Man City move up to second, eight points behind Chelsea

Pep Guardiola's team won their third consecutive Premier League match when they defeated Bournemouth 2-0 on the evening of February 13.

Coach Pep Guardiola hugs Aguero after the match ended. Photo: Reuters.

Goals: Sterling (29'), Mings (own goal 69').

Man City received bad news just 14 minutes into the match. In-form striker Gabriel Jesus fell to the ground clutching his right ankle after chasing the ball from Sterling's pass. Coach Guardiola was forced to withdraw the Brazilian player and replace him with the out-of-favour striker Aguero.

The visitors did not let up the pressure on Bournemouth. Sterling opened the scoring when he tapped the ball in close range. Sterling's goal came just two minutes later when he hit the post.

Bournemouth responded immediately in the attack after the replay, but Joshua King was penalized by the referee when he put the ball into the Man City net. The Bournemouth striker had pulled John Stones' shirt in the previous situation.

Goalkeeper Caballero kept Man City safe with an excellent save from Harry Arter's long-range shot. Just minutes later, Sterling continued to have a hand in Man City's second goal when he made a cross that Tyrone Mings scored an own goal. In this situation, Aguero lightly touched the ball before the Bournemouth defender "scored" for Man City.

The win at Bournemouth moved Man City up to second place on 52 points, eight points behind leaders Chelsea. Tottenham and Arsenal are third and fourth respectively on 50 points. Liverpool were pushed out of the top four and into fifth, while Man Utd remain in their familiar sixth place.

Sterling opened the scoring for Man City. Photo: Reuters.

Pep Guardiola's team jumped from fourth to second after round 25 and became Chelsea's closest competitor. Man City took advantage of Chelsea's draw with Burnley and Tottenham's defeat at Liverpool.

The inspiration of the 2011-2012 season is still there with veterans like Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero. Man City fans still remember the magical time when Man City made a comeback against neighbours Man Utd when they were eight points behind with only six games left.

Man City will face Chelsea in early April and this time they have a lot of time, up to 13 rounds. Pep Guardiola is still looking for his seventh national championship in the last eight seasons.

Leroy Sane hit the crossbar late in the match. Photo: Reuters.

Without the top wingers he had at Barca and Bayern, Pep Guardiola sent on the young pair of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane against Bournemouth. Both players proved they were the future of Man City, indirectly and directly contributing to two goals. Sterling opened the scoring from Sane's pass and made a cross for Man City's second. Sane was unlucky to score his own goal when he hit the crossbar late in the match.

Sterling has scored six Premier League goals this season, as many as he did last season for Man City. Bournemouth are the 22-year-old's favourite team so far, having scored five times in the Premier League.

While Man City are back in the title race, Bournemouth are in danger of having to fight for their place in the Premier League. They are yet to win in 2017 after seven games in all competitions. Bournemouth are still six points clear of the drop zone, but their current form is far from safe.

According to VNE