FLYING winger Ryan Fraser was the star of the show as Cherries ran out 4-2 winners over Leicester City.

An injury doubt with a hamstring problem ahead of the clash with the Foxes, his first-half double paved the way for Eddie Howe’s men to record their third league success in five games.

With two cool finishes inside the opening 37 minutes at Vitality Stadium, Fraser took to four his goal tally for the campaign in six outings.

Joshua King also netted from the penalty spot to send Eddie Howe’s men into a dominant position before the interval.

Fraser then teed up Adam Smith to strike a fourth nine minutes from time.

Defender Wes Morgan was sent off during the second period to add to the Foxes’ misery, they did however pull two goals back late on through James Maddison’s penalty and substitute Marc Albrighton.

Wales international David Brooks returned to Cherries’ starting XI in place of skipper Simon Francis, as boss Eddie Howe reverted to a four-man defence.

Winger Fraser, who had picked up a hamstring problem on international duty for Scotland, was judged fit to start by the hosts.

With no Francis or Andrew Surman in the starting XI, centre-half Steve Cook donned the captain’s armband.

Leicester made just one change from the side which was beaten 2-1 at Liverpool earlier this month.

Striker Jamie Vardy returned having served a three-match suspension, he replaced Marc Albrighton for Claude Puel’s men.

And it was Vardy who had the first opportunity of the contest on four minutes.

He dragged a first-time volley wide of the post after finding space to latch on to James Maddison’s precise lofted pass.

Home keeper Asmir Begovic was then sharply off his line to prevent the England international, who had raced behind Cherries’ backline to prod at goal Rachid Ghezzal’s through ball.

Algerian Ghezzal then tested the Bosnian stopper, who comfortably gathered at his near post.

Cherries’ best opportunity in the early exchanges came through a set-piece.

After Harry Maguire brought down Callum Wilson and earned a caution. Fraser’s free-kick was inches away from the head of Nathan Ake, who was onside and unmarked.

Winger Fraser was involved in the game’s first big talking point just before the quarter of an hour mark.

He surged into the box and went to ground under the challenge of full-back Ricardo Pereira – nothing was given by referee Craig Pawson, despite Fraser claiming he had been pushed.

But on 19 minutes, the rapid wideman opened the scoring.

After Joshua King threaded the ball through the legs of Nampalys Mendy, the flying Scot cut inside and slotted into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

With their tails up, Cherries could have had a second. Callum Wilson was set free by attacking midfielder Brooks but, from an acute angle, he shanked wide into the side netting.

England defender Maguire could then count himself extremely lucky to have stayed on the pitch with just 28 minutes on the clock.

Having already been cautioned, he smashed into King with a late challenge – incensing boss Howe and his backroom staff on the touchline. Referee Pawson only gave the centre-half a talking to with no second booking.

As tension began to rise, Leicester came within inches of restoring parity on 34 minutes.

Maddison got the better of Dan Gosling in midfield and slid in Vardy, whose initial effort was saved by Begovic.

The Bosnian keeper then got up to block the follow-up from Maddison on to the bar, with Jefferson Lerma hacking away to safety.

But Fraser was running riot for the home side and helped himself to a second three minutes later.

Wilson on this occasion played a perfectly-weighted pass to release the winger, who got goalside of Maguire and tucked under Kasper Schmeichel for 2-0.

Cherries were in dreamland before the interval - they added a third from the penalty spot five minutes before the break.

Referee Pawson judged Pereira had handled inside the box, up stepped Joshua King to net his second spot-kick in as many games against the Foxes.

Wilson was then gifted the opportunity of adding a fourth for Cherries three minutes after the break. He picked up Pereira’s loose pass and saw his strike deflected wide off Maguire.

Going in search of a response, Leicester’s Maddison let fly with a daisy-cutter from 25 yards after being teed up by full-back Pereira but the effort was comfortable for Begovic.

The former Chelsea stopper was then worked again, diving at full stretch to his right to palm away Maguire’s header.

Foxes skipper Morgan then saw his tough afternoon end early as he was given his marching orders 21 minutes from time.

Having already been booked during the opening period, he lunged in on Smith and was shown a second caution by referee Pawson.

Cherries then should have made it four as King raced forward on the counter.

He instead went for goal and fired wide instead of opting to square for Fraser, who was screaming for the ball on his hat-trick.

You could not keep Fraser out of the action however, as he charged down the flank and cut back for Smith to fire into the bottom corner for 4-0.

Leicester stuck to the task however and they were rewarded with two late goals to bring some respectability to the scoreline.

Maddison stepped up to convert from the spot after full-back Diego Rico had fouled Pereira inside the box.

Alrbighton then supplied a deft header into he bottom corner after running on to a neat cross from the right flank.

Ben Chilwell then arrowed a low drive just wide of the far post as the visitors continued to rally, but Cherries held firm in what was a pulsating encounter.

Cherries (4-4-1-1): Begovic; Smith, S Cook, Ake, Rico; Brooks (Francis, 67), Gosling, Lerma (L Cook, 77), Fraser; King (Mousset, 85); Wilson.

Unused subs: Surman, Ibe, Defoe, Boruc (g/k).

Booked: Lerma, Wilson, Gosling.

Foxes (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Chilwell, Morgan, Maguire, Pereira; Mendy, Ndidi; Gray (Iheanacho, 60), Maddison, Ghezzal (Albrighton, 60); Vardy (Evans, 84).

Unused subs: Amartey, Iborra, Fuchs, Ward (g/k).

Booked: Maguire, Morgan (2). 

Sent off: Morgan.

Referee: Craig Pawson.