Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Bournemouth and Manchester City.

At certain stages this season, Manchester City have been inconsistent in all areas of the pitch and there was the suggestion that they would be fortunate to finish inside the top four of the Premier League table. However, while Chelsea remain clear at the top, the teams in and around them continue to drop points and it has given City the opportunity to move into second position in the standings with a win on the south coast. While it's not agiven that they will return to the North-West with maximum points, it's a chance that they probably didn't anticipate during the middle of February and Pep Guardiola will be keen to take full advantage.

As for Bournemouth, their form before Christmas suggested that they would not have to worry about being dragged into a relegation battle but after failing to win in five outings, they have come under increasing pressure to stop the rot before they fall further towards the bottom three. There are still six points between them and 18th-place Hull City but it has reached a point where the longer they go without a victory, the tougher it will get to back on track and while they are huge underdogs this evening, their supporters are waiting for the players to rediscover the form which took them to a comfortable position in mid-table.

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the team news which is coming from the Vitality Stadium. Will Sergio Aguero return to the starting lineup?

BOURNEMOUTH XI: Boruc, Francis, Smith, Cook, Daniels, Arter, Wilshere, Ibe, Surman, Fraser, King

BOURNEMOUTH SUBSTITUTES: Boruc, Francis, Smith, Cook, Daniels, Arter, Wilshere, Ibe, Surman, Fraser, King

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Caballero, Sagna, Kolarov, Stones, Fernandinho, Toure, Sterling, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Jesus

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Bravo, Kompany, Fernando, Nolito, Aguero, Delph, Otamendi

The answer to that earlier question is no. Of course, after Gabriel Jesus netted twice against Swansea City, it was expected that Aguero would remain on the bench but the longer he remains out of the team, the more questions Guardiola will face about his future. The Spaniard has made just one change to his starting lineup, with Bacary Sagna being preferred to Gael Clichy.

As for Bournemouth, Eddie Howe has decided to make three alterations to his team, with Charlie Daniels, Adam Smith and Jordon Ibe all getting a start. Tyrone Mings, Dan Gosling and Marc Pugh are the men to miss out. Benik Afobe remains on the bench, despite the long-term absence of Callum Wilson.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match represents just the 10th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive fixture and Bournemouth have failed to win any of the previous nine encounters. The Cherries have just two draws to their name, the last of which came in the old Division Two in February 1999. There have been just three matches since then, with City winning by scorelines of 5-1, 0-4 and 4-0 respectively.

Leicester City have come in for their fair share of criticism in recent weeks but the Foxes are the only team to record fewer points than Bournemouth over the last five games. It highlights the downward spiral which Bournemouth have embarked upon since the turn of the year and like with Leicester, it's hard to see when it is going to come to an end. After this match, they face trips to both West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United, so it would not come as a surprise if they failed to take anything from either fixture. It that happens, they could be within one negative result of falling into the bottom three.

Howe is full of positivity in the public eye, but you have to wonder how difficult it has been to get his players in the right mental state for this game. When you have shipped six goals away at Everton, a showdown with Manchester City is not what you want but the Cherries have somehow got to find the balance between giving it a go and not sitting too deep in order to neutralise the threat offered by their opponents.

We are all aware of the change in personnel in City's attack, but there are alterations in Bournemouth's too. With Callum Wilson out for the rest of the season, responsibility falls upon the shoulders of Joshua King and he showed against Everton that he could fill the void. The 25-year-old netted twice in 11 minutes - having previously scoring just four all season - and now is his chance to show Howe that he deserves to stay ahead of Benik Afobe in the pecking order

We haven't spoken too much about Gabriel Jesus but after scoring once against West Ham United and twice against Swansea City, he must be licking his lips at the thought of going up against a defence who are low in confidence like Bournemouth are. There are more than just goals to the Brazilian's repertoire but if he can score on a regular basis, you have to question whether there is any way back for Aguero. One of the greatest goalscorers in Premier League history will not want to spend much longer on the bench.

PREDICTION! Sorry, Bournemouth fans, but we can make no case for you this evening. If City have an off night in defence, who knows, but we can't City scoring any less than three this evening. The goals may be spread out but Guardiola will not care. It could be damage limitation for Bournemouth and we think City will run out 4-1 winners.

The two teams have made their way out at the Vitality Stadium. Bournemouth certainly look up for it but I think it will take a lot more than enthusiasm to get the better of City.

Man City have got this game underway.

As expected, City waste no time in getting their foot on the ball. They are passing the ball about with ease before upping the tempo in the final third. De Bruyne should have done better in the final third but he completely miscued his shot.

To their credit, Bournemouth have come straight back at City and they are having plenty of joy down the left flank. Sterling currently isn't doing his defensive work and Daniels and co are looking to capitalise.

After criticising Sterling's work in his own half, he has started to pose a considerable threat up the other end and twice should have done better. Firstly, he crossed when he should have tried a shot, before he then failed to chest the ball into his path after being found by Toure.

BOOKING! The first booking of the match goes to Toure, who is cautioned for a late challenge in the middle of the pitch. He is flabbergasted - as is Guardiola - but it's a definite yellow.

SUBSTITUTION! I'm not sure if this is good news for Man City or bad, but Gabriel Jesus is being withdrawn after suffering an ankle injury and Sergio Aguero is being readied.

