Match Report: Mahrez stuns Cherries in dying minute

Match Report

Leicester City 1 v 1 AFCB

3 March 2018

Attendance: 31,384

AFCB visited the King Power hoping to make ground on the top 10 in the table.

Bournemouth can go and win games with their flare at times and be unstoppable, but when the league table is this tight, sometimes decisions seem more difficult to make. Howe opted to send Andrew Surman on and protect his one-nil lead but Leicester just got stronger as the game went on and a precious three points was turned into one when Riyad Mahrez whipped in his last minute equaliser, from a free kick, to break Bournemouth hearts. A point is important, but it could have been so much more.                                        

AFCB made one change in the starting line up with Adam Smith winning his place in the team having scored last week and making such an impact. Jordan Ibe and Marc Pugh picked up injuries during the week, Ibe with a hamstring injury and Pugh with a calf problem. So on the bench was midfielder Kyle Taylor, 18-years old, along with Ryan Fraser, Lys Mousset and Jermain Defoe.

Leicester brought in Amartey at right back and Adrien Silva in midfield to their starting line up.

The Cherries were to keep their unbeaten record against Leicester in the Premier League.

Match Description

Bournemouth kick off in their red and black home kit. Josh King loses out to Maguire early on but Steve Cook puts in a crunching tackle on Vardy. AFCB are being held in their own half but a poor pass from James has AFCB going forward.

Bournemouth have started off in a 4-4-1-1 formation, according to BBC Radio Solent but it seems Daniels and Smith are pushing up at times. Gosling is already pressing high. Steve Cook makes an interception but Mahrez picks up the loose ball. Francis wins a header on half way but no AFCB player is near it. Leicester have a corner and Begovic punches clear.

Stanislas on the left finds Francis and King who wins a throw right in the bottom corner for AFCB on 8 minutes. Steve Cook's long throw is cleared.

Leicester keep trying to spring Vardy but have not found him in the clear yet. Stanislas plays an early ball in but its picked up by Amartey. Stanislas puts a weak shot in but while it's on target its easy for Schmeichel to gather.

Lewis Cook makes a big tackle. Adam Smith is fouled by James on half way. AFCB are getting some good possession now and a few moves are starting to come off for them.

Aké has to come across to stop Armartey. Adrien Silva finds himself between the midfield and AFCB's defence but shoots well over. That was a good move from Leicester.

Mahrez is clear but Begovic keeps his arms up and parries it away. Mahrez should have done better. Aké was not close enough. Best chance of the game so far. Leicester have a corner and Begovic has caught that. 

Wilson is fouled by Morgan and has a free kick just in the Foxes' half. Schmeichel insists on kicking long looking for Vardy. AFCB seem aware of the tactic that has happened a couple of times now.

Gosling and King just misplace their passes around the box. Armartey is down and needs attention. His left hamstring could have gone here. The applause is taking place for the five who died in Leicester last week in the fire.

Armartey is coming off and on comes Ben Chilwell on 20 minutes. Albrighton has come over to the right as a full back and Chilwell has gone to the left side.

Lewis cook is challenged by Ndidi but has a throw. Daniels misplaces his pass. Adam Smith loses the ball but Mahrez can't capitalise.

King robs Ndidi and I don't know if Josh was looking for Wilson or looking to shoot, but he did neither well and mis-kicked it well wide! King should have made Schmeichel make a save there on 23 minutes.

Daniels pulls it back for Stanislas and he's just put it over the top left corner! Stanislas was wasteful there. AFCB again and Stanislas puts it right on King's toes in the penalty box but the shot is tame and right at Schmeichel! Bournemouth are opening up Leicester at will but the chances aren't being taken. The ball into King was to be fair a bit behind him. Wilson is not coming off well in his battle with Wes Morgan.

Gosling fouls Adrien Silva on half way. Maguire runs past Gosling but has his shot blocked by Aké on the edge of the box. Albrighton into Vardy, but it's off Steve Cook for a throw.

King breaks and Simon Francis makes a hash of a pass to Lewis Cook! Vardy is lucky to get away with a challenge on Steve Cook and Francis gives a free kick away for handling the ball. Francis had thought a foul had been called on Vardy. A header from Maguire is saved by Begovic - he looked offside anyway.

