Newcastle United Football Club - Match reports

30mins: Hamed Traore's corner from the Bournemouth left was flicked on by Dango Outattara for Marcos Senesi to prod home at the far post. 0-1

45+2mins: Allan Saint-Maximin cut in from the left and played in Sean Longstaff bursting through the middle. His firmly-struckshot was parried by Neto straight to Miggy Almiron on the right of the box and he picked his spot and curled the ball inside the left hand post. 1-1

Half time: Cherries 1 Magpies 1

Full time: Cherries 1 Magpies 1

We Said

Eddie Howe:

"It was a tough game. Very competitive between two good teams. Bournemouth have a lot of energy and athleticism and I thought we dealt with them pretty well apart from the goal and a couple of other scary moments for us.

"We had a lot of the ball. Bit disappointed in the final third not to have as many clear-cut chances as we would like and a lot of half moments where we could have done better but I think it was a fair result.

“We weren’t at our best, no doubt about that. I thought there were some moments from us but the final product was missing.”

"There's an element of frustration definitely in there, but the emotions have to be different this week to last. Last week, we gave away a lead. We were at home and I felt that game was there to win. This was a different game, especially going behind.

"At that moment, we were facing an uphill battle to come back so credit goes to the players for that response. We were really hoping to grab the game in the second half and it never truly happened. That's the frustration.

"I think we have done well to navigate another tough away game and the unbeaten run goes on. It is a point gained and there should be a lot of positivity."

On still not winning without Bruno:

"I can understand that. He is a top-quality player and you are going to miss your best players. There was a little bit of a reshuffle with injuries to a few key players but that is something you have to live with over a Premier League campaign."

On the injuries:

"It's a massive concern if they're going to be missing for any length of time. I think (Allan) Saint-Maximin and (Miguel) Almiron aren't too bad, but that's just an initial assessment. (Joe) Willock looks like it might be his hamstring."

On the post-match applause from home fans:

"To get the reception I got at the end really was really moving. I spent so long here it was a huge part of my life. It was nice to have that moment with them. It only really struck me at the final whistle when I sort of knew what was about to happen.

"It had been a long wait to thank the Bournemouth fans. I was emotional, I’m not going to lie.”

They Said

Gary O'Neill said:

"Newcastle haven't lost a game in 17 and are fourth in the league so it was always going to be tough to win the game. I felt we deserved to. We had the better chances. The longer the game wore on, we looked to win it.

"A bit disappointed we didn't take all three points but the positives are that we improved again and the performance was better than last week. We have some key players back and look a threat. They are a together group that are willing to work as hard as you ask them to. We have some quality to cause teams problems.

"People tend to get carried away when you lose or when the performances are better. I am always level on it. We need to win football matches. Performance wise we picked up some momentum.

"Momentum is pushing in the right direction. We need to keep it that way and put more points on the board."

Stats

It's now 17 games since United were beaten in the league, further extending their best-ever sequence in the top flight and matching the run that they put together in the latter part of the 2009/10 Championship campaign.

Newcastle are now unbeaten in the last eight PL games on the road, beating their longest run in that competition from the 2003/04 season (bizarrely, that sequence of seven games were all draws).

Their longest unbeaten away league sequence remains 10 games during the 1907/08 First Division, while the 2009/10 Championship season included a run of nine without defeat away from SJP.

Miguel Almiron netted his tenth PL goal of the season and his first since the Boxing Day visit to Leicester City. He now has 19 PL goals to his name and sits 18th in our all-time scorers list for that competition, three behind his closest rival Laurent Robert.

A competitive victory in the "Saudi" change kit continues to elude Newcastle, this the fifth unsuccessful attempt:

Wolves (a) drew 1-1 PL
Manchester United (a) drew 0-0 PL
Sheffield Wednesday (a) lost 1-2 FA
Crystal Palace (a) drew 0-0 PL
Bournemouth (a) drew 1-1 PL

Alternatively, we remain unbeaten in the PL when wearing this garb. Either way, let's hope it's not sighted at Wembley...

This was the third meeting of these two teams this season, following a 1-1 draw at SJP in the Premier League and a 1-0 home win in the League Cup.

Newcastle remain unbeaten on this ground in the Premier League after five visits, winning twice and drawing the other three.

