Bournemouth slump to home thrashing against Newcastle

AFC Bournemouth continued a dismal return to Premier league action in a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United Wednesday night.

It is the third straight defeat for Eddie Howe’s men since the return of the Premier League, who slip into nineteenth place in the Premier League table following the loss at the Vitality.

The game got off to the worst possible start for the Cherries just five minutes in when Colombian Jefferson Lerma took too many touches on the edge of his own area and was dispossessed by the outstretched leg of Sean Longstaff.

Allan Saint-Maximin picked up the ball following the tackle and found a free Dwight Gayle inside the area, who’s venomous strike was too clinical for the diving Ramsdale and gave the Magpies an early lead.

Sitting 12 points above the relegation zone, it was clear the visitors were playing with an element of freedom to their game, as they moved with confidence around the home side.

After efforts from Billing and Solanke were sent wide for Bournemouth, the dangerous Saint-Maximin was troubling their defence again. The French winger gained his second assist on 30 minutes, when he went on an exquisite mazy run around opposition defenders and picked out Longstaff on the edge of the box, who bulleted his first time effort into top left corner for Newcastle’s second.

After the break the Cherries so nearly got off to the perfect start if they were going to get back into the match, when still without a goal Dominic Solanke hit the post. The ball fell into the path of Josh King who put it into the net but was correctly adjudged offside by the assistant referee.

The Magpies put the game to bed just before the hour mark, when substitute Miguel Almirón ran across the Bournemouth defence and finessed a fine effort into the Cherries goal to extend the misery for Eddie Howe’s men.

The third blow wasn’t the last the home side had to take before the end, when Valentino Lazaro picked up a ball from former Charlton man Jonjo Shelvey inside the area, and quickly sent it into the right hand side of the goal, adding to the tally of shots beating Aaron Ramsdale.

Lazaro nearly picked up his second just moments after his first, but his long range drive came off the bar gifting Isaac Hayden a chance right in front of goal. The 25 year old however missed an absolute sitter, sending it way over and into the empty Vitality stands.

The home side at least found their first goal since the restart inside of injury time, when substitute Dan Gosling was virtually on the goal line when he tapped in a Nathan Ake delivery. The goal was little consolation for the Cherries however, after a disappointing performance.

Bournemouth’s poor displays are running the ever increasing risk of sending them down to the Championship next season.  They currently sit inside of the relegation zone on goal difference in nineteenth position, behind West Ham who play tonight against Chelsea, and now eighteenth placed Aston Villa.

Eddie Howe is going to have to turn things around dramatically to get his side gaining points and fighting to stay up for a fifth straight Premier League season.

They travel to Manchester United on Saturday, who are fresh from a convincing 3-0 victory over Brighton.