More boos as pressure cranks up on Eddie Howe - Newcastle 1-2 Bournemouth

Another crushing defeat for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle as Bournemouth became the latest side to leave Tyneside with all three points on Saturday afternoon.

It was an utterly weak, lifeless and miserable display, where a lack of ideas from the off was met with a spineless effort from those on the pitch.

That’s now SIX defeats in our last seven domestic games at St James’ Park, and a display that raises more questions than answers as the pressure on Howe cranks up another notch.

Where was the desire to fight for the manager, for the fans or our fading European hopes? Where was evidence of us mixing things up after another full week on the training ground? Poor defensively again, no control in midfield and barely a save to make for Petrovic.

Howe made three changes from that 2-1 defeat at Palace last Sunday, as Ramsey, Elanga and Barnes replaced Joelinton (suspended), Murphy and Gordon, who was missing with a suspicious hip injury.

Newcastle XI: Ramsdale - Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Hall - Tonali, Miley, Ramsey - Elanga, Osula, Barnes.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic - Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert - Scott, Christie - Rayan, Kroupi, Tavernier - Evanilson.

“Eddie Howe’s black and white army” was sung around St James’ Park several times in the opening two minutes. The early support was there to encourage an out of sorts side, but they looked lost, unable to respond and lacking all over the pitch once again.

Barnes dragged one shot wide after good work from Elanga and Osula on the break, although that came just seconds after Tavernier’s goal-bound effort was blocked. We had no control of the game, were playing like a bunch of strangers and there was a distinct lack of fight from the side, who looked to be wilting under the pressure, not rising to the occasion when they owed us response.

Livramento was half asleep (again), Elanga kept misplacing simple passes, our midfield couldn’t get a grip of the game, Osula was struggling to hold up the ball and Barnes looked hesitant and unable to beat his man. Tonali was giving his all and Miley had moments, but we just looked like strangers missing quality, leadership, pressing and/or any real patterns of play.

Then came the Bournemouth goal. Rayan was found too easily, Hall was beaten too easily, and the Brazilian’s cross was tapped in by Tavernier, who wanted it more than Tino. It could’ve got worse as well, with Evanilson somehow failing to tap in Scott’s ball across the box.

Hall was withdrawn at the break, apparently as a tactical switch, as Trippier came on and Tino moved to left-back. Yet, in typical Tino fashion, he broke down in the second half with yet another injury that might just end his season early.

It didn’t get much better and we saw Bruno and Murphy come on, replacing Ramsey and a frankly awful Elanga. As a unit, we barely improved, although it was Bruno’s desire to get the ball forward that led to our equaliser, with Osula bursting through on goal, sorting his feet out and finding the finish.

1-1 and a chance to push for a season-saving three points at the Gallowgate, but we found a way to throw it away. Again. A fast Bournemouth attack and teasing Tavernier cross left Ramsdale scrambling, Botman and Burn colliding, and Truffert to react first from Evanilson’s knockdown. There were 10 players in the box, yet it was their left back who tapped in.

Woltemade then came on, perhaps 90 minutes too late, and aside from one Bruno shot and Burn’s header over, that was that. Another crushing defeat, more boos and any hope we might just salvage this season all but gone.

Next up, a trip to Arsenal next weekend before Brighton come to town in two weeks time.

Keep the faith. Howay the lads.