Leicester City v Bournemouth

1. Leicester: Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Mahrez, Kanté, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Ulloa, Vardy
2. Bournemouth: Boruc, Daniels, Cook, Francis, Smith, Surman, Arter, Gosling, Ritchie, Stanislas, King.

FULL-TIME

A chance missed you have to say. 

Riyad Mahrez saw a spot-kick saved and Leicester have only themselves to blame as they slip to just two points from a possible nine over the recent period.

Eddie Howe is on the pitch protesting with the referee after seeing his side reduced to 10 men when Simon Francis was sent off. An entertaining goalless draw and Arsenal are the real winners it seems.

Reuters

And surely that will be it as Artur Boruc clasps another cross to his chest.

PENALTY APPEAL

Jamie Vardy goes down in the box and wants a penalty... nothing doing. It was a tangle of legs but the striker seemed to run across his man.

Steve Cook is well-placed to clear another ball into the box.

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Premier League grafters...

Bournemouth

That was before kick-off. Once again Bournemouth have out-ran their opponents. They've clocked 114km as a team as I write this compared to 111km by the home side.

As the 90 minutes ticks up Claudio Ranieri waves furiously at his players to get the ball forward.

We expect four minutes of added time... and that's what the board says.

Riyad Mahrez... double step over as he enters the area... can he wiggle space? He does but Artur Boruc again denies him.

Corner... flicked on by Jamie Vardy... just wide.

Leicester continue to push and build pressure as Jamie Vardy hangs a cross up to the back stick which has to be headed behind.

Christian Fuchs tried to whip the corner straight in with Artur Boruc off his line... side netting.

What a finish we will have here.

CLOSE!

Richie de Laet down the right flank, his first involvement... drills a ball across goal and it's turned wide by N'Golo Kante.

Arsenal lead...

That is not good news for Leicester. They need a goal or the gap at the top will stretch to two points.

Shinji Okazaki fires a volley wide from a Jamie Vardy knock down.

The Japanese forward replaced Marc Albrighton a short time ago and nearly had a telling impact.

You can see the change in territory now...

Opta

The home side are taking Danny Simpson off at right-back for Richie de Laet. Like for like it seems but fresh legs I guess.

Another win would be priceless for Claudio Ranieri's side.

I've just realised I have Riyad Mahrez in my fantasy football team. Docked points for a missed penalty I'd guess? Not good.

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Charlie Daniels gets forward down the Bournemouth left, there's very little on so why not? He has a crack which floats harmlessly wide.

At the other end Danny Simpson makes a charging run and gets picked out, into the area he bursts to deliver a low cross which is held by Artur Boruc.

Junior Stanislas has taken a heavy landing and needs some treatment from the Bournemouth bench. Eddie Howe cuts a frustrated figure, his brow is furrowed as he gets a new stick of gum.

This is a must-win for Leicester City now you feel. Even by Claudio Ranieri's pessimistic view, they have the chance to pass the hallowed 40-point mark.

It's one-way traffic and you get the sense Bournemouth will need to maximise the use of set plays. Leicester have a corner for now... it's cleared as far as N'Golo Kante... over the bar from 25 yards.

'Where's the discretion?'

Garth Crooks

Former Spurs striker on Final Score

“I thought it was a great tackle. Jamie Vardy is quick. He’s in front of Simon Francis, and the defender now has a choice to make. Is he going to tackle, or is he going to let Vardy get a shot in on goal. He chooses to make the tackle.

"He grapples with the player, but he makes contact on the ball. It’s bad enough to give away the penalty, I’m not sure the referee needs to send off Simon Francis. I have seen referees give the penalty and not send the player off. Where's the discretion?”

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No magical 21 for Riyad... yet.

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Another look at the penalty and it looks the right call. The only question is was it in the box? The initial contact may have been outside. Simon Francis has stayed near the tunnel to watch after his red card.

Leicester are buoyed now despite the penalty miss. One-way traffic as you may expect. Sylvain Distin is coming on for Harry Arter as Bournemouth fill the Francis-shaped hole in their back four.

MISSED PENALTY

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Riyad Mahrez, the man who can do no wrong this season. It will be left footed AND IT'S SAVED. He went to Artur Boruc's left and the keeper guessed correctly. The ball was at a perfect height. A good save as the ball is pushed away.

