Bournemouth vs Newcastle United. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance11,201.
Report and highlights as Dominic Solanke's second-half double sees Bournemouth take full advantage of a depleted Newcastle; injury-hit visitors have their seven-match unbeaten run in Premier League ended; Bournemouth win their second league game of the season to move out of relegation zone
Sunday 12 November 2023 07:15, UK
A depleted Newcastle saw their seven-match unbeaten Premier League run ended at Bournemouth as Dominic Solanke's second-half double gave the home side a deserved 2-0 win.
Newcastle were without 11 players due to either injuries or suspension and their absentee list grew longer at the Vitality Stadium as Miguel Almiron was forced off with injury in the first half.
Bournemouth took full advantage of Newcastle's issues to win just their second league game of the season and move out of the relegation zone.
After Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope had made a string of first-half saves, Solanke finally made the breakthrough for the home side in the 60th minute as he fired post Pope at his near post.
Solanke then doubled Bournemouth's lead 13 minutes later with an inventive close-range finish from a corner that sealed back-to-back wins for the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium for the first time since last season.
Newcastle, meanwhile, drop to seventh and are four points off the top four as Eddie Howe's side head into a much-needed international break.
Injury-hit Newcastle, who gave 17-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley his first Premier League start, were immediately put under pressure by Bournemouth as Pope was forced into a second-minute save to deny Antoine Semenyo from outside the box.
Newcastle's best effort in a tepid first-half performance came in the eighth minute as returning Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto tipped Sean Longstaff's rising drive from distance over the bar.
But it was one-way traffic after that save, as Neto's opposite number Pope was forced into action twice in four minutes.
First the England international denied Justin Kluivert in the 29th minute and then he pulled off his best save of the first half as he got down low to push away Ryan Christie's powerful shot through a crowd of bodies.
Newcastle's injury crisis then deepened as Almiron was forced off and replaced by former Bournemouth player Matt Ritchie.
The Cherries nearly inflicted further pain on Howe's side in the 37th minute, only for Semenyo to put a first-time effort wide of the far post when cleverly played in by Solanke's backheel.
Howe introduced Tino Livramento at half-time for Lewis Hall but Bournemouth's dominance continued as the substitute blocked Semenyo's strike inside the box after Solanke had earlier failed to capitalise on Kieran Trippier's poor backpass.
Solanke was then handed another opportunity via a Newcastle player as Semenyo's heavy touch rebounded off Joe Willock into his path in the box to allow him to fire past Pope at his near post and give the home side a deserved 60th-minute lead.
Anthony Gordon did his best to draw the visitors level three minutes later as he superbly beat Illia Zabarnyi only to fire straight at Neto from outside the box.
But the game was put beyond Newcastle in the 73rd minute as Solanke cleverly flicked in from a corner.
Howe's side had Pope to thank as he prevented Bournemouth from adding a third with several late saves.
Such were Newcastle's personnel problems, they ended the match with substitute Ben Parkinson, an 18-year-old striker who had never previously made a first-team appearance.
Asked about the incident, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe told Sky Sports:
"I did see that and I just think there is high emotion at the end of games. We really appreciate our away support. Everyone is valued and we're just disappointed with the result.
"The break has come at a good time for us but I don't necessarily think it will bring a flood of players back. We have long-term injured players. Hopefully we can get one or two back, while Bruno [Guimaraes] was suspended at a bad time.
"We didn't have the options on the bench to change things and Miggy [Almiron's] injury made things even harder. There's no criticism of the young guys who came in today but it was a tough environment for them. We suffered the consequences.
"In an ideal world, there were a couple of players we'd have liked to have brought off sooner than we did today and it's just a sign of how stretched we are."
Howe also revealed Callum Wilson will withdraw from the England squad.
The striker was called up by Gareth Southgate this week for the match against Malta at Wembley on Friday and the trip to North Macedonia on Monday.
But Wilson suffered a hamstring injury in Newcastle's Champions League defeat against Borussia Dortmund in midweek and missed the defeat at Bournemouth.
Afterwards, Howe confirmed Wilson faces a spell on the sidelines.
He said: "Callum won't travel with England. He's going to be out for a number of weeks."
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports:
"I'm obviously happy because we needed these three points but even happier with the performance. The players deserve it. We kept pushing and we deserved it.
"It was key for us to make them feel like it won't be an easy game for them and make them feel uncomfortable under pressure. They play quite open and in transitional games, but that is a style that suits us.
"I think the substitutes gave us this energy and we had spaces for the counter-attack. It was becoming dangerous. We had chances to close the game - score a third one and finish it - but luckily we kept our clean sheet and could win the game.
"Dominic Solanke has been very good for us since the beginning of the season. He not only gives us goals, he gives us a lot of work, he is always a threat in the space and is good covering the ball. He is a pleasure to have in the team."
After the international break, Bournemouth travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United; kick-off 3pm.
Newcastle are also back in action on Saturday November 25. They host Chelsea at St James' Park; kick-off 3pm.