Smith and Wilson on the break Stanislas and King is brought down by Albrighton. It's a penalty to Bournemouth on 34 minutes. Josh King steps up. Schmeichel is protesting. King is having to wait. King sends Schmiechel the wrong way and scores bottom right, on 35 minutes.

AFCB have to defend. Daniels makes a mistake. Francis tidies up with a high clearance. Vardy finds Mahrez and Begovic has to get down low to his left, great save! Begovic looks on form today.

Adam Smith is caught by Chilwell high up on his body. Nothing given. AFCB have to defend a long throw. Stanislas and Lewis cook to Wilson, intercepted. Leicester come forward.

Ndidi and Maguire. Leicester knocking it about. Mahrez crosses but Albrighton's pass is cut out by Daniels. Maguire plays it in and its headed clear. Stanislas loses out. Steve Cook wins his header.

Lewis Cook is fouled by Ndidi and AFCB get a breather. AFCB are starting to reassert themselves now, finishing the half well. Francis is caught by Francis and the captain is holding his left foot. Francis is okay.

Albrighon does a risky pass back to Schmeichel and Wilson was almost in and the ball bounced back off Wilson luckily for Leicester. Wilson now picks up a foul with Fuchs running into the back of him. This should ensure AFCB go into the break with a lead. Three minutes of added time. Steve Cook's header is wide and the flag is up.

Gosling gets in a solid tackle. Wilson battles for the ball but Morgan shrugs him off. Half time 0-1 to AFCB. A good half by Bournemouth and it could have been a bigger lead.

AFCB 44 per cent possession, 6 shots, 3 shots on target, no corners, 3 fouls

Leicester 56 per cent possession, 7 shots, 3 shots on target, 2 corners, 6 fouls

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Second half

Leicester kick off. Lewis Cook gets the ball and sends Wilson on his way. Francis runs into trouble. Daniels comes forward but the one-two goes wrong with Stanislas.

Gosling is down and Daniels puts the ball out. Ndidi had caught Gosling high on the knee. Stanislas sends Wilson on the left. King is robbed by Maguire. Bournemouth have a free kick though as Adam Smith is down and Adrien Silva gets a yellow card.

Wilson is setting himself more against Maguire this half. Morgan is such a beast, I don't blame him. Vardy on the wing puts a cross in and Steve Cook clears for a corner. Leicester's third of the game and Begovic catches his second ball from a corner.

Lewis Cook feeds King on the left. Daniels and Stanislas, Daniels and he is shoved off the ball by Ndidi - how is that no penalty? Awful refereeing. Feel cheated! A clear foul in the box.

Bournemouth have a throw, deep in Leicester's half. Stanislas sets himself but his shot is miles over. Where are Stanislas' shooting boots. Time for Ryan Fraser me thinks.

Francis can't out run Chilwell but he had a good go. Ndidi fools Gosling. King tackles back. Fuchs now and Aké heads clear. Are Leicester running out of ideas?

Mahrez and Chilwell. Bournemouth break with Lewis Cook and now Adam Smith but he has run the ball out. Leicester sub Adrien Silva and on comes Iheanacho on 59 minutes.

Vardy ball comes back to Chilwell off Steve Cook's clearance, but the shot hits Steve Cook and goes over for a corner! Good chance that. Vardy heads it but it's wide of the far post.

Vardy chases a long ball and Aké and Steve Cook win headers. AFCB are going to need another goal here you feel. Leicester are starting to build some momentum. A long throw from Fuchs and Begovic catches it.

Lewis Cook and King but Marhez is away and Steve Cook does enough to stop Vardy. Leicester fans did not like that - looked a foul to me. Mahrez gets a free kick off of Gosling who gets a yellow card.

Mahrez puts in a cross and Morgan heads over from six yards! It was behind the big man and he couldn't get over it, 65 minutes gone.

Vardy runs wide and Aké blocks for a corner. Begovic catches again - he's having a great game. Wilson has to battle for the ball, Probert is giving him nothing.

Daniels and Stanislas wins a throw. Steve Cook clears from Vardy and Chilwell thumps the ball against Gosling who is down. It's a corner but Bournemouth clear and a shot from Fuchs is charged down. The ball runs to Vardy and he shoots high and wide. Twenty minutes to go.

