So that’s that then: Bournemouth’s players will be mystified by the fact that they couldn’t convert a chance or two to take something from a game they should have won doing cartwheels. They can take heart from their performance, but looked toothless up front. Newcastle, by contrast, probably [Sunderland-supporting minute-by-minute reporter grits teeth] deserved a break in light of recent events. While this result will in no way make up for their recent sixth consecutive defeat at the hands of Sunderland, their travelling 1,300 strong Toon army will have a long, happy and hopefully safe journey home.
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Full-time at the Vitality Stadium: Bournemouth 0-1 Newcastle
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! It’s all over on the south coast. Ayoze Perez converted Newcastle’s only chance on goal to give Newcastle all three points from a match in which they didn’t play particularly well and were dominated throughout. Rob Elliot was in excellent, if not inspirational form for the Magpies to help lift his side out of the relegation zone, where they will be replaced by today’s hosts.
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90+5 min: Matt Ritchie overhits a long free-kick into the Newcastle penalty area, making life easy for Elliot, who dashes off his line to pluck the ball from the sky.
90+3 min: Robbie Savage awards Rob Elliot his man of the match award, although Rob may not accept the award from somebody who hasn’t won the Champions League or Premier League titles. Newcastle substitution: Vurnon Anita off, Kevin Mbabu on.
90+1 min: We’re into the first of six recommended minutes of added time and I have no idea where that eternity has come from. Junior Stanislas was briefly treated for injury and we’ve had five substitutions, one of which was a double-substitution. I make that four minutes tops. Maybe it was a typo by the fourth official?
89 min: Cheick Tiote picks up the 50th yellow card of his Newcastle career and concedes a free-kick outside his own penalty area. Matt Ritchie takes it, blasting the ball over the bar.
88 min: A rare chance for Papiss Cisse goes a begging as the player is - I think incorrectly - flagged for offside as he chases a through ball from Wijnaldum.
85 min: Should they lose this match, it’s difficult to imagine how Bournemouth’s players will react. On the one hand, they’ve played very well and created no end of chances, which is encouraging. On the other, they’ve failed to convert a single one of those chances, while their two best strikers are sitting in the stands. Callum Wilson is out for the season with injury and busy texting somebody on his mobile phone. Glenn Murray’s presence beside him remains a mystery for now.
83 min: Adam Smith is booked for grabbing a handful of Florian Thauvin’s shirt and giving it a good yank. The ensuing free-kick is flicked on from near post to far, where Fabricio Coloccini heads over from close range. His header actually took a deflection, but no corner is awarded.
82 min: Bournemouth substitution from a couple of minutes ago: Harry Arter off, Tokelo Rantie on. We’re in the final 10 minutes and Newcastle continue to lead 1-0.
79 min: Bournemouth are continuing to dominate possession, but aren’t creating as many openings as they had been before Steve McClaren switched formation to a 4-5-1. Rob Elliot hasn’t had much to do in the past 15 minutes, but he’s called into action here and punches a Matt Ritchie corner from the left clear.
78 min: Newcastle substitution: Goalscorer Ayoze Perez off, to a chorus of boos from the home crowd. Florian Thuavin on.
75 min: Free-kick Bournemouth, wide on the left. Matt Ritchie floats the ball into the area towards Sylvain Distin, but Paul Dummett heads clear. Bournemouth continue to apply the pressure and win another corner. Lee Tomlin takes it, but Distin is penalised for fouling Coloccini.
73 min: Bournemouth corner, which is cleared by Newcastle. Before it was taken, Bournemouth made a double substitution: King and Stanislav off after good performances (although they’ll wonder how they didn’t muster a goal between them), Lee Tomlin and Yann Kermogant on.
72 min: The sun peeks through the clouds over the Vitality Stadium, producing shadows for the players of both teams to chase. Matt Ritchie and Andrew Surman combine beautifully down the right again, with the latter player advancving into the penalty area and forcing Cheick Tiote to intervene and take the ball off his toe.
70 min: Lee Mason penalises Harry Arter for a tug on the back of Sissoko’s shirt and the yellow card comes out. Frustrating stuff for Newcastle, whose players were on a rare sortie into Bournemouth territory and would have relished the advantage being played.
68 min: With Miutrovic gone, Newcastle are now playing five players across the middle of the park, with Perez in a more withdrawn role and Papiss Cisse playing as a lone frontman, in a role I can’t help but feel doesn’t suit him one little bit.
67 min: Bournemouth attack down the right again, with Smith getting dispossessed by Dummett, who concedes a throw-in halfway inside his own half.
