Foxes Beaten On The South Coast
In came defender Christian Fuchs, replacing Ryan Bennett, while Turkey international Çağlar Söyüncü made his 50th appearance as a Fox in all competitions on the south coast.
City were on the front foot early on and, after eight minutes, Kelechi Iheanacho chipped Aaron Ramsdale, but Nathan Aké intervened to clear the danger for the Cherries.
After 23 minutes of probing, the Foxes were deservedly ahead as Jamie Vardy leapt into action to seize upon a loose ball in the area, following an Iheanacho effort, to bundle it into the net.
That strike took the 33-year-old’s 2019/20 tally up to 23 goals – 103 in total – just one short of his best-ever performance during the Club’s title-winning campaign four years ago.
Without Marc Albrighton, forced off with an injury earlier on, Bennett’s introduction from the bench allowed James Justin to shift onto the right flank for his 10th top-flight outing for the Club.
Justin combined well with Bennett to apply pressure on Arnaut Danjuma in the 37th minute and the Netherlands international played an inviting backwards pass right into Vardy’s path.
City’s No.9 took it under his control, ran at goal and was only denied a second goal of the night by a dedicated block from Aké – a challenge so committed that it resulted in injury.
On the cusp of half-time, Bournemouth provided a scare for Leicester, with David Brooks sending a curler towards Kasper Schmeichel’s top corner, but the Dane did well to touch it behind.
Five minutes of added time allowed the visitors to hit back with chances of their own. Firstly, Justin’s cross needed dealing with by Ramsdale, who tipped it over the bar.
Then, a short corner routine ended with Fuchs fizzing a smart ball across the area, but neither Vardy nor Jonny Evans could apply a decisive finishing touch.
After the break, a mix-up between Schmeichel and Wilfred Ndidi, though, ended with the Nigerian being forced to foul Callum Wilson in the area and the match was flipped on its head.
Substitute Junior Stanislas stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent Schmeichel the wrong way. Just a minute later, the Cherries were ahead as Dominic Solanke squeezed a shot into the net.
As the home side celebrated, a clash between Wilson and Söyüncü in City’s net ended with the latter being shown a straight red card for kicking out at the England striker.
From then on, Eddie Howe’s home side were able to use their numerical advantage to cement a valuable victory within the context of their own 2019/20 ambitions with two more goals.
An unfortunate Evans own goal was followed by another for Solanke, while Sam Surridge clipped the bar in added time, as Leicester suffered their 10th loss of the 2019/20 season.
Major moment…
City were in control for the entirety of the first half, but Bournemouth began to threaten more after the interval and, in the space of just two minutes, they led at Vitality Stadium.
Goals from Junior Stanislas and Dominic Solanke completely flipped the match on its head, while a red card for Çağlar Söyüncü limited Leicester’s ability to get back into it.
Where does it leave us?
Leicester remain fourth in the Premier League, one point behind Chelsea and one clear of Manchester United, who host Southampton on Monday (8pm kick-off).
Coming up…
It’s a four-day turnaround for the Foxes as Chris Wilder’s seventh-placed Sheffield United are due to visit King Power Stadium on Thursday evening (6pm kick-off).
Afterwards, City travel to Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday (4pm kick-off) before a final-day encounter with Manchester United on Filbert Way on Sunday 26 July (4pm kick-off).
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