Seeking to bounce back from a midweek continental defeat in Dortmund, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United would feel confident of securing a result against a struggling Bournemouth side – with the Cherries sitting inside the relegation zone ahead of kickoff on Saturday.
BOU: Neto; Kelly, Senesi, Zabarnyi, Aarons; Cook, Christie; Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo; Solanke
NEW: Pope; Hall, Schär, Lascelles, Trippier; Willock, Miley, Longstaff; Joelinton, Gordon, Almirón
Saturday’s performance was a troubled one for the visitors, to say the least. Perhaps freed from the shackles of expectation, Andoni Iraola’s Cherries were the force to be reckoned with – but squandered opportunities throughout the first half ensured the game remained goalless at the break.
But it looked as though the floodgates would open when Dominic Solanke broke the deadlock on the hour mark, capitalising on a lucky deflection off Joe Willock to slam home a close-range finish.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe’d net his second less than fifteen minutes later, pouncing to poke home a rebounded strike after Luis Sinisterra saw his header bounce back off the woodwork.
With the travelling fans clearly frustrated by the result, Kieran Trippier found himself embroiled in a heated argument following the match – with the England international citing the long injury list as a contributing factor to their defeat.
The Magpies will host Chelsea after the international break, while Bournemouth must travel to Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane.
