial to City's attacks

City streak continues, Cherries drop points again

  • Bournemouth have lost their first three league games in a campaign for the first time since 1994-95 in the third tier.
  • Since the start of the 2015-16 season, only West Ham (41) have dropped more points from winning positions in the Premier League than Bournemouth (39 - level with Liverpool).
  • Jesus has been directly involved in 12 goals in his 11 Premier League starts for Man City (eight goals, four assists).
  • Daniels netted his eight goal in the Premier League, but this was his first from outside the box.
  • City have gone 11 Premier League games without defeat for the first time since September 2015 (won eight, drawn three).
  • Aguero failed to score in an away Premier League appearance for the first time since February, also against Bournemouth.
  • Sterling has scored six Premier League goals against Bournemouth; more than versus any other club in the competition.

What's next?

After the international break, City host Liverpool on Saturday, 9 September, while Bournemouth travel to Arsenal.

Line-ups

Bournemouth

Formation 5-3-2

  • 27Begovic
  • 15A SmithBooked at 90mins
  • 3S CookBooked at 74mins
  • 5AkéBooked at 23mins
  • 26MingsBooked at 85mins
  • 11Daniels
  • 4Gosling
  • 6Surman
  • 8ArterBooked at 90mins
  • 17King
  • 18DefoeSubstituted forAfobeat 73'minutesSubstituted forMoussetat 90+4'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Boruc
  • 9Afobe
  • 14B Smith
  • 16L Cook
  • 24Fraser
  • 31Mousset
  • 33Ibe

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

  • 31Ederson
  • 3Danilo
  • 4KompanyBooked at 56mins
  • 30OtamendiBooked at 67mins
  • 22MendyBooked at 79mins
  • 17De Bruyne
  • 25Fernandinho
  • 21SilvaBooked at 56minsSubstituted forStonesat 90+10'minutes
  • 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forAgüeroat 66'minutes
  • 33Gabriel JesusSubstituted forSanéat 82'minutes
  • 7SterlingBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

  • 1Bravo
  • 5Stones
  • 10Agüero
  • 15Mangala
  • 18Delph
  • 19Sané
  • 42Y Touré
Referee:
Mike Dean
Attendance:
10,419

Match Stats

Home TeamBournemouthAway TeamMan City
Possession
Home30%
Away70%
Shots
Home9
Away19
Shots on Target
Home3
Away8
Corners
Home2
Away5
Fouls
Home13
Away14

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Bournemouth 1, Manchester City 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Bournemouth 1, Manchester City 2.

  3. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Steve Cook (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

  4. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City. John Stones replaces David Silva.

  5. Dismissal

    Second yellow card to Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) for excessive celebration.

  6. Goal!

    Goal! Bournemouth 1, Manchester City 2. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Danilo with a cross.

  7. Booking

    Harry Arter (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  8. Post update

    Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Lys Mousset (Bournemouth).

  10. Post update

    Attempt saved. Joshua King (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

  11. Post update

    Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Charlie Daniels.

  12. Booking

    Adam Smith (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  13. Post update

    Leroy Sané (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Adam Smith (Bournemouth).

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Bournemouth. Lys Mousset replaces Benik Afobe because of an injury.

  16. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  17. Post update

    Delay in match Benik Afobe (Bournemouth) because of an injury.

  18. Booking

    Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).

  20. Post update

    Harry Arter (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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