Has Ritch reward

FIGHTING QUALITIES SO APPARENT AS MAGPIES CLAIM PRECIOUS POINT

wrong way to haul his side back into the game.

As Rondon was pulled back in the box by a clear hand on the Toon striker, the game started to look ominous for United.

There was an air of inevitability about Bournemouth’s second goal as Dominic Solanke weaved through to set up King for his second of the day with 15 minutes to go.

Yet there is a real sense of fighting spirit in the United side and they did not throw the towel in – even when they were on the very brink of defeat.

We were deep into stoppage time when Yedlin clipped in a cross from the right for Matt Ritchie to volley home and snatch a point.

Had any fans been asking themselves why they had made the 350mile trip to Dorset – with some leaving at 2am to support their team – the answer came on 94 minutes.

Ritchie and his team-mates celebrated wildly in the rain and the goal made the gruelling journey back to Tyneside worth it.

Newcastle now find themselves on 35 points with seven games to go.

Benitez does not believe his team is safe yet and he is right – but to grab something from what looked like a lost cause suggests United soon will be. Flapped a few times as Bournemouth bombarded United in the second half. A peach of a cross for Matt Ritchie in the last seconds of the game. Weighed in with 50 touches in a steady outing. Maybe not match ready. Poor decision for the penalty and let Dominic Solanke wriggle through to set up Josh King.

Struggled in the second half as Bournemouth piled bodies forward. Some vital clearances. Not least his overhead clearance off the line to deny Callum Wilson. A solid defensive display. Ended the game on a high with a wonderful volley. 79 touches and 10 crosses to boot. Man of the match.

Put in a sturdy shift with four key tackles. Skated on thin ice but this game needed somebody to do the not-soglamorous stuff. Did well to pierce the Bournemouth defence in the first half and win free-kick - but dipped after the break. Worked hard and produced one venomous shot in the first half. Perhaps a day when his defensive contributions counted more.

A cracking free-kick and dominated in the air on a testing day.

Christian Atsu 7 (for Perez 72), Yoshinori Muto (for Almiron 82), Jonjo Shelvey (for Diame 83). *Subs must play 15 minutes to earn a mark.