Dec 13, 2016 at 7.45pm UK at ​Dean Court
Bournemouth
1-0
LeicesterLeicester City
Pugh (34')
FT(HT: 1-0)

King (36'), Morgan (83'), Hernandez (87')

Result: Bournemouth hold on to see off Leicester City

Marc Pugh celebrates opening the scoring for Bournemouth on April 27, 2015
© Getty Images
A first-half effort from Marc Pugh proves enough for Bournemouth to record a 1-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League.

Bournemouth have recorded their third win in five Premier League games after edging out Leicester City by a 1-0 scoreline at the Vitality Stadium.

Marc Pugh's first-half strike proved to be the difference as the Cherries moved into eighth place in the league table, leaving Leicester still just the four points above the relegation zone.

Leicester went into the game having netted four goals against Manchester City at the weekend, and it was their hat-trick hero Jamie Vardy who looked lively during the opening exchanges as the forward managed to take the ball around Artur Boruc before seeing a shot prevented from finding the net.

Despite that opening, Bournemouth were dominating possession but they had to wait until the 22nd minute to create a clear chance, which Jack Wilshere fired too close to Ron-Robert Zieler.

Opportunities remained few and far between until Bournemouth took the lead in the 34th minute as Pugh volleyed the ball into the corner after Benik Afobe had seen an effort well saved by Zieler.

The visitors responded by having their best spell of the match but they went into half time without registering a shot on Boruc's goal as they remained on course to continue their run without an away victory in the league.

Leicester introduced Shinji Okazaki at the break but it was Bournemouth who continued to control the pace of the game with Adam Smith firing over the crossbar after being teed up by Simon Francis.

The Foxes finally created a decent opening shortly after the hour mark as Andy King met an inswinging cross, but he only directed his glancing header over the far post.

Bournemouth remained the better team but they were not doing much with the ball in the final third and Leicester almost made them pay in the closing stages through Okazaki, who had a shot superbly blocked by Steve Cook.

The visitors came even closer in the final minute of normal time as Leonardo Ulloa somehow failed to score from close range as Boruc managed to get his body in front of the ball.

Leicester remained a threat but they could not find a way through a resolute Bournemouth backline, and Eddie Howe was able to celebrate moving nine points clear of the relegation zone and just five off fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Cristiano Ronaldo holds up the trophy after the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid on May 28, 2016
Read Next:
Ronaldo crowned 2016 Ballon d'Or winner
>


Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea17141235112443
2Manchester CityMan City17113336201636
3Liverpool16104240202034
4Arsenal17104338191934
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs1796229121733
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd178632417730
7Southampton176651716124
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom176562321223
9Everton166552120123
10Bournemouth176382328-521
11Stoke CityStoke175661924-521
12Watford176382129-821
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham175481931-1219
14Middlesbrough174671619-318
15Leicester CityLeicester174582329-617
16Burnley1752101628-1217
17Crystal Palace1743102832-415
18Sunderland1742111528-1314
19Swansea CitySwansea1733112037-1712
20Hull City1733111436-2212