BOURNEMOUTH -- Pep Guardiola felt Manchester City were second-best despite Raheem Sterling's late goal snatching a dramatic late win against Bournemouth.
City had fallen behind to Charlie Daniels' spectacular 13th-minute strike but were level eight minutes later through Gabriel Jesus' first of the season. Cherries striker Josh King and City's Nicolas Otamendi both hit the post before Sterling's deflected shot in the 97th minute secured a 2-1 win.
"If you ask me about my impression of the game I'm going to tell you they were better than us," Guardiola told a news conference. "We played with one striker instead of two to keep the ball but unfortunately they missed simpler balls and when this happens they can create the counter-attacks.
"In the second half they defended deeper and it was not easy. We continued playing, we kept going and always try and play and at the end we found our goal."
Sterling was sent off following his late goal after he ran towards the away fans to celebrate, which means he will now miss the game against former club Liverpool after the international break.
It was the second red card in a week for Guardiola's side after Kyle Walker was ruled out for the trip to Bournemouth after his controversial sending off against Everton on Monday night.
The City boss was baffled by Sterling's second yellow card as well as referee Mike Dean's decision not to send off Nathan Ake after the defender brought down Gabriel in the first half as the Brazilian raced clear on goal.
Asked about Sterling's sending off, Guardiola said: "It is a good question. I would like someone to comment, if you cannot celebrate with the fans the best solution is not to invite the fans. You can imagine how happy he is, how happy the fans.
"We won, If we had not won or lost I would not have made the argument but I would like someone to tell me that.
"I would like them to explain about that [Ake] as well, they told me it was not a clear action but he was the last man on the pitch."
Guardiola also had a small spat with opposite number Eddie Howe after the Bournemouth boss was unhappy with the way Danilo gave the ball back following an injury to Dan Gosling.
"If he was upset I apologise but our point of view was that they had a throw-in, he gave the ball to the defender and they did not press him," he added. "He was offended so I am sure it is not intentional, we don't go do, check time, we just try to play. I apologise if he felt uncomfortable but that is what I saw."