Back to the action and we've not had any goalmouth action since that half a chance for Sterling. In fact, it is Bournemouth who are starting to dominate possession and maybe this won't be as easy for City as I thought.

CHANCE! Big chance for the home side as Ibe is released behind the City defence but as he tried to take the ball around Caballero, the goalkeeper was equal to it as he got his legs in the way. Excellent goalkeeping.

SUBSTITUTION! There's going to be another early change and this time, it is for Bournemouth. Francis appears to have picked up a significant injury and he is hobbling off to be replaced by Tyrone Mings.

BOOKING! Fraser is cautioned for a high tackle on De Bruyne. It's only a yellow but his studs were close to making a full connection with the Belgian's knee. Very risky.

CHANCES! I have no idea how Bournemouth are still level, but they are. Sterling's shot from around 12 yards is deflected onto the post by both Cook and Boruc, before a defender gets in the way to block De Bruyne's effort on the rebound. From the resulting corner, the ball fell to Toure on the edge of the area and his left-foot curler went within inches of finding the bottom corner.

They aren't level anymore. Sane's cross from the left is deflected by Cook into the path of Sterling at the back post and he simply can't miss from three yards out. Moments later, there was more drama...

King thinks he has netted an immediate equaliser for the home side after coolly slotting into the corner, but the referee has made an excellent call. He saw King pull back Stones in order to create space for himself and it's the correct decision.

Moments after that incident, Boruc had to be alert to deny both Silva and Aguero in and around the penalty area. City are definitely upping the ante.

Bournemouth haven't gone into their shell since falling behind. In fact, they are looking to get more men forward. King is almost in the right place at the right time to flick past Caballero but the goalkeeper gets there just in time.

CHANCE! Aguero is a yard offside but the assistant has missed it. Fortunately for him and for Bournemouth, Aguero volleys over from 12 yards. It's a big chance for the visitors.

SHOT! Sterling has been in the thick of the action since the opening whistle and he looks confident of adding to his tally. It wasn't to be on this occasion, however, with his 25-yard strike going high over the crossbar.

SHOT! An outrageous piece of skill from Silva helps set up De Bruyne for a long-range strike but it goes over the bar. Good effort, though. There will be five minutes of added-on time.

SUBSTITUTION! Another blow for Bournemouth. Wilshere picked up an ankle injury earlier in the game after his ankle shuddered in a tackle with Silva and it looks like he never recovered from it. Afobe is the man being introduced.

The half-time whistle goes at the Vitality Stadium and City lead thanks to that goal from Sterling. However, it's been a half littered with injuries with Jesus, Francis and Wilshere all having to be replaced. What have Bournemouth got left in the tank when they return? Find out in 15 minutes or so.

We are back underway on the south coast.

It's been a really positive start from Bournemouth, with both Toure and Fernandinho needing to commit fouls to stop the Cherries moving further forward. Toure, inparticular, was fortunate to avoid a yellow. It would have been his second.

That spell of pressure has ended without Bournemouth testing Caballero. Howe can't be happy with that. City are back in possession now and probing for an opening. Aguero thought that he was about to find the bottom corner, but a Bournemouth defender go in the way of the ball.

Arter has just rolled his ankle in getting back to stop De Bruyne getting closer to goal. I think he will be okay to continue but he is still hobbling a bit. It could have been a nasty one.

BOOKING! Sterling is the second City player to be booked. I honestly couldn't tell you why. Something must have happen in the last period of play, but it certainly wasn't noticeable.

We are now an hour through this contest, but it's been 15 minutes since we witnessed anyone come close to a second goal. Bournemouth need to find something extra, although they only have one alteration remaining.

BOOKING! Sane is now cautioned for his foot going down the back of the Achilles of Adam Smith. I'm not totally sure it was deliberate but he can have no complaints.

SAVE! Afobe has been lively since he was introduced just before the break and he does superbly here to set up Arter. His teammate's first-time shot seems destined for the bottom corner but Caballero gets across to make a fine save.

There's going to be an argument as to whose goal this was, but it surely has to be an own goal. Sterling gets to the byline before crossing towards the near post and it initially looks like Aguero has converted. However, while he does get the first touch, it's Mings's touch will proves pivotal and it should be an own goal. Whoever goes on the scoresheet, it's probably game over.

SUBSTITUTION! Moments after the goal, Nicolas Otamendi was introduced in place of Toure.

Bournemouth are still pushing forward but it has to be said, City look much more resolute than they have done in the past. I don't think the Cherries will breach their defence, but I have been proven wrong before.

CHANCE! Silva's free kick from the left-hand side of the penalty area finds Fernandinho at the back post, but he heads over from around eight yards.

Bournemouth are having to do a lot of chasing now that City are looking to play out the remaining minutes in possession. Guardiola's men are just eight minutes plus added-on time from moving into second place in the table.

WOODWORK! Mings gifts the ball to Sane inside the penalty area and after deceiving a defender, the German international lashed the ball against the crossbar from eight yards out. That should have been a goal.

SAVE! Boruc keeps the score at 2-0 with a good stop to deny a missile of a shot from Kolarov. He also saved the rebound from Silva, but he had been adjudged to have been offside.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes at the Vitality Stadium and Manchester City have moved into second place with a deserved win on the south coast. They didn't really have to move out of second gear and they will now believe they can make some sort of bid to chase down leaders Chelsea. The gap is now eight points.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see out again soon. Goodbye for now.