PENALTY TO LEICESTER

Simon Francis will walk for this, a red card surely? Yes. 

He felled Jamie Vardy as the striker raced clear. No questions on first look. It will be Riyad Mahrez...

Junior Stanislas has the ball in midfield for Bournemouth, well-shacked and robbed by Danny Drinkwater. The away side need a spell of possession to settle in this second half. Here we go, is this it? Stanislas has the ball back and a neat one-two with Glenn Murray gives him crossing space.. Robert Huth boots clear.

SUBSTITUTION

Glenn Murray is on for Josh King but there's a slightly jaded look to Bournemouth all of a sudden.

'Unbelievable miss'

Chris Sutton

Former Chelsea & Norwich striker on Final Score

"Leicester v Bournemouth has been a terrific game and that was a great save from Artur Boruc.

"But then that is an unbelievable miss from Wes Morgan. He has to score."

CLOSE!

Jamie Vardy chases a long ball down. His touch is poor as the ball bobbles around his knees so he checks back some 25 yards from goal. A whipped effort... brilliantly tipped around the post by Artur Boruc.

That was a very testing effort and now in comes the corner... WES MORGAN... over. On the stretch, the Leicester captain had the goal at his mercy but could only fling a leg at the ball to desperately volley over.

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It looks like, perhaps as you would expect, Riyad Mahrez has moved into more of a striker's role behind Jamie Vardy now that Leonardo Ulloa has left the field.

Mahrez was well-shackled in the first half so a move closer to goal may yield dividends.

What about Ulloa? He had 25 touches but only completed 53% of his passes. Ulloa has made just five starts in the league this season.

Leicester's mountain to climb...

It seems Leicester - who have defied the odds all season - will have to upset recent history once again if they are to win the Premier League.

They kick-off the new year behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference...

KICK-OFF

We are back under way.

I'll let you know what shape Leicester adopt with Nathan Dyer introduced.

SUBSTITUTION

Nathan Dyer is coming on for Leonardo Ulloa. That will mean a shift in style for Leicester who went direct to Ulloa a lot in that opening period.

A look at the average positions Bournemouth players took up in that first half perhaps shows their ambition.

There's nothing compact about their shape. Central defenders split, full-backs pushed on.

They were positive, there's no doubt about that.

Opta

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Leicester had less than 20% of the ball in the opening 15 minutes so they have progressed into the game at least.

They've had five shots to their visitors' four but not a single effort has hit the target so far.

op

Just the one goal in the Premier League is hardly enticing. Good news for Leicester though, I guess, as this point would keep them well in contact with those above them. It's a day for defenders so far.

BBC

HALF-TIME

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Classic? No. Decent entertainment? Yes.A cracking chance wasted by Jamie Vardy will annoy home fans (he really should have scored), while Josh King and Junior Stanislas look a threat for Bournemouth.

Riyad Mahrez picks the ball 30 yards from goal but Harry Arter is like his shadow, snapping away, he throws the Algerian off the ball. Good defensive play. Mahrez has earned that kind of attention.

There is very little in this. Two well-drilled sides with clear direction of what their manager wants. Josh King has been a handful. Leicester are more direct than their visitors and often bypass midfield in search of Leonardo Ulloa.

Both sides have had chances, but the way it's looking a single goal could win this. It has that sort of tight feel about it.

N'Golo Kante has drawn no end of plaudits and again he looks on song in the heart of Leicester's midfield. Just one pass (red) has been poor so far today.

Opta

Junior Stanislas whips a free-kick into the box and the curl and bounce briefly worry Kasper Schmeichel but the ball bounces over the bar.

CLOSE!

Josh King is really carrying the fight to Leicester's back four and he works Robert Huth down the right channel. King checks back and cuts the ball back for Dan Gosling... over. A superb chance just 12 yards out.

We go to the other end, suddenly there's pace to the game and Jamie Vardy is slipped in behind... wide. He shoots across goal. They were going in for the England striker a few weeks ago.

YELLOW CARD

Harry Arter into the book. No complaints. Another midfield tussle with N'Golo Kante sees the Bournemouth man land a tackle which is a little late. Not malicious, more of a tangle.

