Bournemouth vs Manchester City: Manuel Pellegrini's side rout to get top-four push back on track

Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 4

Kevin de Bruyne is congratulated by his team-mates upon scoring (Getty)

If anyone doubted Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini's claim that his departure at the end of the season had not led to any difficulty in motivating his players, City's performance on the South Coast was the perfect response.

With five defeats in their previous seven Premier League matches and only six goals in ten away games, City might not have looked favourites to win, especially with a Champions League quarter final first leg away to Paris Saint-Germain to play on Wednesday.

But Pellegrini's men, with Kevin de Bruyne back from knee and ankle ligament injuries for the first time since January 27, not only showed that their morale is in good shape ahead of that game but they also increased their chances of returning to the elite European competition next season, consolidating their grip on fourth place.

“We have a lot of criticism this season but although we have had so many injuries to important players, we are the team that continues to fight in every competition to the end,” the City manager said. “We are the last English team in the Champions League.” And the Premier League? “If you have a winning mentality you must always think you can do it if the mathematics allow you to do it.”

Sergio Aguero rises to head home (Getty)

Fernando, De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero scored in the first 20 minutes as City gave Bournemouth the sort of battering that the Dorset club must have feared every week in their first season in the top flight but have mostly avoided. They could not handle City's movement, as De Bruyne and David Silva broke repeatedly into their penalty area, while Charlie Daniels, the Bournemouth left back, made Jesus Navas look a world-beater. De Bruyne's goal was a contender for any awards going in its conception and execution, and Pellegrini , who withdrew the Belgian just short of the hour, did not rule out giving him another start on Wednesday.

“We will see how he recovers,” Pellegrini said. “Before he was injured he was playing well, one of the players who was scoring and it was unlucky for him to have that injury. He gives Kun [Aguero] more space.”

Eddie Howe's men, normally encouraged to pass at all costs, looked unwilling to risk the ball being picked off and returned past them with pace and trickery, although the opener was a scuffed corner by Navas hooked past Artur Boruc by Fernando after seven minutes.

Aleksandar Kolarov wraps up the victory with a late strike (Getty)

Five minutes later Aguero flicked the ball over a defender, Silva cushioned a volley back to De Bruyne, and he stroked it in. The third came in the 18th minute when Navas crossed for Aguero to outjump Adam Smith at the far post and nod back across Boruc, Steve Cook just unable to clear.

Bournemouth had some chances, but City were always in command and with almost the last action of the match substitute Aleksandar Kolarov dribbled into the penalty area and hit an angled shot high beyond Boruc.

“They were better in all areas today and we have to accept that,” Howe said. “They are the team we want to become.”

Bournemouth (4-4-2): Boruc, Smith (Elphick 68), Francis, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Surman, O'Kane, Gradel (Gosling 84); King (Pugh ht), Grabban

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Zabaleta, Mangala, Otamendi, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Navas, De Bruyne (Kolarov 57), Silva (Nasri 66); Aguero (Iheanacho 79).

Referee: R Madley

Man of the match: De Bruyne

Match rating: 7/10