Manchester City will need to draw on the spirit of 2012 and 2014 if they want to overhaul Chelsea and win this season’s Premier League, according to influential midfielder Yaya Toure.

City’s two most recent league successes have seen them come from behind to lift the trophy, something they will have to repeat if they want to be champions in May.

The 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Monday night saw City jump to second in the table, cutting Chelsea’s lead at the top of the table to eight points.

Catching the West London side remains a difficult task, something Toure acknowledges, but he says the comebacks in 2012 and 2014 give him hope. 

“We are a little bit far away from Chelsea at the moment, and the way they are playing they won’t let those points go,” he said. “But we have to look forward and also remember 2012 and 2014 when we came from behind to win the trophy. We had a little bit of luck.

“We need to show consistency, and keep winning. Our next game is in the FA Cup but then we play Sunderland in the league – it will be another tough game away.

“It’s a difficult, cold stadium and we have a very bad away record against them but we are in good form and can do this.”

The win over Eddie Howe’s side means City have now lost just once in eight games since the turn of the year, including four consecutive victories in all competitions.

It seems they are finding form at just the right time, with the fluidity and attacking intent that saw them win their first 10 games of the season returning.

Toure, 33, says the team are beginning to grasp Pep Guardiola’s vision of how the side should play.

“It was a very, very big win. It’s always good to take the three points, but we are back in second place now – that’s very important, because step by step and time by time we are starting to get to what the manager wants.

“We are looking forward to the next game, and we have confidence now.”

The only negative at the Vitality Stadium was the injury to in-form striker Gabriel Jesus, who appeared to suffer an ankle injury in the first half.

He will be assessed by Club doctors, with Guardiola hoping his new Brazilian star isn’t out for too long.

He was replaced by Sergio Aguero, who looked to have scored City’s second of the night but it was later given as a Tyrone Mings own goal, and Toure says it’s that kind of strength in depth that top teams like City need if they want to compete for multiple trophies.

“That is brilliant,” he said of Aguero being able to replace Jesus. “It’s why the top teams have to keep their best players.

“Unfortunately Gabriel is injured but he will see the doctor.

“Kun came back and scored straight away, and it was a very important goal as well. His goal brought Bournemouth down because after that we kept the ball well and played very well.”