GOOD things come to those who wait…

Dominic Solanke’s first Premier League goals for Cherries gave their survival hopes a massive boost – as Eddie Howe’s men sealed a remarkable 4-1 victory over Leicester.

The hosts had it all to do after trailing to Jamie Vardy’s first-half opener at Vitality Stadium.

But Junior Stanislas’s 67th-minute penalty and Solanke’s vital strike a minute later helped put the Dorset club three points adrift of safety with three games remaining.

An own goal from Jonny Evans and another goal from Solanke rounded off a sublime second-half showing from the hosts.

Wins for relegation rivals West Ham, Watford and Aston Villa earlier in the weekend meant Cherries had to get three points just to keep pace in the race to beat the drop.

The hosts made three changes for the clash with the Foxes. Solanke came in for Joshua King, who had picked up a hamstring injury and was absent from the squad all together.

Adam Smith’s head injury sustained against Tottenham meant he missed out through the concussion protocol. Jack Stacey took his place at right-back. Arnaut Danjuma replaced Stanislas out wide.

Cherries fashioned the first chance of the contest after less than three minutes.

David Brooks found space to cross for Callum Wilson inside the area but the England striker failed to find a decisive touch.

The Champions League-chasing visitors then found their feet however and were almost gifted the opener.

Marc Albrighton’s ball down the right channel was flicked over Cherries keeper Aaron Ramsdale and fortunately turned behind by stand-in skipper Nathan Ake.

But having had the better of the opening quarter of the contest, the Foxes took the lead after 23 minutes.

Dan Gosling dwelled on the ball in midfield and lost possession. As Leicester charged forward on the counter, Kelechi Iheanacho’s effort ricocheted off Lloyd Kelly and the ball was eventually stabbed in by Vardy from close range.

Iheanacho then almost got in on the act after firing a drilled effort which was gathered by Ramsdale.

Top-flight centurion Vardy spurned a golden opportunity to add a second after a huge mistake from Danjuma.

The winger gifted the frontman possession to run in on goal, only for Ake to slide in and deny the striker.

That was to be the defender’s last act however, as in stretching to block he sustained an injury and was forced to hobble off. Steve Cook replaced him with five minutes of the opening period remaining.

Cherries almost drew level before the break, as they worked Kasper Schmeichel in the visiting goal for the first time.

Wales international Brooks was teed up after neat work from Solanke but the Foxes stopper was alert to the task to palm the powerful strike away.

Howe looked to the bench at the interval and introduced Philip Billing and Stanislas in place of Gosling and Danjuma. The boss also switched to a back three.

And the changes almost paid dividends just before the hour mark. Cook’s ball across goal evaded everybody – including Wilson, who failed to make contact at the back post.

But Cherries were given a lifeline after a moment to forget for keeper Schmeichel led to a penalty for the hosts.

The stopper’s clearance hit Wilfred Ndidi and ricocheted to Wilson, who was brought down by the midfielder in the box. Up stepped Stanislas to slot home the resulting spot-kick for 1-1. And out of nothing – Cherries turned the game on its head through Solanke.

He raced forward to get on the end of Wilson’s flick-on and saw his strike on the angle go through Schmeichel for his first top-flight goal for the club.

It got even worse for the visitors in the aftermath as, after Wilson looked to get the ball out of the net, defender Caglar Soyuncu was sent off for kicking out at the striker.

And the game was wrapped up late on as Stanislas’s shot deflected off Evans and crept in at the near post.

Solanke then rounded off the scoring when he pounced on an error and slotted under the keeper for Cherries’ fourth to give their chances of survival a massive lift.

Cherries: Ramsdale, Stacey, Ake (S Cook, 40), Kelly, Rico, Brooks (L Cook, 81), Gosling (Billing, h-t), Lerma, Danjuma (Stanislas h-t), Solanke, C Wilson (Surridge, 90).

Unused subs: Surman, H Wilson, Simpson Boruc (g/k).

Booked: Gosling.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Soyuncu, Evans, Justin, Fuchs, Tielemans, Ndidi, Albrighton (Bennett, 16), Perez (Barnes, 71), Vardy, Iheanacho (Praet, h-t).

Unused subs: Morgan, Gray, Choudhury, James, Mendy, Ward (g/k).

Booked: Ndidi.

Sent off: Soyuncu.

Referee: Stuart Attwell.

VAR: Craig Pawson.