- Facundo Buonanotte produced an excellent strike to seal victory for Leicester
- Evanilson’s second half header for Bournemouth was ruled out for offside
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Steve Cooper finally achieved his first Premier League victory as Leicester City manager, at the seventh attempt, thanks to an outstanding goal from Argentinian teenager Facundo Buonanotte.
The 19-year-old forward, on loan from Brighton, produced an excellent first half strike – but Leicester lived on their nerves at times afterwards.
Bournemouth hit the woodwork twice after the break, and Evanilson was ruled offside when he got the faintest of touches to a Lewis Cook free-kick.
It was Cooper’s first Premier League victory since last November when he was with Nottingham Forest – as well as being the first time he had beaten Bournemouth as a manager.
But the Welshman will now only be concerned with taking Leicester forwards and building on this result.
Leicester secured a first victory of the season in their seventh attempt against Bournemouth
An outstanding goal from Argentinian teenager Facundo Buonanotte secured win for Foxes
Buonanotte’s pace caught the Bournemouth defence out and he scored with a fierce shot
Cooper made a big call pre-match as Harry Winks was dropped to the bench for the first time since joining Leicester last year.
The club’s fans had been turning on the manager in recent weeks, so Cooper’s programme notes responded to that as he called for ‘trust’ as the team worked hard ‘towards a clearly-defined way of playing’.
Buonanotte soon began to influence the game after Bournemouth made a bright start. He saw a shot tipped over the bar by Bournemouth keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga but hen started and finished a superb move to put Leicester ahead.
He played a one-two on the right with full back James Justin and cut into the 18-yard box.
Buonanotte’s pace caught the Bournemouth defence out and he scored with a fierce shot from eight yards out.
Leicester could – and perhaps should – have extended their lead before the break. The Foxes looked to have a clear case for a penalty after 24 minutes when Stephy Mavididi’s cross hit Illia Zabarnyi’s hand.
Referee Darren Bond waved play on and the PGMOL later posted on social media to say ‘the arm was in a natural position and the ball was played from close proximity’.
But Jamie Vardy was then guilty of a rare miss in front of goal.
Buonanotte played the veteran striker in, but he shot wide of the target. It would have provided Leicester with a much-needed cushion but, as it was, they never looked totally comfortable.
Bournemouth then controlled large parts of the second half – and looked to expose Leicester at set pieces.
Zabarnyi headed against the post after 48 minutes as he connected with a perfect delivery from Lewis Cook.
Ryan Christie then made the most of hesitancy at the back from Leicester – and his well-placed shot pushed for a corner by keeper Mads Hermansen.
Jamie Vardy was guilty of a rare miss in front of goal after putting a shot wide of the target
Evanilson’s (centre) second half header for Bournemouth was ruled out for offside
Steve Cooper now has his first Premier League win as Leciester’s manager
But Andoni Iraola’s side looked to have levelled the scores after 66 minutes.
Cook’s free-kick seemed to sail directly in. But Evanilson headed it on and was ruled to have been offside when he glanced it past Hermansen.
Bournemouth hit the bar again with 18 minutes left as two subs combined. Luis Siniserra’s cross found Dango Ouatarra who headed against the woodwork.
