Manchester City could not play through the pain barrier. As their run of 32 Premier League matches unbeaten came to its end, they creaked. Ageing, tired legs were asked to chase – in vain – an opponent full of energy and a belief so rarely in evidence against the serial champions. For once, City fell short.

Make no mistake, Bournemouth were brilliant, their victory wholly deserved, with Antoine Semenyo dazzling. He demoted Kyle Walker to the doghouse, City’s captain left with twisted blood by the Ghanaian.