Kieran Trippier clashes with Newcastle fan at full-tim
Newcastle United have suffered their first Premier League defeat since September following a 2-0 loss against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Dominic Solanke opened the scoring on the hour mark with a close-range finish and the Bournemouth striker sealed the win in the 73rd minute after knocking in a rebound against the jaded visitors.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
A game too far as Bournemouth fans taunt
This felt like a game too far for Newcastle on a night the weary Magpies could just so easily have lost by a bigger margin given the chances Bournemouth created. Andoni Iraola’s team, after all, had 10 shots on target.
It was just so easy for Bournemouth to play through Newcastle for the hosts’ opener and although Antoine Semenyo got a little lucky when the onrushing Joe Willock sent the ball into his own box when closing the midfielder down, Newcastle were too slow to react and Dominic Solanke pounced, firing the hosts ahead.
Newcastle were also caught cold for Bournemouth’s second as the tired black-and-whites, tellingly, conceded a rare goal from a corner kick.
Luis Sinisterra’s header cannoned off the post and, despite substitute Ben Parkinson’s best efforts to clear, Dominic Solanke was quickest to react to double Bournemouth’s advantage.
Newcastle’s lengthy injury list and intense run of fixtures must be taken into account, just days after emptying the tank at Dortmund, and it is worth remembering this was the Magpies’ first league defeat since September.
However, this was still a poor display; relegation-threatened Bournemouth had previously won just once in the Premier League all season and lost five of their previous six top-flight fixtures.
Dominic Solanke of AFC Bournemouth scores the team’s first goalNothing rubbed salt in the wounds quite like Bournemouth fans taunting: “Champions League – you’re having a laugh!” and ‘Can we play you every week?’ in the closing stages. There were even olés in stoppage time.
Injuries pile up and Newcastle lack options in reserve
In some ways, you would have been quicker naming those who were unavailable for this trip to the South Coast with an XI of Newcastle players missing through injury or suspension, including top scorer Callum Wilson, who was ruled out with a tight hamstring.
Two goalkeepers – Martin Dubravka and Mark Gillespie – and three youngsters – Alex Murphy, Ben Parkinson and Amadou Diallo – were once again named on a depleted bench.
You can now add Miguel Almiron to that list of absences after the winger hobbled off after the half-hour mark and, at this rate, Newcastle are losing a player a game, which really is unsustainable.
Replacement Matt Ritchie was given a warm round of applause from Bournemouth fans as he entered the field, at his old stomping ground, but you could soon hear the veteran’s screams as he urged tired Newcastle to push higher up the field and halt Bournemouth’s momentum.
Newcastle lacked options to change the course of this game with Tino Livramento replacing Lewis Hall in a like-for-like change at half-time and Parkinson coming on for Miley shortly after Newcastle went 1-0 down.
The question often asked when an international break comes around is whether it has come at a good time. On this evidence, the answer for Newcastle is undoubtedly yes.
Kieran Trippier stands up to fan at full-time
It is worth pointing out that so many Newcastle fans stayed behind to applaud players and staff off having long retained perspective – just a week after seeing their side become the first to defeat Arsenal in the Premier League this season.
However, when one individual made his feelings clear to Kieran Trippier, the England international stood up for his side: “Were the lads not giving everything?” he asked. “How many injuries have we got? How many injuries have we got?”
Newcastle United’s English defender #02 Kieran Trippier (C) argues with a supporter
Lewis Miley shines even in defeat
The numbers do not lie. Newcastle have failed to win all seven Premier League games without Bruno Guimaraes since the Brazil international made his debut for the club.
Should that even come as a surprise? The playmaker helps make this side tick – not only with his passing ability but, also, with his energy and intensity without the ball when hunting down the opposition.
Newcastle’s poor record without their talisman goes on, but replacement Lewis Miley emerged with immense credit on Saturday evening.
Just days after becoming the youngest player to ever represent Newcastle in a European competition, Lewis Miley made his first Premier League start for the club. It was the latest milestone for a 17-year-old with a bright future.
Lining up against experienced midfielders in Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook, who had eight seasons of Premier League football between them, but the youngster did not look out of place at the base of Newcastle’s midfield.
One piece of neat footwork in the middle of the park even earned a round of applause from the away end, but it was perhaps Miley’s maturity that really caught the eye, whether it was demanding the ball from more senior colleagues; reading the game and often being in the right place at the right time to intercept in the middle of the park; and even getting a clap from Eddie Howe at one stage early on for winning a header.
An unhappy homecoming for Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe was visibly emotional as he made his way around the pitch following the corresponding fixture last season.
It was the first time the former Bournemouth boss had been back to his old stomping ground since leaving the club and he was given a standing ovation with Cherries fans repeatedly chanting: “Eddie Howe’s barmy army!”
There were understandably very different scenes at the end of this game. Bournemouth fans chanted: “Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!” and applauded their former manager off the field at full-time once again, but the dejected Newcastle boss kept his head bowed and walked straight down the tunnel.
