Bournemouth beat 10-man Leicester City 4-2 to go fifth in Premier League table

Ryan FraserImage source, PA
Image caption,

Ryan Fraser scored his second and third Premier League goals of the season

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe says his side are far from the finished article despite going fifth in the Premier League with a 4-2 win over Leicester.

The hosts were well in control by half-time, with Joshua King adding a penalty to two goals from Ryan Fraser.

Adam Smith then made it 4-0 before James Maddison and Marc Albrighton replied late on for the Foxes, who had Wes Morgan sent off in the second half.

"We've won but we know the team is not at its peak yet," Howe told BBC Sport. "We know you're judged at the end of the season, not now.

"We knew before the game we've got a lot more improving to do. We're aware of the table - we were aware of it last year when we had no points after four games."

Bournemouth had mostly looked comfortable until Leicester's belated resurgence, although Asmir Begovic produced a brilliant double save to deny Jamie Vardy and James Maddison while the score was only 1-0.

But the late goals flattered Claude Puel's side, who slip back to ninth after a second consecutive defeat.

Fraser's first goal was a curling shot around Kasper Schmeichel's left hand from outside the box, and his second a poke through the Leicester keeper's legs.

Ricardo Pereira's handball gave King the chance to extend the lead from the spot, and Fraser was involved again when his pull-back set up Smith to score on his 100th Premier League appearance.

What a difference a year makes for Cherries

On this date in 2017 Bournemouth were going into their fifth Premier League game of the season at the foot of the table after four straight defeats.

A 2-1 win over Brighton that day saw them move in the right direction; this victory 12 months later puts Eddie Howe's side among exalted company.

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Howe delighted with 'efficient' Cherries

While Fraser's two goals will get a lot of the attention, important contributions from King and fellow striker Callum Wilson also played their part in an impressive performance.

King made the most of uncertainty in the Leicester defence to feed Fraser for the first goal, while Wilson allowed the ball to bounce over him before a precise pass to his Scottish team-mate for Fraser's second.

The Cherries seemed destined for their first clean sheet since the opening-day victory over Cardiff, and the sloppy way they conceded twice to seemingly well-beaten opponents with 10 men will annoy Howe.

But games against Burnley, Crystal Palace and Watford before the next international break offer Howe's side the chance to maintain their good start to the season.

Indiscipline costs Foxes

Harry Maguire's yellow card after just 12 minutes put the Foxes' England international defender on the back foot, before Morgan went into referee Craig Pawson's book for the first time just before the break.

By that point, the home fans, players and coaching staff had been baying for Maguire to be dismissed when he body-checked King in front of the home dugout.

And while Leicester were unlucky to be denied an equaliser by Begovic's brilliance, they can only blame themselves for giving their hosts the chance to get so far ahead.

Trying to pull the game back was difficult enough even before Morgan's dismissal for a second bookable offence, and while their goals set nerves fluttering in the home support, they did not seriously threaten to snatch a point.

Man of the match - Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth)

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Two goals and an assist embodied an excellent afternoon for Bournemouth's Scotland international, who harassed Leicester from the left flank throughout

Cherries' fine run against Foxes continues - the key stats

  • Bournemouth are unbeaten in their seven Premier League meetings with Leicester (W2 D5). They've faced Leicester more often without losing in the Premier League than they have any other side.

  • The Cherries have lost just two of their past 13 Premier League games at the Vitality Stadium, winning seven and drawing four.

  • Leicester have lost five of their past six Premier League away games, winning the other versus Southampton.

  • Bournemouth striker Joshua King both scored and assisted in the same Premier League game for the first time in his career.

  • Foxes defender Wes Morgan was shown his second red card in the Premier League and first since December 2014 vs Liverpool.

  • Bournemouth have scored three first-half goals in a Premier League game for only the second time (since October 2016 v Hull).

  • Ryan Fraser scored his second ever double in the Premier League and first since December 2017 vs Everton.

  • Fraser had a hand in three goals in a single Premier League game for the first time (two goals, one assist).

What the managers said:

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "We're delighted with the result. We were very effective. I felt we dealt with the physicality well and were efficient in front of goal.

"Without wishing players to be sent off I thought Harry Maguire should have had a second yellow (for a foul on Joshua King)."

Leicester manager Claude Puel: "It was a tough afternoon. It was strange, not a fair reflection. It was a good start from us, we had quality on the pitch and we also had chances to score.

"Then in two moments of counter-attack, we've conceded two goals.

On Wes Morgan's red card: "We have had a difficult decision against us. The first foul, for me, was from the opponent as he pushed Wes. [For the second yellow] He tried to recover the ball. It's not an excuse, but it was a difficult decision against a good team."

What's next?

Bournemouth face Eddie Howe's former club Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, 22 September at 15:00 BST, while Leicester will host Huddersfield Town at the same time.

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