Newcastle United vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
St James' Park, NewcastleAttendance52,237.
Saturday 4 November 2017 23:24, UK
Steve Cook scored a 92nd-minute winner to give Bournemouth a vital 1-0 victory at Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday.
Cook arrived in the area from an Andrew Surman corner at the death, meeting it with a bullet a header past Rob Elliot to give struggling Bournemouth all three points.
Asmir Begovic and Elliot kept the scores level in the first half with two fine saves each, while Dwight Gayle had a goal ruled out for offside, despite replays showing he was just level.
Bournemouth had the best chances of the second half through Callum Wilson, who struck wide having been played through one-on-one with Elliot, and then Marc Pugh, who hit the post after a fine deflection by Ciaran Clark.
The result means Bournemouth move out of the relegation zone into 16th, while Newcastle drop into the bottom half.
Both sides had chances during an entertaining opening half, the first falling to Matt Ritchie as his 25-yard piledriver was tipped wide superbly by Begovic.
Gayle's far-post header on the stretch was then blocked well by Cook before Begovic again dived to beat away Christian Atsu's fierce half-volley from 25 yards.
Gayle looked level with the last defender as he rolled the ball into the net after Ritchie's curling effort from 25 yards came back off the post, but the linesman ruled it out for offside.
At the other end, Elliot tipped over Wilson's looping header and then did well to hold Josh King's shot from an angle as Bournemouth broke forward in numbers.
Wilson should have made it 1-0 after the break, hitting wide after being put through one-on-one by King, before Pugh hit the post from eight yards after beating Elliot, seeing his shot come off the foot of Clark and onto the woodwork.
But Bournemouth got the goal the game deserved in the second minute of injury time as Cook met Surman's out-swinging corner with a fine header into the top corner, giving them only their third win of the season.
Rafa Benitez: "We have created chances in every game, then we have to score, that's it, it's not just to create, after you have to take your chances.
"We have to keep going, we know we are Newcastle, a good team that has been promoted, and we were doing really well, so we have to go back to our principles."
Eddie Howe: "It's a great header from Steve Cook and a deserved three points I think. We had enough to win the game before that moment, but we'll take any win, regardless of how it comes.
"Back to back away wins is huge, our away record prior to this wasn't great. You need to know you can win anywhere, it's a huge win for us and hopefully that will lift our season."
In a game full of chances both defensive thirds saw plenty of the ball, Francis stood out for Bournemouth alongside match-winner Steve Cook and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Francis had more touches than any player on the pitch, and won an impressive 75 per cent of his 29 duels with Newcastle players, and 80 per cent of aerial duels.
He also made a team-high four tackles, and constantly looked forward for Bournemouth's attacking trio on the break.
Newcastle go to Old Trafford to face Manchester United after the international break on November 18, while Bournemouth host Huddersfield.
