JOHNGIBSON Gayle is a force again - but old boy Dan puts wind up United
HE was not even expected to play. His shirt was meant for Newcastle’s new signing Islam Slimani.
However, the south coast air revitalised Dwight Gayle who, reprieved by Slimani’s injury setback, rediscovered his goalscoring touch – which by all that is sane ought to have put Bournemouth to the sword and gained United a massive three points.
Except that this is Newcastle and they don’t do the obvious.
Two up through Gayle’s close-in dagger thrusts, they somehow contrived to sacrifice their lead and two absolutely precious points in the last 10 minutes.
Who claimed the last-minute leveller? None other than former Magpie Dan Gosling.
Dearie, dearie me. What a gutwrencher!
For so long it had all seemed like a stroll in the winter sunshine.
Gayle, last season’s ace marksman, was back where he belongs – at the top of United’s goals list.
Little Boy Blue sparked things off with the cheekiest of strikes, back – heeling his opening goal after only 17 minutes following wonderful build-up play engineered by Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie.
It was a terrific early booster for the hardy band of Geordies who had made a round trip of more than 700 miles to support United’s fight against relegation – and Gayle was to reward them again on the stroke of half-time.
This time Paul Dummett and Ayoze Perez did the spadework for Gayle to again be johnny-onthe-spot for a close in finish.
The striker has on occasions looked confused and dispirited this season as speculation has swirled around his head about new strikers coming in – and possibly him being sold back into the Championship – but maybe this will clear the brain and lift stooping shoulders.
If strikers can win games then goalkeepers can also directly effect the outcome – think of Martin Dubravka last week and Asmir Begovic this.
Bournemouth’s custodian was poor on both Newcastle goals but who cares. Certainly not the Toon Army.
Job supposedly done, Gayle was withdrawn with less than quarter of an hour to go to be replaced by Isaac Hayden.
A clear indication from Rafa Benitez that ‘what we have we hold.’
Except we did not. Shelvey missed an absolute sitter which would have killed the match stone dead and Bournemouth rallied with a little help from their visitors.
First substitute Adam Smith gave them a glimmer of hope and then with 89 gone Gosling (pictured left), whose Newcastle career was wrecked by injury, rifled home a killing equaliser. If United wish Slimani to add his weight to the cause they also need another January signing Kenedy to show he is fit enough to complete 90 minutes.
No pussy-footing around, the cavalry is required sooner rather than later.
These Cherries are beginning to give me the pip with their late, late shows.
Gosling’s last-gasp equaliser followed Steve Cook’s 92nd-minute winner at SJP back in early November. That is a significant points swing.
United’s problem all season has been a lack of goals yet here they were with two before half-time but still they could not kill off the match
Can you believe it? Er, yes, unfortunately we can.
Unquestionably this was a golden opportunity lost to gain back to back victories which would have shot them up the table and the failure to complete the job is heightened by the fact a visit to the lair of Liverpool is waiting this coming weekend.
If there is a consolation it is Alan Pardew seems to have condemned West Brom to the hangman’s noose.
Now we must find two others to accompany them.
Maybe an away draw to follow victory over Manchester United could be seen as not too shabby under normal circumstances – but not given the opposition and the fact entering the final death throes of the match Newcastle had the comfort of a 2-0 lead. This was a chance lost not a point gained.