Bournemouth vs Newcastle United. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance10,808.
Saturday 24 February 2018 19:39, UK
A late goal from Dan Gosling snatched a point for Bournemouth as they held Newcastle to a 2-2 draw in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Magpies cruised into a 2-0 first-half lead thanks to a Dwight Gayle double (17, 45+1) and looked to be heading for victory but with ten minutes to play, Adam Smith hammered home via the underside of the crossbar (80).
Bournemouth then piled on the pressure and former Magpie Gosling tapped in with just a minute remaining to see the points shared.
Although Newcastle are now four games without defeat in the Premier League, results elsewhere mean they drop to 15th in the table with 29 points, while Bournemouth remain 10th.
Bournemouth had their best spell of the first half early on and had two good chances in the opening ten minutes. Gosling could only send a darting Junior Stanislas cross over the bar with his head, before Martin Dubravka was forced into a low save to keep out a shot from Callum Wilson after Stanislas' free-kick.
But Newcastle deservedly took the lead in the 17th minute. Jonjo Shelvey played a sublime ball over the top for Matt Ritchie to latch onto down the right-hand side. He then flashed a ball across the face of goal, and after ricocheting off Asmir Begovic and Steve Cook, the ball landed at the feet of Gayle, who back-heeled it into the net.
He added his second on the stroke of half-time after Bournemouth failed to properly clear a Newcastle corner. It allowed Paul Dummett to float a cross to Ayoze Perez at the back post, who then slotted the ball across the face of goal - and under the body of Begovic - for Gayle to tap home.
Both sides had chances to score the next goal throughout the second half. The best for Newcastle came in the 72nd minute as Perez sent the ball wide of goal from point-blank range after a free-kick, before Dubravka was forced into a leaping save to keep out a powerful header from Steve Cook.
But Bournemouth made the breakthrough with ten minutes of normal time left. After some great hold-up play, Josh King found Lewis Cook down the left, who in turn flicked the ball into the path of Smith on the edge of the box and after taking a touch, the defender hit a fierce volley that pinged into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar.
It put wind into the sails of Bournemouth, who had been off-colour for much of the game, and they scored the equaliser in the 89th minute. After a flick from Lys Mousset, Nathan Ake surged down the left-hand side of the box before putting in a cross, which found the feet of the waiting Gosling and he hit home from close range into the top corner to ensure the points were shared.
Eddie Howe: "We have to be satisfied with the point we have. It's been a strange afternoon because for a long spell of the game, we weren't what we wanted to be and at 2-0 down, it looked like a long way back.
"But credit to the players, we found something, changed the system, changed players and for 20 minutes, we looked like the team we want to be on a more consistent basis. At the end there, I thought we were going to win the game.
Rafa Benitez: "I think it's a pity because the team was doing well and had chances to score the third goal but that is football and the Premier League. We were really pleased with the first half and even at the start of the second half, but when we conceded the goal, we lost the composure and control."
It was an assured performance from Shelvey at the Vitality Stadium, especially in the first half where Newcastle looked very comfortable.
He had a hand in setting up Gayle's opening goal with a superb pass over the top, and produced a few more although they did not prove as fruitful. He also put a shift in when taking advantage of some sloppy Bournemouth play and showed off what a talent he can be.
Next up for Bournemouth is a trip to Leicester on Saturday in the Premier League while Newcastle are also on the road at Liverpool for the late kickoff.
