Bournemouth fans would have feared a dip after enjoying the best season in their history last campaign. Sixth place took them into Europe for the first time ever.
And it was a surprise when boss Andoni Iraola announced in April he would be leaving in the summer - eventually joining Liverpool.
Ex-Salzburg and Leipzig boss Marco Rose was confirmed soon after - replacing Iraola at the end of last season, giving him plenty of time to watch from a distance and get to know his new team.
Only one of the side who started against City was a new signing, with Portuguese defender Antonio Silva the replacement for Marcos Senesi, who left for Tottenham.
The Cherries showed plenty of the aggressive, positive play that they produced under Iraola thanks to such dangerous attackers on the break - including Rayan, Evanilson and Tavernier, who all linked up well for the opening goal.
Letting the lead slip late on will be hugely frustrating and ends their long unbeaten run, but Rose, and Cherries supporters, should still have seen plenty to encourage them from a game they would not have expected to win.
And if they had picked up Guehi from a corner maybe they would have done.
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