64 min: Mbemba gets across to shepherd/nudge Andrew Surman off a through-ball into the penalty area, prompting howls for a penalty from Bournemouth’s supporters. Their pleas go unanswered and from his BT Sport referee-mobile, former referee HOward Webb says it was the correct decision. As fine a fellow as HOward is, I wouldn’t necessarily take that as gospel, as he also thought Lucas shouldn’t have received a second yellow against Chelsea in their match against Liverpool. That said, I don’t think Mbemba didn’t do anything wrong here.
62 min: Another corner for Bournemouth, their 12th. Surman plays the ball into the penalty area towards Gosling, but Newcastle clear. Newcastle substitution: Mitrovic off, Papiss Cisse on.
60 min: Another low cross from Matt Ritchie towards Josh King is put out for a corner, from which nothing comes. Newcastle go down the other end of the field and Perez goes down holding his face after being gently caressed in the neck and lower by the forearm of Simon Francis. Referee Lee Mason isn’t buying it.
58 min: Harry Arter robs Ayoze Perez of possession in midfield to send Bournemouth on the attack again. They go down the right flank, where Ritchie’s low cross into the penalty area is blocked and cleared.
57 min: There’s a break in play as the physios come on to treat Junior Stanislas, wqho’s come out second best from a challenge with Cheick Tiote. It doesn’t seem to be anything too serious.
54 min: Matt Ritchie sends in a high steepling cross from the right that gets caught in the wind, but Rob Elliot does well to get off his line and claim the ball.
52 min: It’s beginning to beggar belief that Bournemouth haven’t scored yet. Completely unmarked on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area, Junior Stanislav runs on to a cross from the right, only to blast the ball over the bar.
49 min: Woeful defending from Newcastle, as Bournemouth continue to tear into them. Stanislas and Arter get their wires crossed on the edge of the penalty area when it looked like the former might tee up the latter for a shot on goal. Moments later, Janmaat puts his goalkeeper in all sorts of bother, passing back to him under pressure when he should have hoofed the ball out of play. Coloccini ends up blocking from an Arter effort from long range.
48 min: Bournemouth have started the second half much as they played the first, with lots of stylish passing. This time the cross comes in from the left and Dan Gosling heads over from eight or nine yards.
Bournemouth get the second half under way
And almost immediately Rob Elliot is forced to tip the ball over the cross-bar for another corner, this time from a Matt Ritchie header. The Bournemouth midfielder made a great run through the centre to get on the end of a cross from the right from six yards.
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Some first half stats: Bournemouth have had nine corners to Newcastle’s none. Bournemouth have had four attempts on target to Newcastle’s one. Bournem,outh have had 12 total attempts on goal to Newcastle’s to one. But in the only stat that matters, Newcastle lead with one goal to nil.
A tip of the hat also to Newcastle’s fans: Despite the distance they’ve had to travel for such an early kick-off, 1,300 of them have packed into the away end of Bournemouth’s stadium. You’d think the gods would smile on them under such circumstances, but no ... it’s spilling down with rain and pretty cold too. Indeed, the weather is so bad that they’re nearly all wearing shirts, while several are wearing coats, often seen as a sign of weakness in the north east environs of Sunderland and Newcastle.
Half-time at the Vitality Stadium: Bournemouth 0-1 Newcastle
That was an entertaing 45 minutes of football in the rain, dominated throughout by Bournemouth, who go in for their half-time brew ... a goal down. Poor old Eddie Howe, who seems to be so unlucky that if he had ducks, they’d almost certainly drown.
A tip ofg the hat to Newcastle, mind - the Magpies have had one chance on goal and taken it, with Ayoze Perez doing the honours. In the Newcastle goal, Rob Elliot has also done exceptionally well to keep Bournemouth scoreless. Newcastle lead at half-time, but I’ll be surprised if there isn’t another goal or two in the second half.
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45 min: Junior Stanislas is fouled by Cheick Tiote as he tries to roll away from the midfielder with the ball at his feet, to give Bournemouth a free-kick not too far inside the Newcastle half. Charlie Daniels curls the ball into the area looking for Simon Francis, but Mitrovic clears for Newcastle.
44 min: Daryl Janmaat gets the first booking of the game for a late challenge on Dan Gosling. He can’t have too many complaints about that, but obviously it doesn’t stop him having a wee moan at referee Lee Mason.
