Leicester collapse at Bournemouth only adds tension to Brendan Rodgers’ tenure

With just over 20 minutes remaining, things were starting to look good for Leicester. They were 1-0 up and on course for a second league win of the week — and the season — when Brendan Rodgers made a double substitution, bringing on Jamie Vardy and Daniel Amartey in the hope of putting the game to bed.

Seconds later Philip Billing equalised before Ryan Christie completed a stunning Bournemouth comeback.

After the optimism following Leicester’s demolition of Nottingham Forest, it was the kind of feeble capitulation that will only increase the tension surrounding Rodgers.

Ryan Christie’s goal secured Bournemouth’s comeback win at home to struggling Leicester

Leicester have conceded 24 goals, more than anyone else in the league this season, and have now dropped 30 points from winning positions in 2022. They are 19th, though the Leicester manager insisted he was the right man to get them out of trouble.

‘I’m not thinking about it,’ Rodgers responded when asked whether he was concerned about relegation.

A major aspect of their bleak run has been the struggles of their experienced players and Rodgers admitted he was struggling to understand why. ‘I don’t know. It was a challenging summer for us. It’s just the nature of it this season,’ he said.

Brendan Rodgers (L) is under pressure, while the Cherries shine under interim boss Gary O’Neil

It is a question that he and his side must answer quickly ahead of two home games in the coming weeks against Crystal Palace and Leeds.

The contrast between Rodgers and Bournemouth’s interim boss Gary O’Neil could not be greater and while one man may be fighting for his job, another continues to impress in his audition for a full-time role. With prospective owner Bill Foley in the stands, Bournemouth’s turnaround epitomised the belief O’Neil seems to have instilled within the group.

Nullifying the threat of James Maddison by using a man-to-man strategy on the midfielder was yet another tick in the box for O’Neil.

He said: ‘We could have stayed in our shape and let Maddison roam but I didn’t feel that was the best way to go so Adam Smith got the nod. It gave us a clear plan to deal with probably their best player.’

It is now five games unbeaten in six weeks since Scott Parker was sacked after a 9-0 thrashing at Anfield. Bournemouth are now above Liverpool in the table and O’Neil must be wondering what more he must do to secure the role on a permanent basis.