Newcastle will settle for a point at Bournemouth and perhaps feel very fortunate to do so following a controversial end to their comeback draw at the Vitality Stadium.
The Magpies trailed on a Marcus Tavernier goal but had found themselves level through Anthony Gordon as they pushed for a winner.
It was Bournemouth instead who made it 2-1, but the goal was taken off the board as Dango Ouattara’s would-be winner was deemed to have struck too low below his shoulder and was deemed a “factual handball.”
So the shirt-sleeve metric was clearly misunderstood by many, and Newcastle escapes with a point from a tense, tight affair on the south coast of England.
The Magpies managed to beat Southampton 1-0 on opening day despite a Fabian Schar red card, and the Swiss defender’s absence was felt as Bournemouth continuously pushed play and Eddie Howe’s men looked sluggish for large portions of the game at his longtime home.
Bournemouth entered off an away draw with Nottingham Forest and will feel aggrieved to not have taken all three points on Sunday. Cherries boss Andoni Iraola was furious with the overturning of Ouattara’s goal and his comments should be worth the price of admission.
Fortunate Magpies get subs right
Newcastle started brightly but faded after 10 minutes or so as Bournemouth produced most of the danger in the first half. The Magpies trailed at the break and there’s no reason to say it wasn’t a deserved deficit.
The traffic was two-way in the second half as Newcastle chased the equalizer and then both teams fought for a winner. Harvey Barnes was terrific on the wing and Joe Willock brought more creativity to the midfield while equaling Sean Longstaff’s effort. And the mix seemed to wake up Anthony Gordon after a poor first half.
But the fact remains that Bournemouth out-produced the Magpies, who were missing regular center back Fabian Schar through suspension, and could’ve won on multiple occasions. The biggest moment, of course, was the handball call that took Dango Ouattara’s stoppage-time winner off the board and left many — including this writer — re-evaluating their understanding of what represents the shirt sleeve in the rule book (It seems to be the shoulder muscle and not the cloth sleeve of a short-sleeve top.
Bournemouth vs Newcastle player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Bournemouth vs Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Bournemouth vs Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Bournemouth go to West Ham for a League Cup scrap on Wednesday, then to Everton at 10am ET Saturday in the Premier League.
Newcastle go to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday for their League Cup match, and will host Tottenham at 8:30am ET Sunday.
How to watch Bournemouth vs Newcastle, stream link and start time
Kick off: 9 am ET, Sunday (August 25)
Stadium: Vitality Stadium
Online: Watch live on Peacock
Bournemouth vs Newcastle live updates — By Nick Mendola
Bournemouth vs Newcastle final score: 1-1
Marcus Tavernier 37', Gordon 77'
PGMOL explains handball call
#BOUNEW – 90+3’ VAR OVERTURN
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) August 25, 2024
Ouattara’s goal is awarded on-field. The VAR overturned the decision as they deemed it to be a factual handball by Ouattara, therefore an on-field review was not required and the goal was disallowed.
Dango Ouattara at the death! Or not!
Bournemouth look to have won this, but VAR is having a look at Dango Ouattara’s late finish off a corner kick.
David Coote signals it will not stand.
Ouattara got the ball with his bicep and it hit fabric, so was the call about his elbow contacting Burn’s head?
A headscratcher.
What a ball from Barnes! Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle (77th minute)
Harvey Barnes is given all kinds of time to seek a target from the left wing.
He sends a delightful invitation to the back post and Anthony Gordon doesn’t miss his chance to make it 1-1.
Better from the visitors
Harvey Barnes has a chance — he’s on the left, as Anthony Gordon’s on the right — and just misses with a fireball across goal.
We’re set up for a strong final 20+ minutes.
Magpies flip the right side
Eddie Howe’s seen enough. Tino Livramento and Jacob Murphy are out.
Entering are Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes in the 58th minute, as Bournemouth have looked in relative control.
Halftime — Bournemouth 1-0 Newcastle United
Newcastle started really well but the Cherries are the better side through 45 minutes.
The Magpies have three shot attempts and might be in front if Gordon tracked Isak’s great work to the back post.
But Bournemouth have produced much more danger, reflected in their 0.92 xG to Newcastle’s 0.14.
Bournemouth break through!
Newcastle manage only a sleepy reaction after Joelinton loses the ball at midfield, and Antoine Semenyo takes advantage.
His free, mazy dribble allows him to whip in a pass that a just-onside Tavernier taps home in front of interested observer Tino Livramento.
Tavernier and his brother — Rangers star James Tavernier — both spent the early parts of their careers in Newcastle’s academy.
Cherries, Magpies trade chances
The first quarter-hour was almost all Newcastle in terms of chances, but Bournemouth have fired into the 18.
New signing Evanilson nearly has it 1-0 but Nick Pope makes a good reaction save with his left leg.
Newcastle go the other way and Alexander Isak’s brilliant dribble and pass should’ve been an assist if Anthony Gordon was following the ball to the back post.
Bournemouth lineup
Neto, Kerkez, Cook, Senesi, Zabarnyi, Araujo, Christie, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Evanilson
Newcastle lineup
Pope, Krafth, Kelly, Burn, Livramento, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Joelinton, Murphy, Gordon, Isak
Bournemouth team news, focus
- OUT: Enes Unal (ankle), Tyler Adams (back), David Brooks (shoulder)
Evanilson is expected to make his Bournemouth debut — whether from the start or off the bench — against Newcastle, and it’ll be pivotal for the Cherries that he gets up to speed quickly. Andoni Iraola’s side will quickly fall into the relegation fight if their chance creation is as poor and inconsistent as it was in the opener. The reason for the $52-million price tag? 25 goals in 42 appearances for Porto last season.
Newcastle team news, focus
- OUT: Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Lewis Miley (ankle), Sandro Tonali (suspension), Callum Wilson (back), Fabian Schar (suspension)
Perhaps we will see something a bit more expansive from Newcastle in this one, with Howe keen to play more positively with possession and feed start striker Alexander Isak. The 24-year-old Swede picked up the assist on Joelinton’s goal, but didn’t have a single shot of his own and had just 22 touches in 90 minutes against Southampton.
“It wasn’t an enjoyable game to experience,” Howe admitted after the game. “The result is unbelievable for us, but how we got there was very, very difficult. The sending off changed the game completely.”
Bournemouth vs Newcastle prediction
Most of the game will be played on the counter-attack, and that favors Newcastle anytime Isak and Anthony Gordon get to combine in the open field. Bournemouth 1-2 Newcastle.