Next Up: Can Newcastle Break More Records and More Hoodoos Against Bogey-Team Bournemouth?

 · January 17 2025, 09:30
Next Up: Can Newcastle Break More Records and More Hoodoos Against Bogey-Team Bournemouth?
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This Newcastle side have stormed their way into record book contention recently. Wednesday's 3-0 triumph over Wolves gave them a club record-equalling nine consecutive wins in all competitions. It was also the night that Alexander Isak became only the fourth Premier League player (and first of Newcastle) to score in eight consecutive league matches. Win on Saturday, and they break the club winning-streak record outright, but there's a problem...

We're playing Bournemouth next...

Howe Bournemouth
Eddie Howe: The Magpies boss also enjoyed many successful years at Bournemouth

Can Eddie shake off the ghosts of his past and record a first Premier League victory against his beloved Bournemouth?

We jest, of course. Eddie Howe is a man of strong principles, pragmatic politics and a demeanour that is sensible almost to a fault. He's kept the romanticism out of this fixture with ease in the past, but the fact still remains; his Newcastle record against his old club is dire.

Five games... four points... zero wins. It isn't pretty reading. And the performances against the Cherries possibly deserved even less. During 2022-2023, there weren't many teams that escaped Newcastle's wrath on their charge to a Champions League spot, but Bournemouth was one of them. The Magpies required a fortuitous penalty to rescue a draw at SJP, before a goal for purple-patch Miggy Almiron also helped us rob a draw at Dean Court. Cherries fans were well within their rights to be disappointed not to claim six points instead of two.

Last season, it was even worse. The 2-0 reverse at Dean Court in November 2023 was one of the lowest ebbs in Newcastle's injury crisis. United were without a recognised striker, 17-year old Lewis Miley was given a full league debut in midfield, and as Solanke scored the scrappiest of braces, Eddie Howe even gave a debut to young Ben Parkinson, such was the lack of experience and cutting edge on the bench. United remained striker-less for the reverse fixture, when again, Dominic Solanke profited from a Martin Dubravka slip to tap home, and Antoine Semenyo scored a glorious second. Newcastle relied on another penalty, and a late, late equaliser from veteran Matt Ritchie to salvage a point.

Solanke v NUFC
Dominic Solanke: The big striker scored three goals in two games against United last season

Is Now the Best Possible Time to Play Bournemouth?

Earlier this season, it was a fascinating battle on the South Coast. Bournemouth raced into a 1-0 lead and looked comfortable at half-time. But United rallied after the break to grab a deserved equaliser, and only goalkeeping heroics from Cherries stopper Neto kept the home side in it. However, Bournemouth were denied in the last kick of the game, as a goal from Dango Ouattara was controversially ruled out as the ball was deemed to have struck his bicep for handball.

That was a Newcastle team that was out of sorts. Alexander Isak was yet to get off the mark, Anthony Gordon looked disinterested and suffering from a post-Euros hangover. There was still no Sandro Tonali in midfield, Lloyd Kelly was in at left-back, while Emil Krafth deputised at centre-back for the suspended Fabian Schar. Bournemouth could once again feel aggrieved at only a point, but they'll be up against a very different beast at the weekend. This is a team purring with confidence, a dynamic midfield three playing in tandem and a triumvirate of Isak, Gordon and Murphy that has caused headaches for some of the best defenders in the league recently; just ask Virgil van Dijk, Gabriel, and William Saliba.

It's enough to give any Magpies fan confidence, but surely, if any team has a chance of ending the winning streak, it's Newcastle's current bogey-team. That said, Bournemouth are currently without their two senior strikers; record signing and Solanke-replacement Evanilson, and deputy Enes Unal. Winger Dango Ouattara stepped up as a makeshift striker in the Cherries' most recent match against Chelsea, and while he himself was rather anonymous; an old thorn in Newcastle's side stepped up to the plate...

Semenyo
Antoine Semenyo: the tricky winger is likely to give Newcastle problems

Newcastle need to keep Antoine Semenyo quiet...

It's taken a little bit of time, but Antoine Semenyo has slowly built up a reputation as one of the Premier League's most exciting wingers. Combining pace, skill and a willingness to shoot with either foot, Semenyo can play across the frontline and is sure to ask questions of Newcastle's defence. He has six goals and two assists in the league this season, while he also won the penalty than Justin Kluivert converted in this week's draw with Chelsea. He's a player that can flip a game on its head at a moment's notice, hence the steady rumours in the background that Newcastle could be interested in a move for the Ghanaian to solve their well-documented problems at right wing.

Striker-less or not, it would be daft to underestimate Bournemouth even without the recent hoodoo. They currently sit 8th in the Premier League, and a win on Tyneside would actually put the Cherries just one point behind Newcastle and into Champions League contention. Andoni Iraola has done an exceptional job, and you get the feeling this is only the start of the Spaniard's Bournemouth revolution. Still, we're hoping that Isak can keep his eyes on the prize in hunting down that 11-game Premier League scoring streak, and give us another important three points in our hunt for Top 4.

Come on Eddie, time to end this terrible run against your beloved old boys!

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