Gosling over the top and King was chasing. Aké wins a free kick. Steve Cook puts n a stooping header and Adam Smith fouls Chilwell, diving in. A bit too forceful. Francis touches it, Morgan headed back across goal but he could not direct it in.

Corner to Leicester. Off the line from Maguire twice! Wilson first and then Iheanacho. Bournemouth need to make a change this is getting dangerous for their lead.

King and Stanislas tried to volley but Albrighton blocks.

Good tackle by Lewis Cook on Chilwell. Maguire hols off King but it's a free kick to AFCB. King holds his head. An arm in the face for sure by Maguire.

The ball is cleared at the near post. Stanislas looks tired to me. Here he comes again. Daniels and Stanislas belts it against a Leicester player. Andrew Surman is coming on for Callum Wilson on 77 minutes. Bournemouth are looking to block things out.

Daniels wins Bournemouth's first corner of the game on 78 minutes. Leicester break from it. Francis covers well.

Lewis Cook throws a bit of snow at Ndidi, they tap hands. Mahrez and Albrigton crosses but Akee blocks. Mahrez crosses and it's another corner for Leicester, eight of them they've had.

The last 10 minutes. Begovic wasn't getting there and falls but it's a goal kick. He'll take his time over this. Stanislas and King, now Surman and Francis. Adam Smith into King and Leicester smuggle it away for a throw.

Just seven minutes of normal time left. Mahrez and Gosling fight it out before Daniels gives a corner away. Begovic came for it but didn't make it. Another corner. Begovic drops it but Maguire handles the ball and Bournemouth have a free kick.

King and Stanislas turns and shoots well over. Just not his day today in front of goal. Diabaté and Chilwell, Maguie, Mahrez comes through and his shot is deflected by Gosling, corner! Begovic catches this one. AFCB make it so hard for themselves.

Maguire and Diabate wins another corner! Steve Cook heads it. The ball is back in by Mahrez and Vardy is there for it but it's bundled out for anther corner. Gosling bashes this one up to half way. 

Lys Mousset is coming on for Josh King on 90 minutes. There are four additional minutes. Stanislas runs into trouble. Steve Cook heads out. Maguire's shot is blocked and Leicester are offside.

Adam Smith makes a clearance. Gosling is wrestled off the ball. Steve Cook fouls Iheanacho. Thirty yards out. Mahrez to take. Three in the wall. Daniels, Surman and Francis. 

Mahrez and it's gone round the wall and it's gone in 1-1. A cruel blow! AFCB have not done enough. That's it, gutting 1-1.

Summary

One free kick too many and Bournemouth show their inability not to get a clean sheet again. Yes, AFCB were valiant and defended like lions, but what a disappointment. The Cherries played well enough to win the game and if Lee Probert had seen the clear penalty on Charlie Daniels Bournemouth would have held out. Sadly, the officials don't always get it right. The amount of pressure Bournemouth were under was massive in the last 20 minutes but Eddie Howe decided to get defensive rather than attacking. I would have liked to see Fraser come on and stretch his legs, but AFCB just invited more pressure on and we know how that often ends. Leicester did everything to get a point and those missed chances in the first half are really what cost Bournemouth the win. It looks like an unfit bench limited Howe's options.

Bournemouth didn't quite have enough to hold on for the win.

AFCB player Ratings

Begovic 7, Francis 7, S Cook 7, Aké 9, Daniels 7, A Smith 7, L Cook 8, Gosling 8, Stanislas 5, King 7, Wilson 6

Cherry Chimes' MOM Nathan Aké

T-shirt winner
Well done to Matt Adams @SeaScalpel who correctly predicted the 1-1 scoreline.

Leicester City
Schmeichel, Amartey (Chilwell 20), Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs (Diabaté 79), James, Ndidi, Mahrez, Adrien Silva (Iheanacho 59), Albrighton, Vardy

Leicester City Subs
Dragovic, Hamer, Chilwell, Gray. Iheanacho, Iborra, Diabaté

Referee Watch Lee Probert - 1/10: One penalty wasn't enough and Lee Probert will look back at his performance and wonder how he got the Ndidi foul on Daniels so wrong. The Steve Cook Challenge on Vardy was also missed. A few more yellow cards were probably required too - closed my eyes when Adam Smith lunged in for a late one - even if he did get the ball.