Bournemouth 2-1 Leicester: Foxes dragged back down to earth after Nottingham Forest win
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Bournemouth 2-1 Leicester: Foxes dragged back to earth after Nottingham Forest win as Gary O’Neil pleads for the Cherries’ new owners thanks to goals from Philip Billing and Ryan Christie turn the game after Patson Daka opener
- Patson Daka gave Leicester the first-half lead at the Vitality Stadium
- Leicester came into the game after their first win of the campaign
- Bournemouth takeover heightens uncertainty surrounding Gary O’Neil
- Goals from Philip Billing and Ryan Christie see Bournemouth turn the game
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So this is what the Premier League is about? Bill Foley must have wondered when the full-time whistle sounded at Vitality Stadium. The American billionaire stood and applauded as Bournemouth made a second-half comeback against Leicester, making it five league games without defeat since their 9-0 thrashing at Anfield in August.
Foley, 77, had flown from Las Vegas to the south coast to sign paperwork for his £120 million takeover of Bournemouth, which is expected to be approved by the Premier League in the coming weeks.
And Gary O’Neil’s turnaround must have brought a smile to his face as Bournemouth fans gleefully chanted “Foley Foley, give us a wave” throughout the second half. It may not be the American dream yet and Vegas is a long way from Dorset, but Foley recognizes the Premier League’s investment potential and the Cherries are anything but the newest top club with owners from America.
Philip Billing’s second half goal saw Bournemouth beat Leicester and claim the points
Ryan Christie had equalized for Bournemouth and set them on their way to home victory
Bill Foley watched as Bournemouth, who he will be buying for £120 million, came out on top with 2-1.
The previous two league games at Vitality Stadium were goalless draws, but with Leicester in town, this game would always have goals. There were 36 goals scored in eight league games involving Brendan Rodgers’ team in this match.
Less than ten minutes had passed when Patson Daka, siding with Leicester instead of Jamie Vardy, picked up where he left off against Nottingham Forest on Monday night to give the visitors an early lead.
Harvey Barnes’ shot struck two Bournemouth defenders and fell to Daka, who turned and twirled for sixpence before finishing neatly in the bottom corner for his third goal of the season. The VAR checked for possible offsides, but all it did was give the thousand or so tucked-away fans on the other side of the ground one more chance to celebrate. It was Leicester’s ninth goal in the first half of the season in as many games. Remarkably, only Man City has more.
Shortly after the half hour, Brendan Rodgers’ side should have doubled their advantage. A corner from James Maddison was picked up by Wout Faes and the ball fell to Jonny Evans, who saved his shot from a few meters.
Bournemouth gasped and puffed in the first half, but without causing any real danger to Danny Ward in the Leicester goal, although they had every right to be penalized at half time after Ryan Fredericks was denied a penalty by Michael Salisbury.
Chris Kavanagh on duty at VAR decided it wasn’t worth sending Salisbury to the monitor to check when replays showed Evans had made contact with Fredericks. Instead, the right-back was booked for diving on his first start for the Cherries.
O’Neil’s side came forward and were determined not to use that decision to their detriment. Midway through the second half, the equalizer and Bournemouth’s first home goal since 6 August fell. Dominic Solanke grabbed the ball from Faes and his attack was blocked and fell in the path of Philip Billing who hit home in style.
Patson Daka’s goal within the first 10 minutes gave Leicester the perfect start on the south coast
It looked like it was going to be a frustrating day for Bournemouth in front of goal
The defensive weaknesses that have haunted Leicester for so long remain evident after the defeat
Leicester went back onto the field and Maddison found Barnes, but his attempted footstep was saved comfortably by Neto. And just a few minutes later, the turnaround was complete. Billings found Solanke heading the ball into the path of approaching Ryan Christie to finish past Ward.
One of Foley’s big decisions will be to decide whether O’Neil gets the job on a permanent basis. He has certainly done enough with the way he has led this side since the sacking of Scott Parker and Bournemouth are now eighth. Foley will no doubt have plans, but for now, optimism is high in Dorset as the cherries look forward to exciting times.
What happens in Vegas could happen in Bournemouth in the very near future.