Leicester City 2 Bournemouth 0: Morgan & Vardy continue Rodgers´ momentum

Wes Morgan struck for the second straight game and Jamie Vardy scored a header as Leicester City eased to a 2-0 Premier League victory over Bournemouth at the King Power Stadium.

Having also netted against Burnley last time out and signed a new contract last week, Morgan continued a memorable spell with an early goal on Saturday.

Vardy sealed the victory eight minutes from time, as Leicester won a third straight home game in the top flight for the first time since May 2017. 

Home fans paid tribute to former owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who would have celebrated his 61st birthday next week, and gave a good performance to mark the occasion in continuing their strong start under Brendan Rodgers.

2 – Wes Morgan has scored in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time in his career. Captain.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 30, 2019

Veteran defender Morgan gave Leicester an 11th-minute lead in surprising fashion, producing an instinctive flick from 12 yards to send Ben Chilwell’s shot in off the post.

At the other end, Kasper Schmeichel made a key save at point-blank range to deny Callum Wilson, who looked destined to score from Ryan Fraser’s cross.

Leicester had chances to extend their lead, as James Maddison fired wide while Vardy somehow missed the target with an even better opportunity after Ricardo Pereira’s throughball.

There were fewer chances after the break, with Vardy forcing a good stop from Asmir Begovic – making his first start since January in place of Artur Boruc – in the only significant opportunity before the latter stages.

The win was sealed when Vardy beat Begovic to Youri Tielemans’ right-wing cross for his 13th Premier League goal of the campaign, and sixth in his last seven games.

Bournemouth, who have now won only one of their last eight league games, failed to test Schmeichel in the second half.

FULL-TIME Leicester 2-0 Bournemouth

Brendan Rodgers’ men climb to eighth in the #PL after goals from Wes Morgan and Jamie Vardy sink the Cherries#LEIBOU pic.twitter.com/LXBiUf7iLQ

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 30, 2019

What does it mean? Leicester looking good

Leicester have won three straight games since losing their first match under Rodgers against Watford, and they looked assured at both ends of the pitch here.

Fans of the Foxes will be excited about what next season has in store, though there is still the potential for a high finish this term – this win sees them move up to eighth.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, are trending in the opposite direction. They continue to struggle badly in the second half of the campaign, though their points total of 38 at least means a relegation scrap is highly unlikely to be on the agenda.

Maddison magnificent

Maddison was unfortunate to miss out on England selection during the international break, but continues to stake his claim for Three Lions involvement. While he was not involved in either goal, he created a game-high five chances and is forming an exciting central-midfield partnership with Tielemans.

Wilson wasteful

Bournemouth will look back at Wilson’s failure to beat Schmeichel from six yards with the goal gaping as a key moment. The striker had scored in three of his last four games, but could not deliver when it mattered in this one and did not have another shot in the match.

Key Opta Facts

– Bournemouth are winless in six away league visits to Leicester (W0 D3 L3), since a 1-0 victory on Boxing Day in 1988 under Harry Redknapp.
– Leicester manager Rodgers has won all four of his games in all competitions against Bournemouth – the only teams he has a better 100 per cent win record against in his career are Hamilton Academical (nine wins), Fulham (seven) and Coventry City (five).
– Bournemouth have lost 10 of their last 11 away Premier League games, winning the other.
– Vardy has scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances, after netting in just one of his previous six.
– Chilwell has provided three assists in the Premier League this season, more than he registered in his previous two campaigns for the Foxes (two).
– Morgan has scored in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time in his career, also netting three goals in his last four.

What’s next?

In-form Leicester are away to relegated Huddersfield Town next Saturday, which is the same day as Bournemouth host Burnley.