Manchester City dropped to second in the table following a shock defeat at the Vitality.

Pep Guardiola has said Manchester City were deservedly beaten against Bournemouth and could not handle the Cherries’ intensity thorough the 90 minutes.

City suffered their first Premier League defeat in nearly a year on Saturday, losing 2-1 at the Vitality thanks to goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson. Josko Gvardiol did get one goal back in the latter stages, but it wasn’t enough for the champions to come away from the south coast with a result.

City didn’t manage a shot on target until the 80th minute and were repeatedly pushed back by wave after wave of Bournemouth attack. Speaking after the game, Guardiola said it was the direct nature of the opposition that proved so difficult to handle.

“We could not match the players’ intensity,” opined the Catalan. “The situation with long balls, we could not win it and when you don’t win those sort of balls to Semenyo or the strikers, we have to defend deeper.

“We struggled to make or build up and especially for the rhythm they put in the game. They were higher than us and we could not handle it.

“When we are high pressing, long balls and you lose the ball lose the duel, win the second ball and after that they run. After that, always happened. In the past we were able to handle these situations and today we could not.”

Asked why City could not stop Bournemouth, Guardiola added: “They win the duels. We spoke before and I know we are in a difficult position now but if you want to handle this team you have to feel that you have an opponent close to you for 90 minutes.

“In that situation you have to be strong, you have to win it and today we were not able to do it. Sometimes the opponents are better and you have to accept it.”

The win over City was the first in Bournemouth’s history, while the dropped points means Guardiola’s side dropped to second in the table following Liverpool’s comeback win over Brighton & Hove Albion. It was also City’s second loss in just four days following Wednesday’s Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.