43 min: Distin is penalised for clambering all over Mitrovic as he contests the ball on the edge of the Bournemouth penalty area. Looking at a replay of the Newcastle goal, it seems Perez caught Federici by surprise with an early shot, but the Cherries keeper got a good hand to the ball and really should have done better.
40 min: Bournemouth win another two corners in quick succession, but despite all their huffing and puffing they just can’t blow Newcastle’s door down. Rob Elliot was an injury doubt coming into this match, but he’s made four very good saves to keep Bournemouth scoreless. Newcastle, by contrast, have created just one chance, from which they’ve scored to take the lead. Clinical.
38 min: Bournemouth’s almost relentless pressure yields another corner, when Coloccini heads the ball out for a corner. The excellent Rob Elliot is called into action again when he shows great reflexes to save a Gosling downward header at the far post from close range. He’s having a wonderful game so far.
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36 min: Bournemouth win a few consecutive corners without success, until the ball breaks kindly for Adam Smith on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area. His rising drive fizzes this much over the cross-bar. If he’d kept it down he’d almost certainly have scored.
35 min: They almost scored one just there, with Josh King steering an incoming free-kick goalwards with a flick of his head at the near post. Excellent save from Rob Elliot, who pushes the ball around the upright for a corner.
33 min: Bournemouth have responded well to their set-back and are continuing to knock the ball about in that attractive way for which they’re renowned. On BT Sport, punditry’s Robbie Savage points out that pretty passes are all well and good, but “you’ve got to score goals to stay in this division”.
31 min: Bournemouth win a corner, which is arrowed into the penalty area towards Dan Gosling, only to be out for another corner. This one is played short, for Matt Ritchie to send in a diagonal cross for Distin, who heads wide. His effort wouldn’t have counted even if it had been on target and beaten Rob Elliot, as the linesman had flagged for offside.
28 min: In scenes reminiscent of Sunderland going a goal ahead against Newcastle after being completely dominated for 45 minutes a few weeks ago, Newcastle take the lead. Completely unmarked and making a run through the centre, Perez latched on to a neat flick from the left from Georginio Wijnaldum and shot very early from the edge of the area. Adam Federici got down and got a hand to the ball, but was unable to prevent it from trickling over the line.
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GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Newcastle (Perez 27)
Would you believe it - Ayoze Perez gives Newcastle a thoroughly undeserved lead that comes totally against the run of play.
24 min: Newcastle are looking fairly bereft of ideas, in a state of affairs which is encapsulated when their back four pass the ball amongst themselves inside their own half, before giving it to Ayoze Perez, who promptly misplaces a pass to Daryl Janmaat and puts the ball out of play for a throw-in on the halfway line.
23 min: Fabricio Coloccini plays the ball through the middle towards Aleksandar Mitrovic, but Sylvain Distin hacks clear.
22 min: Josh King gets the ball at his feet and dribbles into the Newcastle penalty area. He takes it around Fabricio Coloccini and appears to hesitate, waiting - in vain - for the centre-half to foul him and give away a penalty, before firing at Eliot from a narrow angle with his right foot. The goalkeeper saves at his near post, but it would have been criminal if he’d let such a weak shot past him.
18 min: Newcastle win a free-kick just inside the Bournemouth half and Cheick Tiote larrups the ball forward towards Aleksandar Mitrovic. Adam Smith wins the header, only for Newcastle to win another free-kick out near the touchline when Fabricio Coloccini goes down under a fairly soft challenge.
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16 min: With just over 15 minutes gone, Bournemouth have been quickest to settle, while Newcastle haven’t turned up at all yet. Matt Ritchie brings a save out of Elliot after his attempted cross from the right is deflected goalwards off Fabricio Coloccini.
14 min: Josh King and the crowd behind the Newcastle goal appeal for a penalty after the striker nutmegged Fabricio Coloccini just inside the penalty area and attempted to barge through the defender, rather than nip round him. No penalty is forthcoming from referee Lee Mason.
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13 min: “They look vulnerable down this right-hand side, Newcastle,” says BT Sport co-comms man Glenn Hoddle. “Bournemouth keep getting in behind Anita and if they do thaqt they’re going to create chances.”
11 min: Dan Gosling is penalised for barging into Vurnon Anita in the Newcastle penalty area. Moments previously, Rob Elliot was forced to dash off his line and get down at the feet of the onrushing king to pick up a rogue back pass.
10 min: Stanislas is playing well here. This time he dribbles past Moussa Sissoko to the byline, before attempting to pull the ball across the face of Newcastle’s goal to pick out King. Newcastle clear.
