City 0 Bournemouth 0
Report by Chris Griffin
A frustrating 0-0 draw for City fans, especially given Bournemouth played the last half hour with ten men. A fairly even first half was followed by a second half in which City took control and dominated but could not find the final ball to make the breakthrough.
Ulloa for Inler was the only change to the City starting line-up. Bournemouth started in their trademark measured and controlled way, establishing their own tempo. Stanislas got free down the left but his cross was easily dealt with. It was City who created the first goal threat following a flowing five man move in which Kanté was prominent. A deep cross to the far post resulted in Mahrez acrobatically volleying a difficult effort over the bar.
City started to generate some go forward and a superbly incisive pass by Drinkwater put Ulloa in on goal, but the striker’s first touch was heavy and the ball scuttled away for a goal kick.
Bournemouth hit back and a raking cross field ball found Stanislas free at the far post. His excellent volleyed cut back gave King a gilt-edged opportunity with the City goal gaping, but the striker’s header lacked both power and direction: a let off for Leicester.
Bournemouth were certainly posing problems with Arter in midfield taking the eye for both his skilful play and strong tackling. Meanwhile Kanté was prominent for City.
In the 26th minute City should have taken the lead. Ulloa’s miscued shot from the edge of the box fell to Vardy. Despite the attention of two defenders Vardy controlled the spinning ball, turned and shot past the advancing Boruc, only to see his effort hit the inside of the post and rebound across goal away to safety.
City kept pressing and good work between Vardy and Mahrez led to a searching cross but Bournemouth cleared the danger. A Mahrez free kick was headed just wide by Huth. At the other end Ritchie made good progress down the right and centred but Stanislas’ effort went wide.
Bournemouth wasted a great opportunity in the 37th minute. King beat Fuchs and cut an excellent ball back to the penalty spot where the waiting Gosling blazed his effort over the bar.
City hit back and Mahrez released Vardy into the inside left channel. His left foot effort from a wide angle beat the defence but no one was on hand to tap the ball into the net.
The second half saw Dyer on for Ulloa right from the restart. Mahrez was shifted to a more central role to support Vardy. A poor clearance from Boruc gave Vardy the chance to cross but his effort was blocked. A strong Smith tackle dumped Drinkwater on the ground but referee Marriner was unmoved by free kick appeals from Leicester fans and players alike.
A quick left wing counter attack from City which had started in the City penalty area resulted in Vardy cutting inside. Hi well hit shot was goal bound but Boruc made a fantastic save low down to his left. Fuchs’ resulting corner whizzed across goal and Morgan could not keep down his close range volley with an open goal waiting.
Bournemouth replaced King with Glenn Murray but the tide had definitely turned in Leicester’s favour with less reliance on counter attacking and more on taking the game to Bournemouth. Kanté in particular seemed to have a sixth sense of where any Bournemouth pass or clearance would go and constantly regained possession for City. After one typical interception he released Mahrez down the right but the final ball was not measured enough – an emerging pattern.
On the hour Drinkwater broke up a Bournemouth attack deep in his own half, strode forward and played a defence splitting pass to Vardy who spun away from his marker. Bournemouth skipper Francis tracked back and his tackle from behind took down Vardy and referee Marriner gave the penalty and then a red card to Francis – both harsh calls since Francis played the ball. Nevertheless a great chance for City but Boruc was not fooled by Mahrez’s stop-start run up to the spot kick. Diving to his left he parried the under hit penalty with relative ease.
Bournemouth replaced Arter with the veteran Distin to bolster the back line. A rare Bournemouth attack saw Stanislas’ shot deflected for a corner. City kept pressing and winning corners. Okazaki replaced Albrighton and Mahrez reverted out wide.
Two consecutive corners from Fuchs saw Bournemouth clear the first over their own bar. Then Kanté volleyed the clearance of the second wide of the goal. Despite dominating possession City were finding it hard to track a way through the well organised Bournemouth defence in which Cook was outstanding.
de Laet replaced Simpson on the 73rd minute and shortly afterwards Okazaki’s smartly taken effort flashed past the post. A fast, low cross from de Laet gave Kanté a chance but his sliding shot did not get enough direction on the ball and the shot went wide. Fuchs attempted an audacious corner, drilling the ball low with the aim of sneaking it in the near post. He hit the side netting with Boruc struggling to cover the gap.
Mahrez made a determined run into the box but his fierce right foot shot was well parried by Boruc. The ensuing corner was cleared to Drinkwater whose low skimming effort was wide of the goal.
Lots of effort and hard work but City could not find a goal. Deep into additional time Vardy was brought down in the penalty area with the ball long gone. This looked a more certain penalty than the one given but Mr Marriner signalled a goal kick.
For only the second time this season Leicester had the majority of possession. They had 19 shots but with only two on target. This has been so far a fantastic and unbelievable season. 40 points from 20 games is an excellent return. Little wonder the manager ordered the champagne. If the club could find a goal scoring partner for Vardy the improbable could become possible.
Manager Ranieri said , "We knew it was a difficult match and we started playing too late. Bournemouth moved the ball very quickly but in the second half we were much better. We have not scored for three games but we have had chances. Sometimes everything is right but now some things are wrong. The performance was good, a fantastic effort."
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Simpson (de Laet 74’); Morgan’ Huth; Fuchs; Mahrez; Drinkwater; Kanté; Albrighton booked (Okazaki 65’); Ulloa (Dyer 45’); Vardy. Subs: de Laet; King; Okazaki; Dyer; Wasilewski; Schwarzer; Inler
AFC Bournemouth: Boruc; Smith; Francis red card; Cook; Daniels; Surman; Ritchie; Gosling; Arter booked (Distin 60’); Stanislas; King (Murray 51’). Subs: Pugh; Rantie; MacDonald; Federici; Tomlin; Distin; Murray
Attendance 32,006
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation