AFC Bournemouth played well but ultimately lost 1-0 to Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Bournemouth had plenty of chances in an entertaining game, but ultimately Phil Foden's first half goal proved the difference as the reigning champions held on despite a brilliant second-half performance from the home side.
The result is Manchester City's 15th consecutive win against the Cherries, the longest standing 100% record against any team in top-flight history.
It also means that the Bournemouth are still waiting on their first league win of 2024, with Andoni Iraola's side moving down to 14th with the loss.
Andoni Iraola made just one change to the side that drew 2-2 with Newcastle last weekend, with Lloyd Kelly being replaced by Milos Kerkez.
Guardiola’s main differences from the 1-0 win over Brentford came in midfield, with Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes starting over Julian Alvarez and Oscar Bobb. Kyle Walker also made way for former Cherry Nathan Ake.
The first chance of the game was a big one for the visitors as Foden’s pass sent through Erling Haaland. The Premier League top-scorer just had Neto to beat, but he blazed his shot well wide of the goal. Cherries fans took the chance to tell the Norwegian that he’s worse than Dominic Solanke.
The Cherries responded straight after with a chance of their own when Antoine Semenyo played the ball to Milos Kerkez 30-yards from goal. The left-back took a chance and went for goal, it looked like it was dipping but Ederson tipped the ball over the bar.
Pablo De La Torre, Iraola’s fitness coach, received the first booking of the game in the 19th minute for dissent.
The visitors took the lead in the 24th minute. Kovacic played a lovely dinked pass to Haaland, the striker shrugged off Senesi and shot at Neto, but the keeper parried it straight into the path of Phil Foden who tapped home to make it 1-0.
In the 38th minute Lewis Cook received a yellow card for what seemed to be a very soft challenge on John Stones on the edge of the box. Foden shot from the free kick, but it didn’t trouble Neto.
Christie forced Ederson into a good save with the last kick of the half, the ball rebounded to Solanke but he was offside.
On the whole City dominated the game and deserved their lead at half-time, however Andoni Iraola would still be happy with how his team performed. They hadn’t had any clear-cut chances, but they were by no means out of the game and held their own in the defensive third.
Bournemouth came out the better of the two teams in the second half. After some lovely play by Kerkez Kluivert received the ball 30-yards out. He listened to the crowd’s shout of ‘shoot’ but it was straight at Ederson.
The Cherries has another great chance in the 55th minute. Semenyo beat Ake on the right and delivered a cross. After City failed to clear the ball fell to Tavernier at the back post but his shot was poor and cleared away by the visitors.
Tavernier had another chance three minutes later when Solanke cut the ball back to the winger who was waiting on the left-hand side just outside of the box, but it was another poor attempt from the Englishman.
The first substitute of the game cane in the 62nd minute, with Jeremy Doku replacing Nunes.
Ederson made a great save to keep the score level in the 67th minute as a corner was swung in towards the back post which was met by Solanke, his header was on target but punched off the goal line by Ederson.
The Cherries then made a double change with Kluivert and Tavernier making way for Alex Scott and Dango Ouattara.
In the 77th minute Andoni Iraola took off Marcos Senesi for Romain Faivre.
Bournemouth continued to show their threat with six minutes left on the clock, the ball was played down to Ouattra on the left-wing, but his cross missed everyone as the Cherries came agonisingly close to an equaliser.
Bernardo Silva went into the book in the 87th minute for a cynical foul. Iraola then made his final changes, bringing Enes Unal and Luis Sinisterra on for Kerkez and Christie.
Unal almost had an instant impact as Semenyo delivered a fantastic ball into the box that was met by the new signing, but it was millimeters wide of the post.
The Cherries were ubelievable in the second half, doing what not many could and pinning City back at points, but the champions managed to hold on to their 1-0 lead and leae the Vitality Stadium with all three points.
The Cherries next play on Tuesday in an FA Cup tie against Leicester City.