7 min: Bournemouth continue to pile on the pressure, attacking down the left flank with players congregated on the edge of their penalty area, trying to find an opening. One duly appears, when the ball’s rolled into the path f Matt Ritchie, who fluffs his low drive from 18 yards.
6 min: Charlie Daniels and Stanislas combine well down the left flank and win a corner as they attempt to work the ball towards King in the channel. Bournemouth’s corner is cleared at the near post.
5 min: Good play from Josh King, who picks out a run from Junior Stanislas down the right side of the Newcastle penalty area. He shoots from a narrow angle, bringing a good save out of Rob Elliot at the near post. Corner for Bournemouth, which Newcastle clear.
3 min: Daryl Janmaat gets forward from the Newcastle right-back position, but puts the ball out for a throw-in deep in Bournemouth’s half for a throw-in. Not much going on here early doors.
2 min: Newcastle control possession in the opening stages, but concede an early free-kick free-kick for offside when the ball’s played forward towards Mitrovic. Soon after, Bournemouth win a throw-in halfway inside their own half, but Newcastle win possession and clear.
Newcastle kick off against Bournemouth ...
Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic get the ball rolling with the wind blowing a gale and the rain spilling heavily.
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Not long now ...
The players are out on the very greasy pitch going through the pre-match formalities. Kick-off is in four minutes. Bournemouth’s players wear their usual home kit of black and red striped shirts, black shorts and black socks. Newcastle’s players wear white shirts with light blue collar trim and epaulettes, Light blue shorts and white socks. There’s an impeccably observed minute’s silence for Remembrance Sunday and kick off is imminent.
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Those team selections ...
Eddie Howe has made two changes to the side which lost at Southampton last Sunday, with speed merchant Josh King and winger Junior Stanislas in for Marc Pugh and Glenn Murray. Steve McClaren fields the same team that started last weekend’s scoreless draw against Stoke City. Curiously, Glenn Murray hasn’t made Bournemouth’s match-day squad. I’m not sure if he’s dropped or carrying a knock, but will let you know if I hear anything.
Weather report
It’s tipping down with rain at the Withdean Stadium, where the players are warming up for their 12.45pm kick-off. It’s 16 degrees, with a stiff breeze on the English riviera.
Bournemouth v Newcastle United line-ups
Bournemouth: Federici, Smith, Francis, Distin, Daniels, Ritchie, Surman, Gosling, Stanislas, Arter, King.
Subs: Boruc, Cook, Rantie, MacDonald, Kermorgant, Tomlin, Bennett.
Newcastle: Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Wijnaldum, Tiote, Mitrovic, Perez.
Subs: Cisse, De Jong, Gouffran, Lascelles, Thauvin, Woodman, Mbabu.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Eddie Howe interview
Bournemouth’s workaholic manager is just 37 years old, but today’s match against Newcastle will be his 345th as a manager. Stuart James got him to stop gadding about his training complex to sit down for a chat earlier this week and the subsequent interview is well worth a few minutes of your time.
Good day, sports fans ...
Showing their usual disdain for football fans who actually attend games, the Premier League and BT Sport conspired to make an already gruelling expedition for travelling Newcastle fans embarking on the 712-mile round trip to Bournemouth even more unpleasant (or expensive) by scheduling the game for their Saturday lunchtime kick-off. As if those poor Geordies haven’t suffered enough already this season, they’ll have had to drag themselves out of bed at around 5am to make it to Dean Court in time for kick-off. Here’s hoping they had a safe journey.
In an early season relegation six-pointer, it remains to be seen whether or not their team will make the long journey home less fraught for their supporters, sitting as they do just a point behind Bournemouth in 17th and looking for their second win of the season.
Both teams have been desperately unlucky with injuries this season, with Bournemouth having lost their top scorer Callum Wilson, as well as record signing Tyrone Mings for the season and winger Max Gradel, their second most expensive signing, for six months. Skipper Tommy Elphick is also out for the new year, while Chelsea loanee Christian Atsu is back in London recovering from a stress fracture. This afternoon, the participation of holy goalie Artur Boruc and defender Steve Cook are also major doubt.
For Newcastle, whose injury list runs into double figures, goalkeeper Tim Krul remains sidelined for the season, but Rob Elliott has recovered from a thigh problem and will deputise. Defender Daryl Janmaat is also fit to play, despite hobbling off in Newcastle’s scoreless draw with Stoke last weekend. Midfielder Jack Colback in unavailable and is expected to be out for six weeks with a knee injury.
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