Phil Foden hands Manchester City crucial win at Bournemouth

Phil Foden netted the only goal of the match in the 24th minute, with the champions moving onto 59 points from 26 matches, one point behind leaders Liverpool entering the final straight.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, have dropped to 14th position, with the Cherries still eight points clear of the bottom three, but they are now on a run of seven league matches without a win.

Man City should have made the breakthrough in the ninth minute of the contest when Foden released Erling Haaland, but the striker, who raced towards goal, could only fire wide of the post.

Two minutes later, Bournemouth had a chance of their own, with Milos Kerkez striking towards goal, but Man City goalkeeper Ederson was on hand to make a smart save.

Bournemouth were adopting a high-press against the champions, which made for a fascinating watch, but Man City continued to look the most likely, with Foden drawing a smart save from Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto in the 19th minute of the contest.

Man City made the breakthrough in the 24th minute of the clash, with Foden making no mistake from close range after Neto had kept out a strike from Haaland.

Bernardo Silva bent one wide of the post in the period which followed, before Foden tried his luck from a free kick in the 39th minute, but the ball sailed over the Bournemouth crossbar.

Bournemouth finished the half well, with Ederson needing to push away a Ryan Christie effort, but Foden's goal proved to be the difference at the end of the opening 45 minutes.

The home side had a half-chance in the 53rd minute through Justin Kluivert, but the Dutchman's effort was straight into the arms of Ederson.

Bournemouth had a better opportunity in the 56th minute, with Antoine Semenyo's brilliant cross finding Marcus Tavernier inside the penalty box, but the latter's effort was into the ground, which made it easy for Ederson.

The Cherries had two excellent chances in the 67th minute, with Dominic Solanke having a header just about kept out by Ederson, before Kerkez saw a powerful drive blocked by John Stones.

Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto had to keep out a header from Haaland in the 72nd minute, with Foden making his influence known during another five-star performance from the England international.

Neto had another smart save to keep out a strike from Haaland in the 75th minute after the Norway international had burst into the Bournemouth penalty box.

The home side were pressing for a leveller late on, and Dango Ouattara just missed the target with a low strike in the 85th minute, before Enes Unal headed wide of Ederson's goal in the 90th minute.

There were six additional minutes at the Vitality Stadium, but Bournemouth just could not find a leveller, with Man City picking up a vital three points in their pursuit of the title.

Man City will now switch their attention to the FA Cup, preparing to head to Luton Town in the fifth round of the competition on Tuesday evening, while Bournemouth will be bidding to bounce back from the defeat when they host Championship leaders Leicester City in the same competition on the same night.