Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle United: Visitors match club record unbeaten run in the league

Newcastle extended their unbeaten run to a club record-equalling 17 league games but were forced to settle for a point on Eddie Howe’s return to Bournemouth.

However, it was Bournemouth who went in front after half an hour when Dango Ouattara flicked on a corner and Marcos Senesi was left unmarked at the far post to stab home.

Miguel Almiron equalised for the Magpies in first-half stoppage time, firing into the bottom corner after Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto had kept out Sean Longstaff’s shot following good work down the left by Allan Saint-Maximin.

Anthony Gordon missed a glorious opportunity to put Newcastle in front in the 70th minute and although the visitors pressed for a winner late on, it was Bournemouth who came closest to taking all three points when Dominic Solanke’s flick was cleared off the line by Kieran Trippier in the last minute of the 90.

Newcastle stay fourth after a fifth draw in six Premier League games, while Bournemouth move to within a point of safety but stay 19th.

Newcastle miss opportunity to strengthen grip on top four

It shows how far Newcastle have come under Howe that there will be frustration following a result that keeps gives them a two-point cushion in fourth.

But while they are still far exceeding pre-season expectations, they now hold themselves to a higher standard and, up against a side battling relegation, they failed to meet it.

Bruno Guimaraes was serving the second game of a three-match ban and was sorely missed in the midfield, particularly during an uncharacteristically sloppy first-half showing.

There was an improvement in the second half but save for Gordon’s gilt-edged chance when Neto spilled Saint-Maximin’s shot and smothered Longstaff’s follow-up, Newcastle chances were at a premium.

It is a third straight draw and fifth in six games, and while a point at Arsenal can be seen as a point gained, draws with Leeds, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Bournemouth fall closer to the two points dropped category.

For all that a top-four finish this season would appear to show Newcastle are ahead of schedule under Howe, in a season in which Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are all under-performing to differing extents, a better chance may be a long time coming.

Newcastle are still ahead of the chasing pack, and with the Carabao Cup final to come as well there is every reason for optimism and enthusiasm at St James’ Park, but they will hope this run of draws does not result in a feeling of ‘what might have been’ come the end of the season.

Bournemouth centimetres away from three precious points

Every point is important when you’re in a relegation scrap and taking one off a side competing at the top of the table might even be considered a bonus.

Bournemouth have every reason to be satisfied with their performance against Newcastle but they came ever so close to a memorable win.

Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope’s poor pass out from the back put Sven Botman in trouble, Hamed Traore nipped in and his low cross was flicked goalwards by Solanke.

Pope was beaten but Trippier got back on the goalline to hack the ball clear.

It would be exaggerating to say Bournemouth deserved to win but the way Gary O’Neil’s side stood up to Newcastle should give them confidence for the matches to come.

Senesi’s goal – his first for Bournemouth – came after a good spell from the home side, they forced some of Newcastle’s untidiness and could have been further ahead had the decision making and execution been better in a number of promising situations.

Defensively, they were solid for much of the game and, after conceding late in recent games with Nottingham Forest and Brighton, the manner in which they kept Newcastle at arm’s length in the closing stages was a big step forward.

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