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Junior Stanislas, fed down the left channel. He attacks Danny Simpson the Leicester right-back, can he wiggle shooting space? He does... wide. Not enough bend on that one.

Leicester are keeping the trio of Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa close together. The latter of course is a big man and the other two can feed of any knock downs.

It's a slow start though by the Foxes in all, they currently have 32% possession.

Ulloa looks to flick one on to keep an attack going but Simon Francis flattens hims with a rock of a tackle.

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A new signing for Leicester

Oh, have a word Leicester...

Conducting business on a match day. Why not save that for midweek when we want to keep the football news flowing?

'It wasn't an easy chance'

Garth Crooks

Former Spurs striker on Final Score

“Vardy toe pokes this when it breaks for him. The way the ball arrives, he can’t open himself out. Scoring goals isn’t that easy. And it isn’t that easy a chance.”

HITS THE WOODWORK

Leonardo Ulloa will rip one from 25 yards, scuffed, but into the path of JAMIE VARDY.... what a sitter.

The Premier League's joint-top scorer has to score as the ball falls his way eight yards out but he toe punts against the post.

Vardy is absolutely fuming and lashes out at the post in the aftermath.

These two sides are usually so blood and thunder in their approach, but there's a quiet respect on show here. Harry Arter briefly threatens a scrap in midfield as he tussles for the ball with N'Golo Kante not once, but twice. All in all though these two are jabbing at one another, getting a feel for surroundings. 

Matt Ritchie gets a cross in, held by Kasper Schmeichel.

There's only one, Jamie Vardy...

Just one touch so far.

Jamie Vardy was battling a virus all week. He's not exactly over doing things just yet.

Opta

Kilbane loves Kante...

Kevin Kilbane

Former Everton winger on Football Focus

On Leicester City, who are second in the Premier League and will go top today if they beat Bournemouth and Arsenal drop points against Newcastle.

"What a signing N'Golo Kante has been. He has been one of the signings of the season.

"When he wins the ball, his immediate thought is to get the ball forward. He has an ability to hit a ball and is the overall package, a complete midfielder."

Suddenly there's a little more life in Leicester. No surprise it's from the legs of Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante. Kante overlaps the tricky winger and gets the pass. He delivers but his ball evaded Leonardo Ulloa at the near post.

A well-constructed attack.

Possession belongs to visitors

Opta

Look at that early possession. A whopping haul of the ball by Bournemouth.

CLOSE!

Oh that's ugly. Josh King what a miss.

A deep ball to the back post sees Junior Stanislas hook it back into the six-yard box with enough quality to be begging to be nodded home. It's a pitiful glance from King with the goal gaping and his effort drifts wide. The type of chance a centre-back would devour. It just needed a solid header.

CLOSE!

How's your touch Leonardo Ulloa? Not good enough.

Slipped in through the inside-right channel, it's a real opening but the striker's touch runs clear of him and Artur Boruc rushes to collect. A very good opening wasted.

CLOSE!

Riyad Mahrez has done all sorts this season, dribbles, curlers, penalties, so how about a scissors kick?

He executes one at the back post, picked out by Marc Albrighton, and the effort goes just over the bar. Good contact, around a foot over the bar.

A nice use of the bicycle emoji by the Foxes too...

PA

Has Leicester's bubble burst?

Mark Lawrenson

Ex-Liverpool defender

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"Everyone will be wondering whether Leicester's bubble has burst after picking up one point and scoring no goals in their last two games. While Jamie Vardy has scored one goal in his last five games, it is far too early to be worried about his form after his early-season form. 

"Bournemouth were unbeaten in six matches before losing to Arsenal on Monday - a run that included wins over Chelsea and Manchester United and took them to the heights of 14th. They will have had an extra day off as well and that could be crucial in the busy festive period."

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Bournemouth will be thrilled with this opening. Nice control of the ball and the game at their pace. Dan Gosling is around two feet from a golden chance but the ball is intercepted in the nick of time.

Claudio Ranieri stands arms folded, a pensive look on his face.

'I've been entertained by Leicester'

Garth Crooks

Former Spurs striker on Final Score

“The fans at Leicester are having a fantastic time. I’ve been thoroughly entertained by watching Leicester. I sometimes think we lose perspective. We’re not talking about a Manchester United side who pass the ball for the sake of it. We’re talking about a team who go for the throat because they have a team who can do it. Ranieri’s deploying a style that suits his players.”  

