Police launch appeal after 'mad' finish to Manchester City's late win at Bournemouth

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero with Police after Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their second goal
Manchester City's Sergio Aguero with Police after Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their second goal Credit: REUTERS

Bournemouth are expected to remind their stewards about best practice following the ugly melee that accompanied Manchester City’s dramatic winner on Saturday amid the launch of a police appeal for further witnesses and footage.

Two fans from Manchester have been arrested for encroaching on the pitch but there have also been anger at the perceived over-zealous reaction of stewards, police and referee Mike Dean. City striker Sergio Aguero had intervened in an apparent attempt to diffuse the situation as a fan was pinned to the ground by stewards but was soon then the subject of a steward’s claim that he had been struck.

This allegation was made in a statement to the police but then withdrawn just a few hours later following high-level talks between City and Bournemouth.

The footage that has emerged simply appeared to show Aguero pleading with stewards and police to ease off the fan and, having also vigorously denied hitting anyone on social media, he was fully backed by City. Police are still reviewing all available evidence before deciding whether any further action is necessary against any fans and described their investigation as being at a “very early” stage.

The incident, though, has continued to overshadow Raheem Sterling’s 97th minute winner. One debate surrounds the stewards’ reaction and it is understood that, without having yet drawn any conclusions over the rights and wrongs of Saturday’s incident, Bournemouth will speak to their staff about the procedures and expectations ahead of the next home match against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Sterling 
Sterling was shown a second yellow card for his celebrations 

Dean’s decision to show Sterling a second yellow card for celebrating in front of the City fans has also prompted manager Pep Guardiola to demand an explanation. Sterling did not appear to leave the grassed area as fans came onto the pitch to congratulate him but City cannot appeal what was the first red card of his career as it was the result of two yellow cards.

Charlie Daniels had earlier put Bournemouth into the lead before Gabriel Jesus equalised, with captain Vincent Kompany describing the finale as typical of the “madness” of the Premier League. Guardiola, though, later denied that the difficulty of the game was somehow evidence of the Premier League’s “toughness” compared to the rest of Europe. “I know you like to hear the Premier League is the toughest league in the world,” he said.

“Congratulations. You are so proud, the Premier League is fantastic, the Premier league is top. But every league has specific things and ways. Of course the Premier League is tough but I would not say that to go to Bilbao, Seville is easy because, in the last decade, all the Spanish teams arrive in the Champions League and the Europa League. Hopefully with five [Premier League] teams in the Champions League they can achieve the right results and after we can say ‘that is the toughest league’. All the guys have to make a step forward to make up the gap. After that we will consider it a tough league.”

For all their investment this summer, it was also the second successive game in which Sterling scored City’s crucial goal. Sterling has scored between six and nine in each of the last four league seasons.

Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has been impressed with Sterling's performances

“He is a guy who can play in the middle, has the ability to go one against one, to attack, to be aggressive,” he said. “If he would be a guy who had a bit more sense of the goal, he would be one of the most incredible players.”

Guardiola does now expect Sterling to play centrally more often following the acquisitions of more attacking full-backs in Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo. “The guy who has talent can score the goal - and the guy who has no talent can’t score the goal,” he said. “I don’t think I can improve him. Maybe he will have to find another manager.”

Bournemouth remain with Crystal Palace and West Ham United in being pointless after this first series of matches but did match City for long periods. An improvement in attitude, said manager Eddie Howe, was more important than the tactical switch to a three-man defence.

“Ability is one thing but it’s all about the basics of hard work and fighting for each and making sure we are united as a team,” said Howe. “Sometimes, believe it or not, players do need reminding of those basics. Within the squad I’m excited by what we can achieve this season despite the fact that we haven’t got a point yet. The lads need to believe the same.”

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