Written by billythekid
Third Game In Row Against Top Six Sides
In our last two games, our side has taken four points against top six sides, three points at home against Arsenal and one point away at Villa Park. Our team should be going into their next game full of confidence. The next game is against top-of-the-table Manchester City at Dean Court on Saturday at 3 pm.
AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City
AFCB Win
Draw
Man City Win
This will be the eighth time the Cherries have faced Manchester City at Dean Court in the Premier League and the fifteenth time home and away and our team have never taken a point off them in the P L, think they are the only team we haven’t taken a point from. Will our side break that ‘hoodoo’ and get their first point/s on Saturday? The last time City lost away was 15 games ago against Aston Villa our recent opponents.
Since our second season in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola has been the City manager. In those eight seasons, he has won the Premier League title six times, including the last four seasons, some record. The two times his side missed out on winning the title was his first season in charge when his side finished third. The other time they finished runners-up to Liverpool was in 2019-20 season, with Liverpool winning by a clear 18 points.
So far this season on their travels, Manchester City have beaten Chelsea 0-2, West Ham 1-3 and Wolves 1-2, they drew 1-1 with Newcastle United. At home, they have beaten Ipswich Town 4-1, Brentford 2-1 and Fulham 3-2, also drawn one game with Arsenal 2-2. Their most recent game at home was against Southampton, it finished 1-0.
The last time City visited Dean Court was in February last season. The game was decided by a solitary first-half goal from Phil Foden in the 24th minute.
In all our home games against Manchester City, AFCB have W 0, D 1, L 9.
In all competitions against Manchester City, AFCB have W 0, D 2, L 19.
AFCB Team News
Alex Scott is now out for a few weeks and also Luis Sinisterra missed the Aston Villa game and may or may not be back for Manchester City. Kepa latest injury news and missed the Villa game.
AFCB Player To Watch
We might see Evanilson start against City and in his last three games, his contribution on the pitch made a big difference. Against Arsenal in the first half when he could have had a free run on goal was brought down, hence Saliba red red-carded. Then could possibly have scored in the second half, but was brought down by Raya in the area, which resulted in a penalty. At Villa scored a late equaliser after coming on as a substitute with a great headed goal. Hopefully, he will make an impact against City.
Manchester City Team News
Going into their game with Southampton, they were without Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne, plus long-term absentees Oscar Bobb and Rodrigo.
Manchester City Player To Watch
Erling Haaland has to be a danger, with 11 goals this season, but has only scored one goal against us in four appearances and that was at Dean Court. The player who regularly has scored against our side home and away in the last two seasons is Phil Foden. But without a goal so far this season and not a regular starter due to fatigue and illness, but started in his last game against the Saints. In the game against Saints Savinho was given MOM.
The Referee
Is Michael Oliver, he has been in charge of two of our games this season. Away against Nottingham Forest and home against Southampton.
Matt Stevenson added…
I’ve looked at the last 4 league games for Man C. These were two home games (Fulham and Southampton) and two away games (Newcastle and Wolves) which should not have been a threatening set of fixtures for the champions. Man C have gained 10 points, and are unbeaten, but was only ahead in xG in two games (which were against the teams in the bottom two positions). Man C have scored 7 goals and conceded 4 with xG estimating 7.05 goals with 5.35 conceded, so have been overperforming slightly at the back. Looking at the xG values it wouldn’t have been a big surprise if they only had 5 points from this run, and they don’t appear to be in form in the Premier League.
Man C have had 5 different goal scorers (Gvardiol 2,Kovacic 2, and singles from Doku, Stones and Haaland). Man C have had six players with 1 assist each.
The average positions of the starting line-ups are below. In the last three games, the Man City players have been largely camped in the opposition half trying to create chances, although maybe the Newcastle game is more relevant as it was away against a team with an attacking threat.
The following graph compares summary stats of Man C and AFCB over the last 4 games. Man C doesn’t appear to be as good as in previous seasons, and the near resignation to being dominated is not there for me this time. As we have both played Southampton at home, it is essentially their Wolves and Newcastle away with Fulham at home, against our A Villa and Leicester away and Arsenal at home, so you could argue we have had the harder run.
Man City have created more chances, although AFCB have more big chances, similarly, Man City have conceded fewer attempts, but more big chances. Goals scored slightly favour Man C although goals conceded slightly favour AFCB. The differences in xG and xGc are similar to the differences in the real number of goals scored and conceded.
Man C has had more possession and a higher pass completion rate over the last 4 games. Man City appear good at defending set plays with nearly 80% of chances coming from open play.
Your say…
ErikthViking said…
With City’s growing injury list, their match against Tottenham and a European Cup (old money) fixture next Tuesday we might just find them dipping into the reserves. Although most of City’s reserves would likely fit straight into our first team it could possibly see them playing out of shape.
They didn’t impress against the Scummers on Saturday. Haaland’s goal came only when Ramsdale thought he was Flahaven.
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