Bournemouth held former manager Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United to a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium as they aimed to turn their season around and stay in the top flight. Defender Marco Senesi scored his first goal for the club on the half hour mark before Miguel Almiron levelled things up for the Magpies right on the stroke of half-time.
Gary O’Neil made two changes to the side that lost to Brighton. Jack Stephens took the place of Chris Mepham in defence and Dominic Solanke returned to the starting line-up in place of Antoine Semeneyo. Eddie Howe made one change to the side that drew against West Ham but it wasn’t by choice. Alexander Isak returned to the starting eleven in place of Callum Wilson who has a minor injury. Anthony Gordon had to make do with a spot on the bench along with youngster Lewis Miley.
The first chance of the game fell to the hosts with ten minutes on the clock when Pope had to pull off a fine save to deny Solanke’s header. The first goal of the game fell to Bournemouth and they deserved it. Senesi found himself in acres of space following a corner and stabbed it home from close range to score his first goal for the Cherries. Solanke nearly added a second for Bournemouth just a minute later but his header lacked power and was straight into Pope’s arms. Willock was forced off in the 35th minute with what looked like a hamstring injury, with a squad that’s lacking in depth in that area, everyone linked with Newcastle United will be hoping that its nothing too serious. Newcastle didn’t register their first shot on target until two minutes before half-time and if I’m honest, calling it a shot would be generous. Isak unleashed a tame effort towards goal but Neto easily gathered it up. It looked like Newcastle would be going into half-time behind but Almiron had other ideas! Just before the referee blew his whistle to end the half, Saint-Maximin worked the ball inside after picking it up on the left, it fell to Longstaff who fired at Neto but the Cherries keeper couldn’t do anything else other than parry it into the path of Almiron who made no mistake and fired home. HT Scoreline 1-1.
The start of the second half was very similar to the first…very slow. Saint-Maximin unleashed a effort towards goal from range but it sailed over the bar. As the second half carried on, Newcastle had more chances to turn the game around. Saint-Maximin, Isak and Gordon all attempting to stick the ball in the back of the net but they couldn’t come up with the goods. There was more worry for Newcastle fans in the second half, Almiron and Saint-Maximin hobbled off with injuries and had to be replaced with Murphy and Anderson respectively. Bournemouth thought they had snatched a winner as the fourth official announced a whopping seven minutes of stoppage time. Newcastle lost the ball at the back, the ball found its way to Solanke who backheeled it past Pope but not Trippier who luckily for Newcastle was on the goal-line to keep it out. The home fans thought it had went in but the referee’s watch didn’t bleep and replayed showed it was the correct decision….by the narrowest of margins. Full Time Bournemouth 1 Newcastle United 1.
Sutty’s Full Time Thoughts: I don’t even know where to start on this one to be honest. Eddie Howe didn’t look happy with his team at the final whistle and rightly so. Newcastle have Miguel Almiron and Kieran Trippier to thank for leaving the Vitality Stadium with a share of the points. Miggy might not have been at his best in the first half but he came up with the goods when they needed it the most and finished well from close range to get his 10th goal in 22 top flight fixtures. Captain Tripp’s showed why he’s so important to the team with a goal-line clearance in injury time to deny Dominic Solanke. With the squad lacking strength in numbers, it will be a worry to Eddie Howe and his backroom staff seeing Willock, Almiron and ASM going off with injuries and we all hope that they are just minor knocks considering we have the small matter of the Carabao Cup Final in just 15 days! A fifth draw in six games but Newcastle continue their unbeaten run but that lack of killer instinct in front of goal is bloody concerning!
What’s Next? Bournemouth travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 18th February for a 3pm KO. The Magpies host Jurgen Flopp’s Liverpool on the same day but in a 5:30pm KO live on Sly Sports Premier League.
Bournemouth Line Up: Neto ©, J Stephens, A Smith (78, R Fredericks), M Senesi (51, C Mepham), J Zemura, J Lerma, D Ouattara (78, A Semeneyo), P Billing, J Anthony (62, M Tavernier), D Solanke, H Traore.
Bournemouth Bench: M Travers, C Mepham, M Vina, R Fredericks, R Christie, J Rothwell, M Tavernier, A Semeneyo, K Moore.
Newcastle United Line Up: N Pope, K Trippier ©, S Botman, F Schar, D Burn, S Longstaff, J Willock (35, A Gordon), Joelinton, A Saint-Maximin (83, E Anderson), A Isak, M Almiron (80, J Murphy).
Newcastle United Bench: M Dubravka, P Dummett, J Lewis, M Ritchie, L Miley, R Fraser, J Murphy, E Anderson, A Gordon.
Match Officials: Stuart Attwell (Referee), Darren Cann & James Mainwaring (Assistant’s), Andre Marriner (Fourth Official), Tony Harrington (VAR), Dan Cook (Assistant VAR).
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