NEWCASTLE ................................................................... 0 Magpies pipped to points by plucky Cherries
ON a day when a point would have been a disappointing result at St James’ Park, Newcastle United emerged with nothing as AFC Bournemouth grabbed a late winner.
A stoppage-time goal from Steve Cook means it will be a miserable international break for Toon fans but this game could have been so different with better finishing from the home side.
It’s not like they didn’t have their chances.
Rafa Benitez’s side had 16 shots at goal, hit the woodwork and forced some good saves out of Asmir Begovic.
But failure to sign a proven striker in the summer came back to haunt United once again and the black-and-whites are without doubt lacking quality.
Indeed, it means £5million summer signing Joselu is starting to feel the heat a little bit as Newcastle struggle to pick up results and others around him were unable to provide the spark needed to win this game.
There were calls for Aleksandar Mitrovic from the home crowd late on but Benitez resisted the chance to unleash the Serb forward.
Newcastle had made a bright and breezy start to the game with a Joselu header warming the gloves of Begovic before Matt Ritchie’s rasping shot was tipped wide for a corner a couple of minutes later.
Dwight Gayle, restored to the starting line-up in a two-pronged attack, then started a move on 12 minutes before supplying Ritchie with the chance to cross, but his header was blocked by a combination of Simon Francis and Begovic.
Atsu’s powerful effort from outside the box was then pushed away by Begovic as Newcastle created more early pressure.
Gayle had the ball in the net on 16 minutes after tapping home the rebound following Ritchie’s shot that struck the post, but the assistant referee flagged him offside.
Ten minutes later, Atsu dropped his shoulder and curled an effort at goal but Steve Cook deflected a shot wide.
Isaac Hayden swerved an effort wide on 35 minutes, but Elliot was called into serious action for the first time 60 seconds later.
Elliot managed to flick over Cal Wilson’s header as Bournemouth created their first clear-cut chance.
The Toon goalkeeper then turned the ball away after Joshua King’s effort.
Despite Bournemouth’s late flurry of first-half chances, the two teams went in level at the break.
Five minutes into the second half, Newcastle forced another save out of Begovic after Joselu’s downward header from Shelvey’s corner needed to be scooped over.
With 51 minutes on the clock, Wilson was sent racing clear with only Elliot to beat but he placed his shot high and wide at the Leazes End.
The Magpies were dealt an injury blow before the hour mark when Jamaal Lascelles, who suffered a first-half knock, failed to recover and was replaced by Ciaran Clark.
Bournemouth forced another save out of Elliot when King’s cross found the head of Marc Pugh but the Toon goalkeeper was equal to it.
Midway through the second half, Ayoze Perez came on to replace Joselu.
The Spaniard had worked hard enough but failed again to add to his tally on a day of many chances for the Magpies.
Bournemouth made two changes with 15 minutes to go as Jermain Defoe and Adam Smith were thrown into fray.
Former Sunderland man Defoe was booed as he entered the field.
Atsu had another go with 10 minutes left but his effort failed to trouble Bego-