PICTURES: Cherries claim Leicester draw to seal ninth-place Premier League finish

Junior Stanislas stroked Eddie Howe's side into a first-minute lead and for a long period Eddie Howe's side appeared set to canter to victory.

Leicester improved markedly after half-time, though, and Jamie Vardy levelled on 51 minutes.

Stanislas's goal came wrapped in a package full of every attribute that has sustained Cherries for as long as their manager has been in charge.

Lys Mousset provided the perseverance, turning Steve Cook's clearance down the left into a pretty handy ball.

There was power, too, from Mousset in the way he swatted aside the – admittedly lame – challenge of Christian Fuchs.

The anticipation and adventure was supplied by Ryan Fraser, first on the scene as the ball broke loose. Danny Simpson wasn't in the same benevolent mood as Fuchs; nor was he particularly keen on trying to keep pace with Fraser, though.

Those two factors combined led to Simpson unceremoniously sending his opponent cartwheeling through the air – but not before he'd nudged the ball in Mousset's direction.

The striker's shot ricocheted off the recovering Fuchs and across goal, where Stanislas needed only one touch to nudge the ball beyond Kasper Schmeichel for his third goal in as many games – and Cherries' 100th in the Premier League.

More neat play from Cherries moments later went unrewarded, Marc Pugh's delivery skidding unmolested across the face of goal after Mousset had deftly touched Charlie Daniels' cross into the winger's path.

The visitors, though, were utterly in control. Certainly, the locals, who had created a right old racket before kick-off – reserving the most noise for a rendition of Nessun Dorma, quite aptly, given it translates as 'no one sleeps' – were plainly taken aback to see their team under the cosh in this fashion.

This was Leicester signing off a season they started as defending champions, after all. More pertinently, though, this was Leicester three days after being clobbered 6-1 by Tottenham – and looking down in the mouth about it.

Cherries were, however, relieved to see Ben Chilwell's volley fly past a post after Cook had headed out Riyad Mahrez's opportunistic overhead kick.

Indeed, there was suddenly some semblance of life in these Foxes as Islam Slimani was centimetres from connecting with Fuchs' flick on Mahrez's 20th-minute corner.

Midway through the opening half, though, came a passage of play that told you all you needed to know about the relative mindsets of the two teams at this point.

Dan Gosling facilely whipped the ball from the advancing Mahrez's toes and directed play back towards his opponents' goal. Cherries then toyed with their hosts, putting Leicester on a mind-whirring passing carousel.

It all ended with Schmeichel flying to his left to tip round Gosling's 25-yard curler. The subsequent corner had the Foxes on tenterhooks, too. Initially cleared, the ball was recycled to Fraser on the right.

His excellent, deep cross was destined for Gosling's head, until Andy King applied the faintest of touches to divert the ball off its course.

Gosling was soon bundling over Mahrez again, the Algerian slumping to the turf in search of a free-kick, in preference to fighting his corner.

Pugh took over and fed Fraser, who muscled Fuchs off the ball – 5ft 4in Fraser, 6ft 1in Fuchs. Give the defender his due, though, he recovered sufficiently to prevent Fraser from completing his escape.

Ryan Allsop, making his first Cherries league start since October 2013 – also at Leicester, in a Championship match – was finally called into action on 37 minutes.

The goalkeeper saved from Mahrez at close range after Marc Albrighton's searching cross from the right picked out the winger, lurking at the far post.

Encouraged, Leicester threw off their shackles. Fuchs utilised that lengthy frame to hurl a throw into the box that was only cleared as far as Albrighton. He shovelled the ball forward and Wilfred Ndidi followed suit.

Yohan Benalouane eventually prodded at goal but saw his shot deflected behind by Cook. Mahrez's resultant corner from the right was met by a stooping Slimani, glancing beyond the far post.

Mahrez's next corner, on the stroke of half-time, landed on Gosling's back and rolled harmlessly into the grateful Allsop's gloves.

Perhaps chivvied up by their pre-interval flurry, Leicester returned a rejuvenated force.

They had already threatened, primarily on the counter, when the hitherto anonymous Vardy got himself on Simon Francis's wrong side just inside Cherries' half. The England international fed Chilwell, albeit with the aid of a deflection, and the left-back aimed a deep cross onto Slimani's head. The striker guided the ball back across goal, where Vardy, still a foot in front of Francis, nudged it over the line.

Cherries' immediate response to the setback was positive. Adam Smith's adventurous burst was unfairly halted by Ndidi, Andrew Surman then a yard off target from the resultant free-kick.

Nevertheless, Vardy was suddenly very interested, which made him very dangerous. He had a 'goal' wiped out after creeping a fraction offside to turn home Slimani's deflected shot, before being sent scurrying away by Manhrez for a strike Allsop did well to get down and turn away.

Next up, on 70 minutes, was a reaction header from six-yards that Allsop gloved over. Perhaps Vardy's growing influence explained Francis's heavy-handed challenge on him with 16 minutes to play. Cherries' skipper possibly considered his booking a small price to pay.

By now, Matt Worthington was on for his first taste of Premier League football and to bolster Cherries' midfield. Another substitute, Benik Afobe, was ostensibly operating alone up front.

Afobe, though, was largely a spectator during a frantic conclusion. Adam Smith bravely blocked a ferocious Chilwell volley and Slimani headed narrowly wide from Mahrez's inswung left-wing free-kick.

Jordon Ibe, on for Pugh, was failed by his touch when presented with a chance to run at goal in the last knockings.

Nevertheless, when referee Lee Mason blew the whistle on Cherries' season, they had jumped a spot to ninth, banking another £1.9million.

Not a bad afternoon's work.

Leicester (4-4-2): Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane (Amartey, 59), Fuchs, Chilwell, Mahrez, Ndidi, King, Albrighton (Gray, 73), Slimani, Vardy.

Unused subs: Wasilewski, Musa, Kapustka, Okazaki, Zieler (g/k).

Booked: Benalouane, Simpson, Mahrez, Chilwell.

Cherries (4-4-1-1): Allsop, A Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Fraser (Worthington, 74), Surman, Gosling, Pugh (Ibe, 63), Stanislas, Mousset (Afobe, 62).

Unused subs: Cargill, B Smith, Surridge, Ramsdale (g/k).

Booked: Francis.

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Attendance: 32,000.