18 January 2025
Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 4
Two in-form teams met as Newcastle welcomed Bournemouth to St James’ Park. The Magpies were looking for a tenth straight win in all competitions. Alan Shearer labelled them title contenders in midweek after their win, a bold claim considering they were nine points behind leaders Liverpool, with The Reds also having a game in hand. Maybe all that heading of footballs has affected him.
The visitors should have taken the lead when Burn gifted the ball to them. As a cross came in, Ouattara directed it towards goal but Dubravka got down to make a good reaction save. It broke to Semenyo, who smashed his shot into the stands from only seven yards out. It was a big chance spurned by The Cherries early on.
He made amends soon after as he got to the byline and cut it back to Kluivert. The son of the former Newcastle striker struck a superb shot, curling into the far corner away from The Magpies’ keeper. Andoni Iraola’s side had started well and were looking the better team, for that reason alone, you felt they had deserved their lead.
The hosts managed to force a corner, which Hall stepped up to take. His curling cross was met by the head of Guimaraes, with Kepa unable to keep it out of the Bournemouth goal. Old pappadum hands struck again as you felt he really should have saved it. Not that anyone in a Newcastle shirt was complaining, St James’ Park was bouncing once again.
Bournemouth continued to press Newcastle high up the pitch. Guimaraes lost it in a dangerous area and Ouattara fed it into the path of Kluivert in the box. He struck a first-time shot past Dubravka to restore the visitors’ lead just before the break. The Cherries were looking like scoring every time they came forward in this game.
The frustrations of the game got to the Newcastle players in added time. Gordon was fouled and as Kluivert turned away with the ball, Joelinton had a big swipe at him and kicked him to the ground. What was most baffling is that the Brazilian did not see red for the challenge. He had no intent of trying to win the ball whatsoever. From the resulting free-kick, Tonali had an effort saved by Kepa.
It was a feisty end to the half and you could see that Iraola’s side were living rent-free in the heads of these Newcastle players. The interval came at the right time for the hosts, Howe needed to set his side straight. They had been completely outclassed by the visitors and if things did not change, their impressive run was about to come to an end.
Into the second-half and The Magpies continued to give the ball away. The Cherries broke and Ouattara hit the post from a tight angle. Brooks’ follow up was well saved by Dubravka but as the visitors recycled it, Bournemouth’s winger slid in to score. Fortunately for Howe’s side, a VAR review was to rule it out as the ball had gone out of play in the build-up. Look away Mikel Arteta.
Iraola’s side were peppering the Newcastle goal at this point. Semenyo got another cross into the box, which Brooks looked to turn towards goal. It took a deflection on the way through but was heading into the far corner. Dubravka showed some great athleticism to get down and claw the ball out to keep his side in the game.
The Newcastle defence looked more disorientated than Ant McPartlin stumbling out of his car after one of his infamous daytime bottomless brunches. Heading into the final stages of the game, The Magpies were desperate to find a goal. Gordon volleyed an effort towards goal but it struck Huijsen on the chest and the visitors cleared.
Pinned back into their own half, Gordon looked to thread a pass through the Bournemouth midfield. It was intercepted by Kluivert, who struck a sublime shot from some twenty-five yards out. His rasping shot arrowed into the bottom corner of the goal with Dubravka rooted to the spot. St James’ Park fell completely silent.
The game was end-to-end stuff now. Kluivert ran clean through on goal but as he looked to chip it past the Newcastle keeper, he made a good block to deny him. The Magpies went straight down the other end and Gordon’s shot had Kepa beaten but it was cleared off the line by Huijsen. It was seeming to be one of those days for the hosts.
Deep into added time, Kerkez got into the box and drilled a shot into the far corner of the goal. The home fans could not believe what they were witnessing. After Shearer’s title challenge comment, Howe’s side were being played off the park by Bournemouth. His former side gave him a harsh lesson of the levels in the Premier League.
Kluivert has now scored more goals at St James’ Park than his dad ever managed to in a Magpies’ shirt. After the game Howe made reference to his players being tired, the classic excuse of a manager struggling to get his head around why his team were completely outplayed. All the teams in the top-flight tend to play the same amount of games, that is how a league works after all.
Iraola’s side moved to seventh in the table, now just one point behind Newcastle in fourth. More impressively, The Cherries seemed to completely shut Isak out of the game. His first chance came in the 82nd minute. Bournemouth look impressive and the sky is the limit as to where they can finish in the league this season.
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