James Maddison error gifts Bournemouth win to leave Leicester deep in trouble

Bournemouth plunged managerless Leicester into deeper trouble near the foot of the Premier League with a vital 1-0 victory that lifted Gary O’Neil’s side out of the bottom three and up to 15th.

As the Foxes were declining to comment on reports former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch was in “advanced talks” to fill the King Power vacancy left by Brendan Rodgers last week, the size of the job that might face the American was on open display as Leicester’s winless run reached eight league games.

James Maddison, the England midfielder at the forefront of those players Leicester might look to drag them out of trouble, was this time the one to put them in it, getting a back pass all wrong to allow Philip Billing to fire Bournemouth in front five minutes before the break.

It was a gift of a goal but Bournemouth were worthy of their lead.

The Cherries travelled north having lost eight of their last nine away games but were quickly on the front foot against a Leicester side who, now without a clean sheet in 15, would prove very hospitable opponents in the first half.

Only two minutes in, Wout Faes left a back pass for Daniel Iversen, unaware of Dominic Solanke lurking on his shoulder, and the goalkeeper did well to win the challenge before clearing the danger.

Moments later, Billing’s free-kick clipped the outside of the post after Victor Kristiansen fouled Solanke on the edge of the area.

Leicester showed glimpses – Kristiansen’s cross narrowly missed Jamie Vardy before Tim Castagne flashed a shot wide – but the action was concentrated in the other half with Bournemouth, who began the day only one place above the Foxes in the relegation zone, looking the brighter, more purposeful side.

Iversen did well to turn Billing’s deflected shot