Leicester City fans will be very happy on Sunday after Steve Cooper guided them to a first Premier League win of the season over AFC Bournemouth.
Steve Cooper knew the pressure was intensifying regarding his position as Leicester City manager going into the game against Bournemouth.
The Bournemouth game represented the first of four winnable games in a row and Leicester got off to the perfect start to this run with a win and a clean sheet against Bournemouth.
Cooper deserves praise for the bold decision to drop Harry Winks from the side and give his midfield a more attacking feel with Jordan Ayew operating as a number ten.
It did not take long for the more attack-minded approach to pay-off as Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte fired Leicester ahead on 16 minutes with what would prove the only goal of the game.
Wout Faes Leicester City’s standout performer in Bournemouth win
Buonanotte was lively throughout the King Power affair as he continues to impress on loan.
However, Leicester came under a lot of pressure as they defended their lead in the second-half and centre-back Wout Faes was key to the Foxes managing to hold on to secure a first league clean sheet of the season.
Faes has been a divisive figure since his £15 million arrival from Rennes in summer 2022 but marshalled the Leicester backline expertly against a strong Bournemouth side to help Cooper get a first Premier League win under his belt.
Leicestershire Live were particularly impressed with the Belgian’s display, scoring him a nine out of ten in their player ratings and commenting: “Man of the match.
“He read so many dangerous situations well to stop Bournemouth inside City’s box, making strong tackles, timely interceptions, and diving in to block three goal-bound shots.”
Statistics behind Faes’ Bournemouth display
One area of the Leicester side that is very settled under Cooper is the back four, with James Justin, Faes, Caleb Okoli and Victor Kristiansen starting the last five Premier League matches.
Faes and Okoli have the makings of a decent partnership and both players earned their keep against Bournemouth.
Faes was the better of the two, though, and made nine clearances according to Sofascore, as well as blocking three shots and making two tackles.
He also won both of his ground duels and made one key pass, with the fact he completed 23 passes out of an attempted 28 showing just how much the style has changed since Enzo Maresca’s slow build-up from last season.
Leicester will need Faes to be at his best if the club are to have hope of surviving this season and the Bournemouth display certainly proved he is capable.
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