Football

Newcastle 1-2 Bournemouth: Adrien Truffert's late strike beats Magpies as European hopes take another hit

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Newcastle 1-2 Bournemouth: Adrien Truffert's late strike beats Magpies as European hopes take another hit

Newcastle's hopes of European qualification took another hit with a late 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, who themselves extend their Premier League unbeaten run to 13 games.

It felt like a fixture the Magpies needed to win after successive defeats to Sunderland and Crystal Palace, but instead slipped further away from the European picture.

It only increases the pressure on Eddie Howe as Newcastle's ability to see out a game is once again called into question.

For their part, Andoni Iraola's in-form side showed few ill-effects after the Cherries boss announced this week he would leave the club at the end of the season.

They had the better of the first half as a lacklustre Newcastle struggled to deal with their press. Bournemouth made it count too and went ahead just after the half-hour as Marcus Tavernier tapped in Rayan's pass.

The Cherries could have been 2-0 up soon after with a copycat move, but Evanilson could not turn home Alex Scott's delivery. The England midfielder almost put the ball into his own net at the other end, but Djordje Petrovic was there to make a superb stop late in the half.

Lewis Hall was replaced by Kieran Trippier at the break in what was assumed to be an injury substitution, but there was more positive news in the 62nd minute when captain Bruno Guimaraes made his return after two months out to great ovation.

His influence was soon felt as Newcastle equalised. It was initially thought his pass had found Will Osula, who held off his defender well before slotting home.

As he celebrated, the offside flag was already up, ruling it out. However, when VAR checked the goal, it was actually Evanilson who got the final touch ahead of Guimaraes, meaning Osula was onside and therefore, the equaliser was given.

But there was another injury concern when Tino Livramento appeared to limp off with a groin injury. "It could be his season over," Tim Sherwood said on Soccer Saturday, also giving England - a worry for the World Cup.

Newcastle's afternoon got worse when Truffert gave Bournemouth the lead again in the 85th minute. He started the move himself too, picking out Tavernier down the left. His cross in was well-met by Evanilson - who was inbetween two defenders - before Truffert came storming in to poke the loose ball past Aaron Ramsdale.

It is the third Premier League game in a row in which Newcastle have conceded match-losing goals after the 80th minute as their struggle to hold on to points continues.

As nine minutes of injury time were shown, Guimaraes did draw another fine save from Petrovic, before Burn blazed a header over as Newcastle were beaten yet again.

They remain in 14th place on 42 points, six away from Bournemouth in eighth, who are level with Brentford and Chelsea on 48 points as their own dreams of a European adventure are given another boost.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe speaking to Your Site:

"I don't think it was us at our best. I thought it was quite even between the goals. I don't think there was a lot in it. They are obviously on a good run of form and playing with confidence. We are on the opposite end of that. That probably balanced out a performance where they were more productive in front of goal than we were. Ultimately, that was what decided the game.

"It is [flat at St James' Park] but it is understandable given the recent run of form that we are on. The way that we are playing isn't to our normal standard. You have to understand the rough and the smooth and take both sides of that. We are not delivering what we want and we have to accept that.

"You have to take it to a degree. We are here to win games. We are here to achieve great things. This season could have been different. We are in the position we are in at the moment and that is a frustration for everybody. I don't have any issue with the demands placed upon us. I think that comes with the territory.

"There is no lack of effort, no lack of hard work or commitment from me or the players. We are not delivering, we know, anywhere near a good enough product at the moment and we are trying to find the answers to that."

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola speaking to Your Site:

"I think we played really well, especially first half. The second half it was expected that they had a reaction and they pushed us. At 1-1 the momentum of the game changed but we showed composure and we deserved this.

"This is a very difficult place to come as an away team and you have to be ready to match the intensity. This is a team that is very good on transition, they are so fast in the last line that you can lose those races. But overall we have defended very well.

"I think we are in a great place, great run of results. We are arriving to the important part of the season. We have our chances.

"It is difficult because we have teams ahead of us but we have five games to try to catch these teams, to try to continue playing well and keep this unbeaten run going as long as we can. Because these players have shown they are not taking days off."

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