Leaders stunned as 32-match unbeaten run ends on south coast

Manchester City relinquished top spot after seeing their 32-match unbeaten run in the Premier League come to a surprise end at Bournemouth this afternoon.

A late onslaught at the Vitality Stadium did not result in an equaliser as the hosts held on for another excellent win after also beating City’s title rivals Arsenal in their last home game.

Antoine Semenyo put Bournemouth ahead after nine minutes and Evanilson doubled their advantage 19 minutes into the second half.

Adam Smith missed an open goal to make it 3-0 and Bournemouth nerves were jangling when Josko Gvardiol pulled one back with eight minutes to go.

City poured forward and Erling Haaland was denied by home goalkeeper Mark Travers and the woodwork deep into stoppage time.

The defeat sees Pep Guardiola’s side slip two points behind Liverpool at the summit.

Wow! @afcbournemouth defeat the reigning champions!

Man City’s 32-match unbeaten run comes to an end!#BOUMCI pic.twitter.com/YHbVcMYqKM

— Premier League (@premierleague) November 2, 2024

Bournemouth started like a team high on confidence and City goalkeeper Ederson was twice called into action inside the opining four minutes. The Brazilian was smartly off his line to prevent Evanilson getting on the end of Justin Kluivert’s through ball before then producing a smart double save to repel efforts from Semenyo and Kluivert.

City did not heed the warnings and Bournemouth took advantage from their next attack.

Milos Kerkez beat Phil Foden down the left and his cross was controlled on the stretch by Semenyo, who then swivelled and fired into the net.

City were well off the pace, a point typified by Foden’s woeful attempted cross from the left midway through the first half that drifted straight out of play.

And more sloppiness from the four-time defending champions almost enabled Bournemouth to double their lead on the half-hour mark.

Mateo Kovacic lost possession from a City short corner, gifting possession to Semenyo, who ran unopposed towards the visitors’ area before setting up Kluivert and his shot missed the target.

City’s passing game, hitherto uncharacteristically wayward, was starting to find its groove but Travers in the Bournemouth goal remained relatively untroubled.

It took City 40 minutes to create a chance of note and it resulted in a poor miss from the usually reliable Haaland.

Matheus Nunes’ cross picked out the big Norwegian but, having taken the ball down on his chest, he lashed his shot wide of goal.

City continued to struggle

Bournemouth started the second period as they did the first and only another smart save from Ederson prevented Evanilson converting Semenyo’s pass after poor defending from Kyle Walker.

Foden then came close at the other end as the game began to open up, the England international firing wide from around the penalty spot after being picked out by Nunes.

Bournemouth were playing largely on the break but it was proving a dangerous tactic and Evanilson grabbed their second after 64 minutes.

Semenyo was again involved, playing in the marauding Kerkez and his cross was inch-perfect for Brazilian Evanilson to divert past his countryman Ederson.

The game ought to have been over as a contest after 68 minutes. Marcus Tavernier’s shot hit the post with the ball falling to Smith. But with the goal gaping, the full-back somehow contrived to blast his effort over the open goal.

It took City 80 minutes to register a shot on target, Haaland prodding a weak effort straight at Travers.

Goal sets up nervy ending

They did better from their next attack two minutes later.

A short-corner routine ended with Ilkay Gundogan crossing for Gvardiol to rise highest and plant a header into the net.

The atmosphere inside the previously buoyant Vitaly Stadium changed as they sensed a late sting in the tail.

How it did not come remains a mystery. In the fifth of six minutes added on, Haaland redirected Foden’s cross back towards goal. It seemed to be going in only for Travers to scramble it out. The rebound fell back to Haaland but his effort came back off the base of the post.