- Facundo Buonanotte produced an excellent strike to seal the win for Leicester
- Evanilson’s second-half header for Bournemouth was ruled out for offside
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Steve Cooper finally secured his first Premier League win as Leicester City manager at the seventh attempt, thanks to an excellent goal from Argentine teenager Facundo Buonanotte.
The 19-year-old attacker, on loan from Brighton, produced an excellent attack in the first half, but Leicester were sometimes on their nerves afterwards.
Bournemouth hit the crossbar twice after the break and Evanilson was ruled out for offside when he took the faintest touch from Lewis Cook’s free-kick.
It was Cooper’s first Premier League win since November last year, when he played for Notttingham Forest, and was also the first time he had beaten Bournemouth as manager.
But the Welshman will now focus solely on taking Leicester further and building on this result.
Leicester recorded a first win of the season in their seventh try against Bournemouth
An excellent goal from Argentinian teenager Facundo Buonanotte secured the victory for Foxes
Buonanotte’s pace broke down the Bournemouth defense and he scored with a fierce shot
Cooper made a big decision ahead of the match when Harry Winks was left on the bench for the first time since joining Leicester last year.
The club’s fans had turned against the manager in recent weeks, so Cooper’s program notes responded as he called for ‘confidence’ as the team worked hard ‘towards a clearly defined way of playing’.
Buonanotte soon began to influence the match after Bournemouth had made a good start. He saw a shot go over the crossbar from Bournemouth keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, but the chicken started and finished an excellent move to give Leicester the lead.
He played a one-two on the right with fullback James Justin and cut into the 18-yard area.
Buonanotte’s pace cleared Bournemouth’s defense and he scored with a fierce shot from eight yards out.
Leicester could have increased their lead before half-time – and perhaps should have. The Foxes appeared to have a clear case for a penalty after 24 minutes when Stephy Mavididi’s cross struck Illia Zabarnyi’s hand.
Referee Darren Bond waved on and the PGMOL later posted on social media that ‘the arm was in a natural position and the ball was played from close range’.
But Jamie Vardy was then guilty of a rare miss in front of goal.
Buonanotte played in the experienced striker, but shot wide. It would have provided Leicester with some much-needed cushion, but as it was they never looked completely comfortable.
Bournemouth then controlled large parts of the second half and tried to expose Leicester at set pieces.
Zabarnyi headed against the post in the 48th minute and connected with a perfect ball from Lewis Cook.
Ryan Christie then took full advantage of Leicester’s hesitation at the back – and his well-placed shot was pushed into a corner by keeper Mads Hermansen.
Jamie Vardy was guilty of a rare miss in front of goal after firing a shot wide of the target
Evanilson’s (centre) second-half header for Bournemouth was ruled out for offside
Steve Cooper has now recorded his first Premier League victory as Leciester manager
But Andoni Iraola’s side seemed to level the score after 66 minutes.
Cook’s free kick seemed to sail straight in. But Evanilson headed the ball in and was ruled offside when he put the ball past Hermansen.
Bournemouth hit the crossbar again with 18 minutes to go when two substitutions combined. A cross from Luis Siniserra found Dango Ouatarra who headed it against the woodwork.