Newcastle 2-2 Bournemouth: Ritchie rescues point in another chaotic clash
Have we all recovered from that?
Inn another pulse-raising encounter Eddie Howe again failed to get one over his former club Bournemouth in an end-to-end draw in the Premier League.
It was goalless at half-time after Martin Dubravka made some brilliant saves to deny Dominic Solanke, but the in-form forward got the better of Dubravka five minutes into the second half to open the scoring after the Slovakian's costly slip.
Seven minutes later Anthony Gordon levelled the score, but Bournemouth were ahead again 10 minutes after that through Semenyo until Matt Ritchie’s first goal in four years restored parity in a frantic final few moments.
It comes as more questions over Dan Burn’s ability as a top level left back persist and compounds the headache for Eddie Howe.
51 minutes into the game Dubravka slipped after receiving a back pass letting Solanke tap into an empty net. It was unfortunate for the Slovakian keeper who was celebrating his 150th appearance for the Toon.
It took seven minutes (and a lengthy VAR check) for Howe’s Mags to level the game. Fabian Schar was impeded in the box after a set piece was swung in. VAR checked the foul and then checked an offside but eventually a penalty was awarded after referee Michael Salisbury was sent to the monitor. Gordon dispatched his spot kick calmly to the goalkeeper’s right.
But Dan Burn, who had not had his worst game in recent weeks up to this point, was again lost by Semenyo who peeled away easily and had acres of space when he received his pass to go on to smash the ball into the far corner to restore Bournemouth’s lead with 20 minutes to play.
Bournemouth were resolute in the closing periods of the game and as gaps began to open in our midfield because of the fact we were chasing the game, the game became more and more stretched.
Howe brought on youngster Joe White in the 10 minutes of stoppage time alongside Matt Ritchie. The Scot was on the pitch for around 90 seconds before heading the ball goalwards from a cracking ball into the box and smashing in the resulting rebound to equalise once more.
It was another frantic and pulse-raising game in which few minds will have been changed. Newcastle can grab goals, but defensive frailties are more and more visible.
All eyes on Howe’s next teamsheet as Newcastle remain seventh, but miss out on the chance to close the gap to Manchester United and pounce on Tottenham home defeat to Wolves.
NUFC XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Miley, Longstaff, Bruno, Almiron, Gordon, Barnes.
SUBS: Karius, Dummett, Lascelles, Ritchie, Krafth, Hall, Livramento, Murphy, White.
