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Bournemouth logo
Premier League
Aug 29, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Leicester logo

1-1

Wilson (24')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Vardy (86' pen.)

Match Analysis: Bournemouth 1-1 Leicester City

Sports Mole analyses Bournemouth's 1-1 draw with Leicester City.

Leicester City preserved their unbeaten Premier League record thanks to a late Jamie Vardy equaliser from the penalty spot that earned Claudio Ranieri's side a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.

However, Bournemouth had been the better side for much of the game, and took the lead in spectacular fashion when Callum Wilson scored with an overhead kick in the first half.

Ranieri's side fought back though, and could have stolen the win as they ended the game on top.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at whether the result was a fair one.

Match statistics

Bournemouth
Shots: 5
On target: 2
Possession: 57%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 9

Leicester City
Shots: 4
On target: 2
Possession: 43%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 19

Was the result fair?

Ultimately, yes. Bournemouth fans may feel they deserved more from a game which they controlled for over an hour, but Leicester City's determination and the manner of their fightback deserved a reward. In truth, a point probably suits both sides, and both Eddie Howe and Ranieri will find plenty of positives to take from the game.

However, if the Cherries are going to survive in the Premier League they need to start killing teams off. Had Howe's outfit scored a second in the middle third of the game when they were on top, they would almost certainly have ended the day with all three points. They took their foot off the gas though, and allowed the visitors back into the tie.

Howe will probably point to the injuries his side suffered as a reason to explain why they allowed Leicester back into the game, and rightfully so. The Cherries saw Charlie Daniels, Tyrone Mings and Max Gradel all stretchered off with nasty looking injuries, and had that influential trio stayed on, you could argue the home side would have won.

Howe may also point to referee Neil Swarbrick's decision to only award his side a free kick when Lee Tomlin went over on the edge of the area when his side were 1-0 ahead. It was a tight call, with replays showing the referee probably did make the right decision, and ultimately on the balance of play a draw was the fair result.

Bournemouth's performance

The home side started the game slowly, and appeared nervous inside the opening 10 minutes. However, they quickly grew into the game, and played with a real confidence for much of the match. Howe will want his team to be on the front foot at home from kick off in the future though, as better sides will punish their early shakiness.

With the ball, there's no denying Bournemouth are a fine side. Howe is clearly sticking with the attacking brand of football they played in the Championship last year, and it is pleasing to see. They made mistakes with the ball today, giving it away at important times and choosing the wrong pass on occasion, but their desire to play possession football is laudable.

The full-backs were key to much of the Cherries success with the ball, with Daniels in particular impressing down the left. Matt Richie also continued to show his quality in patches, and Gradel was nothing if not lively until he was forced off with an injury.

However, it is clear who Bournemouth's star man is. Wilson's performance was excellent, he constantly worked the channels and looked for the ball, and his overhead kick is an early contender for goal of the season. Keeping him fit and firing will be key to Bournemouth's survival hopes this season.

Leicester City's performance

Ranieri's side came into this game in fine form, and for much of the opening 10 minutes it appeared their run would go on. Riyad Mahrez, who had scored six goals in his last six Premier League games going into this fixture, was instrumental in the opening exchanges, frequently getting on the ball in midfield and attempting to pick a pass.

Mahrez's performance quickly faded though, to the extent that he was brought off at half time, and the Foxes seemed to have little in the way of a plan B. Marc Albrighton and Jeffrey Schlupp worked tirelessly up and down the flanks, but created little in the way of goalscoring chances until the final 15 minutes.

Vardy cut a lonely figure up front for much of the game too as Leicester allowed him to become far too isolated. As a result he dropped deeper and deeper in search of the ball, leaving his side with no out ball when they were being overrun by Bournemouth.

Daniel Drinkwater was disciplined in the middle of the park though, and Schlupp and Vardy led Leicester's resurgence with real purpose, showing that Leicester can still play football when Mahrez isn't on song.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Jeffrey Schlupp: There's several contenders, but Schlupp's refusal to accept defeat stood out. He took the game to Bournemouth, and made several surges down the left that almost ended with goals. He was also assured in defence, marshalling Ritchie for much of the game.

Biggest gaffe: Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc almost handed Leicester City a goal when he struggled to clear Schlupp's late cross, though he then made amends with a superb low save.

Referee performance

Neil Swarbrick had a busy afternoon, dishing out six yellow cards - one of which might have been red on another day. However, most of his decisions seemed correct. His biggest moment came when Tomlin appealed for a penalty after being caught right on the edge of the Leicester City box. Tomlin was adament the foul occured inside the area, but Swarbrick only award a free kick, with replays showing it was probably the right decision. The award of Leicester's own penalty late on for Steve Cook's foul on Vardy was certainly correct.

What next?

Bournemouth: The Cherries resume their Premier League season after the international break when they travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich City on Saturday, September 12.

Leicester City: Ranieri's side, meanwhile, will host Aston Villa on Sunday September 13.

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Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his team mate Shinji Okazaki during the Barclays Premier League match between A.F.C. Bournemouth and Leicester City at Vitality Stadium on August 29, 2015
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