Bournemouth 1-4 Man City: Erling Haaland scores 27th Premier League goal of the season in comfortable rout

Manchester City moved back to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a convincing 4-1 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday Night Football.

City took the lead after 15 minutes, Julian Alvarez stealing in to fire home from a yard out after Erling Haaland’s effort had come back off the crossbar (15).

Man City doubled their lead when Nathan Ake released Ilkay Gundogan down the left, and as his ball into the middle came off Phil Foden it fell to Haaland to tap home from close range (29).

City put the game seemingly beyond Bournemouth when Philip Billing played a lazy, aimless pass square across the pitch from the touchline. The alert Foden pounced on it, advanced on Neto’s goal and rolled the ball beyond the goalkeeper (45).

City made it four just after half-time, Rico Lewis put in a good cross from the right which was cleared, but only as far as Foden, whose whipped ball in was blasted against Chris Mepham by Alvarez for an own goal (51).

Jefferson Lerma met Dominic Solanke’s low cross to rifle in a late consolation for Bournemouth (83), who sit in 19th place, a point adrift of safety after victories for Leeds and West Ham earlier on Saturday.

How City and Haaland got back in business

It all went according to plan for Pep Guardiola – certainly in the first half. Bournemouth will take some comfort from their second-half exertions, but City are back in business.

They opened the scoring after 15 minutes, the move beginning with a fine challenge by Lewis, who started on the right of City’s midfield for his 11th appearance in the league, to win the ball out near the touchline.

From there, Gundogan played it up to Foden, who was thwarted as he shaped to shoot but instead worked the ball to Haaland. After the striker’s effort smacked the underside of the crossbar, there was Alvarez, first onto the rebound to fire home from a yard out.

The second goal was not long in coming. As Bournemouth pushed forward, Ake won back possession and released Gundogan escaping down the left.

His ball into the middle again found Foden, who was knocked off it by Jordan Zemura. The defender’s intervention was in vain though, Haaland stealing in to tap home the loose ball to double City’s lead.

The visitors were cruising and had wrapped the game up before the break. The third goal was a calamity all of Bournemouth’s own doing.

Billing failed to properly look up and played a lazy, aimless pass, square across the pitch from the touchline which was pounced upon by Foden, alert to the opportunity, leaving him with the simple task of advancing on Neto’s goal and rolling the ball beyond the goalkeeper.

The Cherries were falling apart and their hopes of keeping the score respectable received a blow five minutes into the second half.

Lewis put in a good cross from the right which was cleared, but only as far as Foden, whose whipped ball in was blasted against Mepham by Alvarez for an own goal.

The hosts, for their troubles, fought gamely to pull a goal back, a goalmouth scramble midway through the second half leading to a VAR check for handball which ultimately did not yield a penalty.

City, though, were not in the mood to show mercy and as Bournemouth tired, the onslaught continued.

Riyad Mahrez came off the bench and picked up where the breathless Jack Grealish had left off. The England midfielder put in another outstanding performance as he looked increasingly at home as a regular starter for City.

Lerma’s goal seven minutes from time – blasted into the roof of the net after a silky first touch – gave the freezing home support something to cheer but it did little to take the gloss off City’s day.

Man City dominate Bournemouth again – Opta stats

• Manchester City have won all 12 Premier League encounters with Bournemouth – only themselves against West Brom and Manchester United against Wigan (both 13) have had longer winning streaks against an opponent in the competition.
• Bournemouth have won only one of their nine Premier League games since the World Cup break (D2 L6), with their five points accrued during that time fewer than any other side.
• Today was Manchester City’s 200th Premier League away win, becoming the fifth side to record as many in the competition after Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Indeed, 88 of those wins have come since Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016-17 (44 per cent).
• Pep Guardiola have now won all 11 of his games against Bournemouth in all competitions, against no other side in his managerial career does he have a better 100 per cent winning record (also 11/11 against Watford).

Play of the match – Ilkay Gundogan

Sky Sports’ Andy Hinchcliffe:

“I have to give a special mention for the performance of Rico Lewis as he has been excellent in giving Manchester City that extra man in midfield. It allowed Ilkay Gundogan to cause so much damage in a free role, especially in that first half. He goes under the radar sometimes.”

What’s next?

Bournemouth’s next game is away to title-chasing Arsenal on Saturday; kick-off 3pm. Gary O’Neil’s side then host Liverpool on Saturday March 11; kick-off 12.30pm.

Manchester City will now switch their focus to the FA Cup, where they face a trip to Bristol City on Tuesday; kick-off 8pm. Pep Guardiola’s side then host top-four hopefuls Newcastle on Saturday; kick-off 12.30pm.