CHERRIES’ woeful record against Manchester City continued as they were thumped 4-1 by the Premier League champions at Vitality Stadium.

Seeking a first ever win against City in the club’s history, and on the back of 12 defeats on the spin in this fixture, Cherries never looked like ending that run.

Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock early on, with both Erling Haaland and Phil Foden also getting on the scoresheet before the half was out. Chris Mepham turned into his own net after the restart, with City in cruise control before Jefferson Lerma smashed in a late consolation.

Gary O’Neil made one change to the side which won at Wolves last weekend. The injured Marcus Tavernier was replaced by Mepham, as Cherries shifted formation.

For their fourth away game on the spin, City shuffled their pack with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez all among the substitutes. Former Cherries favourite Nathan Ake lined up at left-back.

City were on the front foot from the off, forcing a corner inside the opening moments.

Clear-cut openings were few and far between, with Rodri firing over from range, before the visitors did get their noses in front on 16 minutes.

Youngster Rico Lewis slid in to win back possession, with Ilkay Gundogan then lifting a ball over the defence for Foden. The England international was denied by Neto, the loose ball falling to Haaland, whose shot was deflected up onto the crossbar by Marcos Senesi.

However, World Cup winner Alvarez was on hand to slam in from close range.

Soon after, Ruben Dias sent a diving header just wide of the post, after he connected with an out-swinging Foden corner.

City doubled their lead before the half hour mark, in simplistic fashion. Ake clipped a ball down the line for Gundogan, who crossed to the back post. Foden got ahead of Jordan Zemura to turn it across goal where an unmarked Haaland gleefully slotted in his 33rd goal of the campaign.

Cherries were getting some joy going forwards, notably down the left flank with Zemura, Hamed Traore and Dominic Solanke causing some problems.

Lerma fired a shot over the crossbar, before Dango Ouattara teed up Adam Smith, whose goalbound effort was headed behind by Dias. Traore and Philip Billing were both denied by goalkeeper Ederson, before Pep Guardiola’s men added a third.

A calamitous pass across his own box from Billing was cut out by Foden, who held off Jack Stephens and beat Neto one-on-one.

The suffocation did not let up after the restart. With Cherries penned inside their own box, the pressure told when Alvarez fired towards goal, with Mepham turning it into his own net.

O’Neil turned to his bench, introducing both Ryan Fredericks and Joe Rothwell. Moments later, Ake wound up for a strike from range against his old club, Neto holding on to the effort.

The Dutchman was later afforded a standing ovation from all four sides of the ground as he was replaced by Kyle Walker for the closing stages.

There was time for a late Cherries goal. Substitute Jaidon Anthony played in Zemura, whose low cross was not dealt with by Dias. Lerma collected the ball before volleying home past Ederson.

This defeat, coupled with results elsewhere, sees Cherries slip back into the relegation zone.

Cherries: Neto; Mepham, Stephens, Senesi; Smith (Fredericks, 59), Lerma, Billing (Rothwell, 59), Zemura; Ouattara, Traore (Anthony, 76); Solanke.

Unused subs: Stacey, Christie, Semenyo, Moore, Randolph (g/k), Travers (g/k).

Booked: Ouattara, Mepham.

Man City: Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Ake (Walker, 80); Rodri (Phillips, 55), Gundogan (Gomez, 55); Foden, Grealish (Mahrez, 72); Alvarez, Haaland (Perrone, 72).

Unused subs: De Bruyne, Silva, Carson (g/k), Ortega (g/k).

Booked: Phillips, Akanji.

Referee: Paul Tierney.

VAR: Andrew Madley.