Premier League: Triumphant Toon torment frustrated Bournemouth

Arter’s Ireland squad teammate Elliot was again called upon after 10 minutes to thwart an almost disastrous defensive mix-up between Chancel Mbemba and midfielder Vurnon Anita, as he swiftly came out to stop an incoming King during a one-one-one.

King and Elliot battle

Junior Stanislas and Charlie Daniels were constant threats down the left flank, as McClaren’s Magpies looked continuously nervous and were unable to get into a rhythm, with the wide pair delivering some dangerous crosses.

At the other end, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Perez tried to make a nuisance of themselves among the Cherries backline, but Simon Francis and veteran top-flight partner Sylvain Distin were able to halt any potential threat.

Using his pace and direct approach, King looked to have opened proceedings after 20 minutes played, as the rapid frontman impressively drifted past a sliding Fabricio Coloccini before firing on goal, but it was Elliot to the secure once again.

Scotland international Matt Ritchie has been one of the shining lights of Bournemouth’s indifferent campaign so far, and the wicked wideman began to link-up intensively with full back Smith, causing concern for Daryl Janmaat.

Perez pounced on Wijnaldum pass

In the centre, Newcastle’s Chieck Tiote was being neutralised, along with French partner Anita, with the Cherries seeking the wings at every attacking opportunity, but an opening soon occurred against the run of play.

Arriving from the Eredivisie in the summer, Wijnaldum has been enjoying himself in new surroundings and the Dutch maestro again proved his creative talents by playing in Perez on 27 minutes, with the Spaniard luckily beating Adam Federici.

Howe cut a frustrated figure on the sideline, with his Cherries having dominated the clash so far, but somehow going behind, and Elliot only added to his annoyance after 34 minutes as he thwarted King again.

Bournemouth knocked on the door several times before the break, with Smith unleashing a long-range effort which narrowly sailed over the crossbar and Stanislas failing to capitalise on his penalty area space.

Elliot emphatic again

Elliot had stopped Bournemouth on numerous occasions in the first period, and the in-form stopper continued to frustrate Howe’s Cherries in the second, this time acrobatically halting a diving Gosling header.

Bournemouth battled on towards the hour mark in search of a seemingly deserved goal, as Newcastle defiantly held strong, denying King further after the forward came close to connecting with an inswinging Ritchie cross.

Ritchie looked likely of being the man to help Bournemouth battle back from a goal down, after linking up with Smith down the right wing, but his delivery was blocked and his subsequent corner also cleared of any danger.

Toon torment Cherries

As the game entered its latter stages, proceedings continued in the same manner, with Howe’s hosts dominating possession and looking increasingly likely of finally overcoming Elliot, but McClaren’s travelling Toon maintained their solid shape.

Moussa Sissoko raced down the right flank to force play further away from the visitors’ goal after an attacking onslaught from the home side, and he was rewarded for his persistence with a free-kick. Arter, the offender, received a cautioning from the referee for his troubles.

Coloccini almost added the the Cherries’ woes from a Florian Thauvin set-piece, though the Argentine defender’s header narrowly sailed over the bar in the final few minutes.

Elliot and his defiant rear guard held out to secure a vital 1-0 victory on the road, with Bournemouth now dropping into a dangerous relegation position after a home performance which summed up their indifferent campaign so far.

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