Bournemouth Inflict Late Defeat On Newcastle, Piling Pressure On Eddie Howe

Adrien Truffert’s late strike for former club Bournemouth deepened the woes for Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, as the Cherries secured a dramatic 2-1 Premier League victory at St James’ Park.

The full-back’s 85th-minute intervention condemned the Magpies to their eighth defeat in 11 league fixtures, severely denting their diminishing hopes of qualifying for European football next season.

Will Osula had seemingly spared his head coach – who has now failed to lead Newcastle to a league win against his former club in eight attempts – a third successive top-flight defeat, after cancelling out Marcus Tavernier’s first-half opener.

However, another lacklustre display in front of an increasingly vocal crowd of 52,109 leaves Howe facing an uncomfortable conclusion to the campaign, with his own future set to be reviewed by the club’s owners. Worryingly for Howe, he could have few complaints about the result, as Bournemouth appeared the more accomplished side on a sobering afternoon on Tyneside.

Anthony Gordon’s absence from the team sheet due to a hip flexor injury was notable, days after reports emerged of his openness to leaving the club.

An impatient home crowd voiced early frustration as goalkeeper Adam Ramsdale watched Tavernier’s 19th-minute effort hit the side-netting. The Magpies struggled to build momentum, while the visitors, orchestrated by Alex Scott and Ryan Christie, grew increasingly fluent.

Bournemouth took the lead 13 minutes before the break. James Hill picked out Rayan on the right, who then bypassed Lewis Hall to cross for Tavernier, who got ahead of Tino Livramento to bundle the ball home. The Cherries should have extended their lead five minutes later when Evanilson, unmarked, failed to convert Scott’s cross.

Keeper Dorde Petrovic then rescued Scott with a fine reaction save after the midfielder deflected Hall’s free-kick towards his own goal, but the half-time boos told their own story.

Kieran Trippier’s introduction after the break added leadership, but Junior Kroupi squandered a free header from an early Tavernier corner. Newcastle’s play became more coherent, though not precise enough for sustained pressure, yet they remained vulnerable on transition. Howe introduced skipper Bruno Guimarães after a 12-game absence in the 62nd minute.

The Brazilian made an instant impact when, in attempting to dispossess a Magpies midfielder, he slid the ball into the path of Osula, who ran through to beat Petrovic and level the score.

However, the visitors snatched all three points five minutes from time. Evanilson headed down Tavernier’s deft cross, and Truffert, who initiated the move, scored from close range.