Leicester City’s wait for a first Premier League victory of the campaign is over after Facundo Buonanotte’s superb goal overcame Bournemouth at the King Power Stadium.
After six games without a victory, pressure and tension were growing, but Steve Cooper can now breathe a little easier after his first taste of success in the Premier League as City boss. It was secured thanks to a much-improved first-half showing in which City threatened throughout, with Buonanotte dancing through to score what would prove to be the winner.
The Cherries piled on the pressure in the second period, twice hitting the woodwork and also seeing a goal ruled through VAR. But they were unable to find a way through, City keeping the clean sheet they needed to clinch the three points.
Cooper made a big call with his team selection. For the first time in his City career, Harry Winks was dropped to the bench for a league game, with Wilfred Ndidi dropping deep and Jordan Ayew coming into the attack.
It initially looked like Buonanotte would play as the number 10, but he then switched to the right wing, and it was from there where he caused no end of trouble to the Bournemouth defence. Inside 10 minutes, he danced past three challenges, carrying the ball from his own half to the edge of the box where his effort was tipped into the air by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
He wasn’t to be denied again though. James Justin’s lofted ball found the Argentinian in space and he dribbled into the box, shimmying past Marcos Senesi and firing into the roof of the net. It was a brilliant goal.
Ahead for the first time in a home match this season, City kept pushing. They penned Bournemouth in and felt they should have had a penalty when Stephy Mavididi’s cross was blocked by Illia Zabarnyi’s outstretched arm, a VAR deeming the ball was played from close proximity.
Bournemouth slowly found their feet and City needed Wout Faes to block a couple of efforts, but the Cherries’ advances left more space, and City exploited it with an excellent back-to-front move, Buonanotte slipping in Jamie Vardy. Usually so good in one-on-ones, the number nine made a complete hash of the chance, slicing well wide.
The visitors were not going to let City claim the three points comfortably, and they put the pressure on early in the second period. Zabarnyi beat Caleb Okoli to a free-kick and directed a header onto the outside of the post before Ryan Christie had a low shot smartly saved by Mads Hermansen and substitute Dango Ouattara headed the resulting corner wide.
The Bournemouth pressure kept coming. They had the ball in the net when Lewis Cook’s free-kick floated all the way through, but the flag belatedly went up, the assistant deeming the offside Evanilson to have glanced the ball on, a decision backed up by VAR. Moments later, Ouattara headed Luis Sinisterra’s dinked cross onto the crossbar from a few yards out.
In the dying moments, a deep cross found Enes Unal for one final Bournemouth chance, but the substitute could only stretch to turn the ball over. City had the win they desperately craved.
Mads Hermansen: Bournemouth’s finishing and some strong defending meant he only had one save to make, getting down low to smartly deny Christie. With his feet, he kept it simple, and it suited him much more than pumping it long. 7
James Justin: He defended the back post well early on and his passing was much more adventurous, to good effect too, including for Buonanotte’s goal. He made the right runs to make himself an option in attack as well, but without giving up too much space in his full-back position. 7
Wout Faes: Man of the match. He read so many dangerous situations well to stop Bournemouth inside City’s box, making strong tackles, timely interceptions, and diving in to block three goal-bound shots. 9
Caleb Okoli: His clearances were ropey and his passing under pressure poor early on, but he didn’t let that affect him, and he improved on both counts, picking out his midfielders as City played out from the back. He wasn’t quite as strong in one-v-ones as he has been recently though. 6
Victor Kristiansen: He was mostly steady, not doing much wrong but not really making many positive contributions either. There was one shoddy clearance that led to a chance for Christie though, with Hermansen bailing out his countryman. 5
Wilfred Ndidi: His off-the-ball pressure made a difference for City in the first half, forcing mistakes out of Bournemouth. And in general, he did every part of his job well, whether it was battling for the ball, finding team-mates’ feet, or winning headers. 8
Oliver Skipp: A little anonymous at Arsenal, he was much more involved here. In the first half, he won loads of 50-50s to help City push Bournemouth back, while he scurried around, snapping at ankles all game. His passing was good, albeit his most ambitious through balls to Vardy didn’t come off. 7
Facundo Buonanotte: What a dazzler. His first 20 minutes were exceptional as he danced around Bournemouth defenders, nearly scoring a stunning solo goal before he did bamboozle Senesi and find the net. He found space well and should have had an assist for Vardy too. On the ball, he grew quiet quickly, but never stopped running in defence. 8
Jordan Ayew: It was a difficult start, as he kept occupying the same positions as team-mates, only serving to get in the way. But after the first 20 minutes, he was really, really good, holding the ball up with strength and poise and linking well with Mavididi. 8
Stephy Mavididi: He showed good speed on the counter and always looked to attack. But his most threatening dribbles often ended with him being dispossessed, rather than finding the right final pass or shot. 6
Jamie Vardy: While he was caught offside a couple of times, his movement was actually pretty good, whether making himself an option or a decoy. But he will know his big chance needed a much better finish. 5
Odsonne Edouard: He went over too easily in search of a penalty when he should have stayed on his feet, and then his control was poor when Soumare flicked the ball into his path. City need him to make more of a positive impact than that. 4
Bobby De Cordova-Reid: He did a good bit of defensive work when he first came on, but he did lose Unal for the big Bournemouth chance at the death. On the ball, City didn’t see much of him. 5
Abdul Fatawu: He immediately beat his man and got the crowd fired up, while he made City a much greater threat on the counter. His final ball wasn’t quite there though. 6
Boubakary Soumare: A good flick-on should have set up a chance for Edouard. Otherwise, he didn’t really affect the game. N/A
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