Bournemouth 0-0 Leicester City

Bournemouth thought they deserved a penalty when a Marc Pugh (right) shot came off Danny Simpson's hand

Bournemouth failed to convert a host of chances as both their and Leicester's disappointing starts to the Premier League season continued with a goalless draw at Dean Court.

The home side dominated the game and will feel they should have had an early penalty when Leicester defender Danny Simpson appeared to handle inside the box.

After home striker Jermain Defoe scooped the lively Joshua King's low cross against the bar, Marc Pugh's follow-up shot ricocheted off the raised right hand of Simpson.

The Bournemouth players protested strongly to referee Graham Scott but he waved play on.

Having seen a video replay of the handball after the match, Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said: "It's clear cut. If the referee didn't see it he can't give it, but it is a stone-waller [definite penalty]".

The best chance of the second half fell to Leicester's Shinji Okazaki, who side-footed wide from around 10 yards out.

The draw leaves Bournemouth second from bottom and Leicester only one place outside the relegation zone, with both sides having won just once in their opening seven league matches.

Cook shines for dominant Bournemouth

Despite the result, there are many positives Howe can take from his side's performance.

Howe made two changes to the team which lost to Everton last Saturday, with Pugh and Lewis Cook both returning to the starting line-up, and midfielder Cook was particularly impressive as Bournemouth began the game with great intensity.

The 20-year-old, making only his second league start of the season, showed quick feet and awareness, and produced 69 passes with an accuracy of 85.5%.

Bournemouth had several opportunities to take the lead after the early penalty appeal.

Norway striker King scuffed a shot wide from the edge of the box while the best chance of the first half fell to Pugh, who blasted over the bar from eight yards after Leicester failed to clear.

Leicester offer little attacking threat

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy (right) could not add to the five goals he has scored in the Premier League this season

Bournemouth kept their first clean sheet in 10 Premier League home games, but the Cherries had very little to worry about defensively, particularly in the first half.

Foxes forward Jamie Vardy, who went into the game having scored 13 goals in 19 Premier League games under boss Craig Shakespeare, was rarely involved in play as Bournemouth nullified any Leicester attacks.

Shakespeare, who gave winger Demarai Gray his first start of the season in place of Riyad Mahrez, conceded that his side "didn't have that sharpness or quality on the ball and offensively weren't the threat" he expected them to be.

Despite Bournemouth's dominance, Leicester had a chance to take the lead through Okazaki in the second half, after a brief lapse in concentration by the Bournemouth defence handed the Japan international a clear shot on goal from close range.

"Whether we deserved to have the chance or not is irrelevant, I expected him to put that away," said Shakespeare.

Man of the match - Lewis Cook (Bournemouth)

Lewis Cook (left) joined Bournemouth from Leeds United on a four-year deal in July 2016

Enough chances to win three or four games - what they said

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "It was a very good performance, we created enough to win three or four games. We started really fast and had a number of chances - in the future I think we'll score plenty.

"I'm really enthused by the performance. I'm pleased to get our first clean sheet and that's a huge moment in the season as well."

Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare: "It was a hard earned point. We know we could do a lot better. We started slowly and gave them momentum and it was hard to get with the pace of the game.

"The penalty, I didn't see it but I was told it could have been a penalty. We had one last week which didn't go our way and I think these things can even themselves up."

Bournemouth and Leicester's woes - the stats

• Bournemouth have earned just four points from their seven Premier League games this term, fewer than in both 2015-16 (seven) and 2016-17 (eight) at this stage of the season.

• Bournemouth are unbeaten in all five Premier League meetings with Leicester City, although four have ended level (W1 D4 L0).

• Jermain Defoe (29) had fewer touches of the ball than any other Bournemouth outfield player to start the match, and he did not have a shot on target (although did hit the bar).

• Leicester City have earned just five points from seven games so far this season, their joint-lowest return at this stage of a Premier League campaign alongside 1994-95, 2001-02 and 2003-04.

• Leicester have won just once in their past 10 Premier League matches under Craig Shakespeare (W1 D3 L6), this after winning seven of the first 10 under his stewardship.

What's next?

Bournemouth travel to Wembley after the international break to take on Tottenham on Saturday, 14 October (15:00 BST), before an away game at Stoke City on 21 October (15:00 BST), and then a home fixture against champions Chelsea on 28 October (17:30 BST).

Leicester City host West Brom on Monday, 16 October (20:00 BST), travel to Swansea on 21 October (15:00 BST), then welcome Everton on 29 October (16:00 GMT)