Leicester held to 0-0 by 10-man Bournemouth in EPL

LEICESTER, England (AP) - Leicester missed a penalty and was held to 0-0 at home by 10-man Bournemouth in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Defender Simon Francis was sent off for Bournemouth after 57 minutes for taking down Jamie Vardy in the penalty area.

Riyad Mahrez took the resulting spot kick but Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc leapt to his left and got two hands to the ball to keep it out.

Leicester has not scored in its last three games, and has fallen two points behind league leader Arsenal, but manager Claudio Ranieri was still pleased with what he saw.

"We wanted to win, but it's not always possible," Ranieri said. "One point is OK, and we now have 40, which was our first goal this season. The performance was good. The players made a fantastic effort."

Six minutes before the penalty, Boruc made an excellent one-handed save to deny Vardy.

The striker also hit the post in the first half, as well as flicking a header inches wide from a corner whipped in by Mahrez near the end.

Bournemouth improved to four points above the relegation zone, but manager Eddie Howe was unhappy with the red card shown to Francis.

"I don't believe it was a penalty, Francis got a touch on the ball," Howe said. "Again, I have to credit my players for everything they have given me today."