There was a first bench PL selection for 16 year-old midfielder Lewis Miley.

Eddie Howe returned to Bournemouth for the first time since leaving his managerial post in August 2020 - and he occupied the away dressing room/bench for the first time in his entire career.

Newcastle coaching duo Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones were also back at their former employer for the first time - Tindall sacked from his position as permanent boss in February 2021, shortly after his then-assistant Jones had departed in order to join Steve Bruce's staff at SJP.

Cherries v Magpies - all time:

2022/23 drew 1-1 PL Almiron
2019/20 won 4-1 PL Gayle, S.Longstaff, Almiron, Lazaro
2018/19 drew 2-2 PL Rondon, Ritchie
2017/18 drew 2-2 PL Gayle 2
2015/16 won 1-0 PL Perez
1991/92 drew 0-0 FAC
1989/90 lost 1-2 D2 Quinn
1966/67 won 4-1 FR Bennett 2, Davies, Robson
1963/64 lost 1-2 LC McGarry pen

Waffle

Timely late interventions by his players on Saturday ensured that Eddie Howe's first return to Bournemouth wasn't a losing one, as his current side laboured to and then clung on for a third successive PL draw.

Trailing to a close range goal following a corner that similar to the one conceded to West Ham a week earlier, United repeated their happy knack of netting here in first half added time to go in level.

Following in the boot steps of Dwight Gayle (45+1 in 2018) and Salomon Rondon (45+5 in 2019), Miguel Almiron struck at the North End of the Vitality Stadium two minutes after the 45 minutes were up with what was a rare shot on target by anyone in the visiting line-up.

Only Kieran Trippier's clearance off the line at the same end in second half added time allowed United to extend their unbeaten league record to 17 games though, the Cherries millimetres away from what would have been a first PL victory since November.

With Spurs losing, Arsenal and Brighton drawing earlier in the day and the two Manchester sides not playing until Sunday, United had the chance to make an impact on the top of the table but Marcos Senesi's goal on the half hour was suitable punishment for a sluggish opening spell.

Without former Cherry Callum Wilson due to injury and once again missing the suspended Bruno Guimaraes, a further enforced change for the visitors brought Anthony Gordon on to the field when the hamstrung Joe Willock limped off shortly after his side had gone behind in a PL game for the first time since Bournemouth scored at Gallowgate in September.

A brief outbreak of flowing football from Newcastle then brought that added time reward; Allan Saint-Maximin threatening down the left before turning the ball infield for Sean Longstaff to warm the gloves of Neto and Almiron tuck away the rebound.

Back out on the field for the second half well before the home side, United did show more attacking intent and Gordon twice came close to his first Toon goal.

But the big moment of the game came near the end when Dan Burn ran into trouble and Sven Botman was slow to react, a right wing centre back-heeled goalward by Dominic Solanke beyond Nick Pope but blocked and coolly cleared by Trippier amid protests from home fans ans players that the ball was in. It wasn't.

By then both ASM and Almiron had gone off with knocks; the Frenchman injuring his knee jumping at the back post and the Paraguayan's wrist apparently stamped on accidentally after he went to ground.

The point kept United in fourth and two points clear of Spurs with a game in hand, after the Cockerels were thumped 1-4 at Leicester City. Arsenal's home draw with Brentford and Brighton's point at Palace were also good results but again we were unable to find a way win without Bruno in the middle.

While there's comfort in seeing sides around us lacking in consistency, there's frustration also at missed opportunities to cement our position towards the top of the table as we continue to lose momentum after the unprecedented pre-World Cup run of form.

Further injuries in midfield and the absence of Callum Wilson are an ongoing concern as Wembley looms along with a comparative goal drought but at least there were some signs of form as a result of back to back starts for ASM.

Relief too for Howe in avoiding defeat on his first return here and as he and his assistants applauded the visiting section from the field, home followers on all four sides of the ground afforded him a great ovation - his departure in July 2020 coming while crowds were locked out due to COVID.

Despite his final season ending in demotion from the Premier League, Howe is still rightly revered here for his efforts in over 20 years playing and managing Bournemouth - retaining their league status before going on to achieve multiple promotions and bring top flight football here for the first time.

Unforgotten - Howe still watches over Dean Court

Biffa