PENALTY APPEAL

Some neat stuff early on sees Junior Stanislas in space in a wide channel and he claims handball as his shot is blocked. It's nowhere near. Wes Morgan had his hands close to his chest.

KICK-OFF

And off we go, this game pits two of the most industrious sides in the league together. No side in the Premier League has run as far as Bournemouth this season while Leicester tend to resemble 11 walking fizzy drinks.

Game on.

An embrace from Claudio...

The warmest of handshakes for Eddie Howe from Claudio Ranieri. The Italian was signing autographs and broke away briefly to greet his opposite number. Is it me or does Leicester's manager look like the kind of man who would open a pair of slippers at Christmas with glee? Ranieri seems to live to smile.

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Remember, you can send me any thoughts on the game to #bbcfootball.

A happy, happy new year...

Guy Mowbray

BBC MOTD commentator

"Never mind 'Happy New Year', for these two clubs the old one could hardly have been happier.

"Leicester's challenge now is to maintain the standards shown throughout 2015 and that starts by making sure that any talk of a 'wobble' is stifled.

"Everyone knows it won't be easy against a Bournemouth side that have started to get to grips with top flight football - rewards for putting in the hard yards.

"Opta's 'halfway' stats show the Cherries cover more ground and record more sprints than any other Premier League side. Mix that with Leicester's non-stop energy and it could be a tough one to keep up with.

"Thank goodness it's on the second of January rather than the first!"

Time for action...

Here come the players. Leicester captain Wes Morgan is first to emerge in the tunnel. He steps from the changing room onto a bright blue floor. Kasper Schmeichel follows him and now we have two lines of players, many of them stood hands on hips.

The fans are in fine voice and the sound reverberates up the tunnel. The walk begins and there is some serious noise to greet them.

Howe's training risk...

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Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "We haven't trained since Arsenal, not the lads that played, anyway. With the fixture workload we really had to protect our players this week to make sure we go into the Leicester game with some energy, so we are toning down training."

A sprinkler soaking

Leicester's King Power Stadium looks a picture with a manicured pitch, blue flags everywhere you look and the sound of Kasabian complimenting the vista.

Sadly, a group of kids waving flags on the pitch as the players congregate in the tunnel get soaked. A sprinkler just doused them and their little legs couldn't get out of the way quick enough.

Form from the south coast...

Bournemouth arrive at the King Power fresh from defeat to Arsenal, but they are in good form generally with just that solitary loss in their last seven games.

AFC Bournemouth

This is a tough place to play though, with only Arsenal leaving Leicester with three points this season.

Team news

Leicester revert to a 4-4-2 system having played with just one striker in their goalless draw with Manchester City. That means there's a place for Leonardo Ulloa as Gokhan Inler drops to the bench.

Jamie Vardy has shaken off a virus to be fit while there is just the one change for Bournemouth as Marc Pugh comes in for Junior Stanislas.

Opta

Opta

Countdown to kick-off

The players are going through their final warm-up drills on the King Power pitch. N'Golo Kante has a beaming smile on his face. He starts. Riyad Mahrez has legs as thin as a flamingo. More team news next...

Just 27 years of wait...

Now, why does Madonna feature in this live text?

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Because the last time Bournemouth overcame Leicester in any competition arrived in 1989 when the pop star was at number one in the charts with 'Like A Prayer'.

Welcome

But, when the fireworks over London ushered in 2016, these two teams are living out fairytales.

London Eye

Leicester could be top of the Premier League with less than half a season to go by this evening.

Bournemouth could be six points clear of relegation if they can continue a fine run of recent form.

What has happened to football?

Welcome

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And some eight weeks ago, things looked grim for Bournemouth. Four straight defeats, 17th in the table, a return to Championship football looked increasingly likely...

Welcome

Exactly one year ago Leicester propped up the Premier League. Three points from safety there was an inevitability to their demise...

Premier League

Welcome to our live page for Leicester City v Bournemouth. We’ll have live text commentary here from 14:30 GMT. You can keep up to date with all the build-up to today’s games here.