Newcastle United and A.F.C. Bournemouth are two teams currently competing in the English Premier League. Both teams have had a solid start to the season and are now standing in the top half of the table. This article will look at the current standings of both teams and compare their performances so far this season. It will also examine how their respective classes could affect their chances of success in the upcoming matches and who could be crowned champions come May 2021.
Newcastle United missed the chance to climb to third position in the Premier League table as Eddie Howe’s return to struggling Bournemouth ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw.
The Magpies boss enjoyed great success during a lengthy stint in the Cherries dugout, but his first time since departing in 2020 looked like it could be a sour homecoming when the hosts took the lead on the half-hour mark.
Newcastle had been sluggish from the kickoff and fell asleep at a left-wing corner, allowing Marcos Senesi to touch home at the far post and score his first goal for Bournemouth.
The visitors struggled to carve out openings but snatched an undeserved equalizer on the stroke of halftime when Miguel Almiron was well-placed to fire home after Neto had parried Sean Longstaff’s stinging effort.
Newcastle continued to probe in the second period but substitute Anthony Gordon blew their best chance when he fired a rebound comprehensive 20 minutes from time.
The result means the Magpies remain in the fourth spot, two points ahead of Tottenham, having played one game fewer.
Bournemouth has won just once in 13 league matches and remains in 19th place, but the Cherries move within a point of 17th-placed Leeds United.
Newcastle is the draw specialist. This was a fifth draw in six league outings for the Magpies and their 11th overall. They remain unbeaten in an impressive 17-game run in the top flight, but Howe will feel this was a missed opportunity, given that the teams immediately below them dropped points earlier in the day.
Newcastle wants to look above them, but they will need to turn more of these types of draws into victories if they are to truly make an impact beyond securing a Champions League berth this term, which ultimately remains the priority for the season.
Bournemouth will believe they did enough to win the game and will need more of the same in the weeks and months ahead if they are to stand any realistic chance of avoiding the drop.
Without a victory in the Premier League since defeating Everton 2-0 on Nov. 12, Bournemouth looked lively.
The home flank took the lead in the 30th minute as Marcos Senesi created the most of a periodic Bournemouth corner, ghosting in at the far stick to wipe the ball in from close range.
Striker Alexander Isak produced for Newcastle after being sidelined with a head wound that retained him out of last Saturday’s 1-1 tie with West Ham United. Though displaying some skill, he struggled to impose himself on the game.
The opening of Anthony Gordon for the disabled Joe Willock in the 36th handed Newcastle a shot in the arm, and Almiron equalized in first-half backup time when he pounced to slot home the rebound behind Sean Longstaff’s photo was earmarked.
Gordon ignored a golden chance to give his side the information in the 70th minute, shooting another rebound just broad of the near post from close range as Newcastle loomed possession but created very few decent chances.
With the clock beating towards 90 minutes, Bournemouth mounted one of their more intelligent attacks, and Trippier had to keep his cool to prevent a delinquent Solanke backheel on the goal-line and prevent the danger.
“I think we should be dissatisfied with not bringing the three points, but again they’re a top side — not carrying anything out from them, so one end will do, and we go too next weekend,” Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing told Sky Sports.
Trippier may have provided the visitors with a point, but he was not creating reasons for another underwhelming performance by his side.
“We know we can enhance so much more, but Bournemouth is always a tough spot to come, and, you know, the most crucial thing is we didn’t get beaten; come to the end of the season, these could be huge points,” he said.
