Newcastle United vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
St James' Park, NewcastleAttendance52,107.
Sunday 6 March 2016 14:14, UK
Bournemouth boosted their survival hopes and piled the pressure on Newcastle and Steve McClaren with a 3-1 win at St James' Park on Saturday.
Newcastle's players once again failed to deliver on the pitch and were booed off by their own fans after a disappointing display.
They fell behind in unfortunate style after 28 minutes as Josh King's cross was turned into his own net by Steven Taylor.
King doubled the advantage in the 70th minute before Ayoze Perez replied to give Newcastle hope, but Charlie Daniels made sure of victory with a third goal for the visitors in injury-time.
While the win moves Bournemouth 11 points clear of the relegation zone, Newcastle remain rooted in the bottom three and the pressure increases on their manager, who had to endure chants questioning his future from disgruntled fans.
McClaren opted to hand Emmanuel Riviere his first start of the season in place of Aleksandar Mitrovic while Perez came in for Yoan Gouffran.
The hosts made a positive start as Moussa Sissoko crossed just over Riviere's head and Jonjo Shelvey dragged a shot wide.
But Bournemouth also created chances as Max Gradel's effort deflected past the post and Benik Afobe fired over the bar from 12 yards out.
Simon Francis then blocked a first-time shot from Riviere as neither side was able to assert any control in the early stages.
Bournemouth got the breakthrough after 28 minutes, though, as Taylor slid to block a cross from King and ended up diverting it into his own net.
McClaren's response was to bring on Vurnon Anita for Paul Dummett but it took the hosts until late in the half to fashion a chance as Taylor's shot was deflected just wide.
Riviere was replaced by Aleksandar Mitrovic at the break, but it was the visitors who nearly increased their lead as Adam Smith forced Rob Elliot into a save.
The Cherries continued to set the pace although Mitrovic did go close with a curling shot in the 61st minute and Artur Boruc saved from Daryl Janmaat.
But the visitors doubled their advantage with 20 minutes remaining when King turned in the box and lashed a shot past Elliot.
Perez gave the home side hope when he reduced the deficit with nine minutes remaining, but Daniels made sure of the result by firing home in injury-time.
Soccer Saturday verdict - Paul Merson
"Newcastle didn't get beat, they got well beat. You're talking about a team, Bournemouth, who have just come up, nowhere near the stature of club Newcastle are, and you'd have thought it was the other way around. It was a phenomenal performance by Bournemouth.
"It must be hard to play at Newcastle. After 10 minutes the crowd were on their backs. They were booing. I haven't heard booing like this. They made a sub after 15 mins, the crowd were booing. He was injured. You don't take him off and put Colback at left back - McClaren isn't that silly - but the crowd go mad. Then Sissoko comes off and they go mad again. He's up against it. It reminds me of Sam Allardyce at West Ham. The crowd, whatever you do, it doesn't make any difference.
"When you're losing every week it isn't nice. But these players are Premier League players. They play in the Premier League and get Premier League wages. So step in and play Premier League football and be like a Premier League player and defend like a Premier League player. Prove that you're good enough. Bournemouth were so much better than them it was beyond a joke."
Player ratings
Newcastle: Elliot (6), Janmaat (6), Taylor (5), Lascelles (5), Dummett (4), Shelvey (6), Colback (5), Sissoko (5), Perez (6), Wijnaldum (5), Riviere (5).
Subs: Anita (5), Aarons (5), Mitrovic (6).
Bournemouth: Boruc (6), Smith (6), Francis (7), Cook (6), Daniels (7), Ritchie (6), Gosling (6), Surman (6), Gradel (6), Afobe (6), King (7).
Subs: Pugh (5), Distin (5), Grabban (5).
Man of the match: Josh King.
