JAMIE Vardy’s late penalty was a dagger through the heart for Cherries as Leicester maintained their unbeaten start in the Premier League.

Eddie Howe’s team had been hoping to hold on to Callum Wilson’s spectacular first-half opener, only for the Foxes to snatch a share of the spoils.

Wilson bagged his fourth goal in two games when he scored with a finely-taken overhead kick after 24 minutes.

But Vardy earned the visitors a point when he converted from 12 yards after being brought down by Cherries defender Steve Cook.

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Lee Tomlin was drafted in for his full Premier League debut, the summer signing the only change to the Cherries starting line-up following last week’s win at West Ham.

Tomlin, one of Cherries’ star performers during the midweek win at Hartlepool in the League Cup, replaced Joshua King.

Maxi Gradel, playing against one of his former clubs, received an early booking for a foul on Riyad Mahrez, although the resultant free-kick came to nothing.

Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel beat Wilson to a Tomlin through ball before Mahrez had an effort ruled out for offside, a borderline decision.

Danny Drinkwater escaped punishment for a poor tackle on Steve Cook, while one-time Cherries trialist Ritchie de Laet was yellow carded for hauling back Gradel.

Chances were at a premium during the opening skirmishes with Jamie Vardy lifting an opportunity over the crossbar as the visitors looked to draw first blood.

Charlie Daniels’s speculative cross-shot almost caught out Schmeichel, the left-back’s effort from near the touchline flying narrowly past the upright.

Cherries broke the deadlock midway through the first half when man of the moment Wilson netted with an acrobatic overhead kick after a Daniels cross had not been dealt with.

Wilson’s superbly-executed finish left Schmeichel rooted to the spot, the striker registering his fourth goal in two games following his hat-trick at West Ham.

Cherries could have had a penalty when N’Golo Kante felled Tomlin but referee Neil Swarbrick deemed the offence to have taken place outside the 18-yard box.

And although Gradel lifted his free-kick over Leicester’s defensive wall, Schmeichel was on hand to beat it away with his fists.

Tyrone Mings replaced the injured Daniels, while Shinji Okazaki came on for Mahrez as both teams made half-time substitutions.

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Robert Huth was fortunate to escape with one booking after kicking the ball at Wilson when he was on the ground and then lashing out at Mings.

Cherries were forced into an early reshuffle at the start of the second period when Mings was stretchered off following a clash with Drinkwater. He was replaced by Adam Smith.

Another enforced change saw Marc Pugh replace Gradel after 67 minutes, the tricky Ivorian the victim of one too many challenges from de Laet.

Cherries goalkeeper Artur Boruc punched clear from Jeff Schlupp’s angled drive before the Polish stopper scooped away Drinkwater’s teasing free-kick.

Tommy Elphick’s superbly-timed tackle denied Okazaki a shooting chance before Schlupp’s ferocious drive flashed past the post.

Leicester levelled when Vardy rammed home a penalty four minutes from time, the striker having won the spot kick after being brought down by Cook.

Cherries paid the ultimate price for squandering possession with Eunan O’Kane losing the ball near the halfway line.

Deep into injury time, Simon Francis’s free-kick deflected past the post before referee Swarbrick turned a blind eye to Cherries’ appeals for a penalty after Wilson had gone to ground under a Yohan Benalouane challenge.

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Cherries: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels (Mings, h-t, Smith, 56), Gradel (Pugh, 67), Surman, O’Kane, Ritchie, Tomlin, Wilson.

Unused subs: MacDonald, Kermorgant, Distin, Federici (g/k).

Booked: Gradel, O’Kane.

Foxes: Schmeichel, de Laet (Benalouane, 90), Huth, Morgan, Schlupp, Mahrez (Okazaki, h-t), King, Drinkwater, Albrighton (Dodoo, 71), Vardy, Kante.

Unused subs: Ulloa, Fuchs, Inler, Schwarzer (g/k).

Booked: De Laet, King, Huth, Schlupp.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).

Attendance: 11,102.