SHOWCASE - Memorable matches between Bournemouth and Man City
By Steve Tongue
LONDON (Reuters) - Bournemouth and Manchester City have only met nine times before, with the south coast side yet to win. Here we look at three of their most memorable previous meetings.
December 1987, Division Two
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 2
Bournemouth were almost 100 years old when they reached the second tier of English football for the first time and came up against City, who had been relegated the previous season.
A crowd of 9,499 came to see the visitors win the first meeting between the clubs, with goals from future England internationals Paul Stewart and David White.
That stretched City's impressive run to 10 games without defeat, including a 10-1 home win over Huddersfield Town the previous month.
Despite being the second-highest scorers in the division, City still finished no higher than ninth, with Bournemouth 17th, just three points above relegation.
May 1989, Division 2
Manchester City 3 Bournemouth 3
The following season's meeting at Maine Road was a crucial one for City, desperate to follow champions Chelsea back into the top division.
Having drawn at home to closest promotion rivals Crystal Palace five days earlier, and needing a win to secure promotion, they raced into a 3-0 lead at halftime with two goals by Paul Moulden and one by Trevor Morley.
Celebrations proved premature, however, in a second-half performance that came to be regarded as "typical City".
Harry Redknapp's Bournemouth, in mid-table with little to play for, were allowed back into the game with goals by Peter Shearer and Matt Holmes before - deep into stoppage time - Luther Blissett was fouled in the penalty area and scored from the spot.
Fortunately for City, the lapse did not prove fatal: another draw in the final game a week later at Bradford City meant Mel Machin's side finished in second place, a point ahead of Palace, who had to go into the playoffs.
October 2015, Premier League
Manchester City 5 Bournemouth 1
City's first Premier League meeting with Bournemouth found them in excellent form, setting the pace at the top of the table on the back of a 6-1 drubbing of Newcastle United in which Sergio Aguero scored five times.
Bournemouth, finding life difficult at the higher level, almost suffered a similar fate and were 4-1 down by the interval.
Raheem Sterling claimed a hat trick in the first half and Wilfried Bony, deputising for the injured Aguero, scored twice.
Glenn Murray replied for Bournemouth, who were left two points off relegation but recovered later in the season to finish 16th.
City's campaign petered out, however, and after they ended up fourth, Manuel Pellegrini was replaced as manager by Pep Guardiola.
(Reporting by Steve Tongue; Editing by Hugh Lawson)