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Bournemouth gave everything but were left needing a dramatic turnaround in their final two matches after a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City pushed them closer to relegation.<\/p>\nBournemouth gave everything but were left needing a dramatic turnaround in their final two matches after a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City pushed them closer to relegation.<\/p>\n
Eddie Howe\u2019s side produced a spirited performance at the Etihad Stadium but first-half goals from David Silva and Gabriel Jesus undid them despite a late David Brooks reply.<\/p>\n
The loss left the Cherries three points off safety having played a game more than West Ham and Watford \u2013 who face each other on Friday \u2013 above them.<\/p>\n
With an inferior goal difference as well, it will now take a monumental change of fortune to extend their top-flight adventure into a sixth season.<\/p>\n
They may wonder what position they might have been in had they shown the same spirit they showed against City all season.<\/p>\n
They had numerous chances when trailing only 1-0 and continued to push in the second half against a City side showing six changes and with one eye on their FA Cup semi-final at the weekend.<\/p>\n
Bournemouth threw caution to the wind in the latter stages and will feel they deserved an equalizer but fell short.<\/p>\n
Ultimately City had the quality when it mattered, the soon-to-depart veteran Silva curling in another fine free-kick and Jesus rifling in a second. The result made for a good few days for City after Monday\u2019s victory at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.<\/p>\n
The sprightly Silva certainly looked far younger than his 34 years. He was soon into the action and underlined his mastery with a fine free-kick on six minutes after he himself had been fouled by Jefferson Lerma.<\/p>\n
City threatened again as Fernandinho sent a low drive wide but Bournemouth, realizing their time could be almost up, rallied well.<\/p>\n
Josh King went close with a shot on the turn and Dominic Solanke had an effort blocked before Junior Stanislas forced Ederson to palm onto the post with a vicious free-kick. Solanke had another chance moments later but Nicolas Otamendi denied him with a last-ditch block.<\/p>\n
They were chances the hosts were to rue before the break as Silva combined with Jesus for the Brazilian to double the lead, showing great footwork before rifling a shot into the bottom corner.<\/p>\n
It could have immediately got worse for Cherries when Lerma appeared to clip Jesus\u2019 ankle in the box but neither referee Lee Mason nor the VAR intervened.<\/p>\n
Bournemouth roused themselves again in the second half and thought they had hope when King turned in a Stanislas ball at the far post but the flag was raised for offside. VAR showed it was an agonizingly close decision for the visitors.<\/p>\n
VAR was called upon again after Jesus was awarded a penalty following a challenge by Cook and, after several replays, overturned the decision.<\/p>\n
Bournemouth dug in for one last rally and substitute Brooks gave them late hope when he turned in another good run by Callum Wilson in the 88th minute.<\/p>\n
They continued to apply pressure in into injury time but City held on.<\/p>\n