The Toon turnaround shows no sign of slowing down, as Newcastle have gone from consistently inconsistent, struggling for goals and shipping too many to being talked about (albeit prematurely) in the title race.
We have the best striker on the planet, arguably the best left side in the country, a defence that’s conceded just three goals in our run of nine-straight wins and a midfield that looks perfectly balanced after Bruno and Tonali swapped roles.
We may not sign anyone this month, but it may not matter if we can keep the momentum going on the pitch – although this weekend’s early kick-off with Bournemouth will not be easy.
Eddie Howe can be the first Toon boss to win 10-straight games with a victory, but he’s never beaten his former club, who are on an incredible run themselves, being unbeaten in their last 10 and losing just one of their last seven on the road.
The 3-0 win over Wolves flattered us slightly – the visitors should’ve scored at least one or two – although it’s often a sign of a good side to pick up comfortable victories while playing below your best. That said, I sense we’ll have to be better against Bournemouth to keep them out.
Howe’s pre-match comments
On the potential of 10-straight wins – “We have actually been quite relaxed during this run, we have not talked about it, it is just about going onto the next game. Of course, we want to win and keep the run going as long as we can, but it is always about how we play in the next match.”
On the players’ mindset – “The players have been very mature in their response in this winning run, the players are seeing this as an expectation they have rather than surpassing expectations. They are keeping the focus. There is a belief in the squad we have good players, and we can win games, for us it is just about remaining focused and looking ahead to the next game.”
Team news
Fabian Schar missed the Wolves win through illness and is still “not 100%”, despite returning to training on Thursday. Miguel Almiron may be closing in on a move back to Atlanta United, but Howe is still expecting him to be in the squad, as of Friday morning.
Nick Pope will be “close” for next week’s trip to Southampton and Callum Wilson is targeting a return early next month. Jamaal Lascelles is still a few months away.
Bournemouth will be without a recognised right-back – great news potentially for Anthony Gordon – and senior striker, with NINE players currently ruled out in Evanilson, Enes Unal, Marcos Senesi, Julian Araujo, Alex Scott, Luis Sinisterra, James Hill, Adam Smith and Marcus Tavernier.
Predicted line-up
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Livramento, Botman, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
This feels like one of the most straightforward predicted line-ups of the season.
It may be our second game in the space of four days, but with many players rested against Bromley last weekend and Schar still struggling slightly, the team appears to pick itself.
Our back four conceded a few too many chances to Wolves on Wednesday but looks settled on Botman’s return, with the Dutchman coming through his return to fitness with flying colours so far, Burn rock solid and both full-backs flying.
The midfield is settled and looks perfectly balanced and our front three is on fire, with Isak chasing his Jamie Vardy’s record – he’ll match it if he scores against Bournemouth, Southampton and Fulham – and Gordon bagging five in his last six games.
Match prediction
We’re flying, full of confidence and have scored three goals or more in our last six home games, but I do think this will be a tough test.
I think we’ll see a few goals and don’t think we’ll keep them out – they’ve blanked just ONCE in their last 15 games. However, I back us to get the job done, Isak to score again and Howe to set a new 10-game record to boost our top-four hopes even further.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Bournemouth
Howay the lads!
I’m really looking forward to this game. Two teams bang in form at the top end of table and going at each other in a 7:30am kick off with a BlacknWhite coffee stout to kick start my day. Yumyum.
Their sense of injustice over the (correctly) disallowed goal down there adds to the spice.
Howe’s inability to overcome the cherries since he left them adds to the unease of the Mags.
The potential of nufc to maintain their sequence adds to the sense of anticipation.
And Sandro just adds up.
Bring. It!
HTL
Jonesy(Quote)
This could be a tough one and we will need to up our game from the Wolves encounter.
Too many over hit and lax passes especially in the early stages, Livramento and Hall will need to be really switched on and remember their defensive duties.
Our midfield balance is better than when we got a fortunate drawn at their place so hope that will sway it in our favour and we are at home of course.
Joseph(Quote)
Aah man another gone from my formative years watching football.
Many great memories from watching a great player.
Go gently and RIP Denis Law
Jonesy(Quote)
Olly, very much agree, this will not be easy but hope our home advantage pays off.
kimtoon(Quote)
This will not be an easy game and very much a potential banana skin … I really hope they put in the effort to keep our amazing run going. We don’t have a good record against Bournemouth and now would be a good time to put that right. 🤞🤞🤞🤞
Gilly Toon(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Can’t cope with them, was coming
kimtoon(Quote)
Cra..ppp that’s was coming. Bournemouth came out super strong 😡😡. We were asleep 🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Ouch .. every single pass was to a player running and in space
Jonesy(Quote)
‘Bout time nufc put a foot in .. too busy admiring Bournemouth so far
Jonesy(Quote)
First half decent chance and it falls to Joe 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Just building up a bit of momentum and they get an injury and that’s taken the sting out of us.
kimtoon(Quote)
Getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Brunooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
kimtoon(Quote)
Get innnnnnnnnnnnn
Gilly Toon(Quote)
That’ll do. Nicely worked. Nufc slowly got on top and deserved that
Jonesy(Quote)
This Ref … I think he’s forgotten his cards 🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Sh.ite, sh.ite … SH.ITE 🤬🤬🤬 so sloppy in possession.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
So bloody sloppy from Bruno there, can’t dilly dally with this lot breathing down your neck.
kimtoon(Quote)
Aah man they worked so hard to get on top. Awful error from guimaraes
Jonesy(Quote)
Great game for the neutral this mind.
kimtoon(Quote)
All on the ref this now, should of took his cards out earlier .
kimtoon(Quote)
Be amazed if we don’t see a red second half.
kimtoon(Quote)
Adams should be off. Ref is shocking … at least 2 yellow card offences allowed with nothing. 🤬. We will lose this. As I said. We will blow it
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Bruno, apart from his goal, has been awful. Losing possession and falling down expecting a foul.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
That melee is the refs fault and to blow up as an attack was ongoing is suspect.
He let the players get away with narky fouls all game.
I see what he wants to do but players will just get frustrated and it leads to that
On the game nufc were lax from the start and Bournemouth are very aggressive and play right in the edge. Nufc got back into it, got just on top and then sloppiness again. Frustrating
Jonesy(Quote)
Very frustrating indeed. I’d take Bruno off if he doesn’t sort himself out.
Ref is horrible. As Jonesy says blows in the middle of an attack by us. At least three bad tackles by Adams allowed to go without any card. Just awful.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
And our defence 😳😳🙄. Are they on holiday?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We are getting outplayed and pasted by Bournemouth 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Bruno having a tough day. Definitely being targeted and hasn’t handled it well.
Got lucky with the 3rd goal disallowed. Can nufc take advantage
Jonesy(Quote)
A 10yr keeper would have saved that shot,our keeper was asleep
Icedog(Quote)
Stuart Attwell let far too much go at the start and now tempers boiling over
kimtoon(Quote)
Yup .. red card today is coming
Jonesy(Quote)
Attwell is losing control
kimtoon(Quote)
This is awful. We are getting bullied and outplayed 🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Sloppy again .. Gordon this time.. but that is some finish
Jonesy(Quote)
I just knew we would blow it today. Shocking 🤬🤬🤬🤬 but full credit to Bournemouth
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Our worst performance and result this season. Just shockingly bad. 😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Oh my .. well that’s a result to stop a run.
Jonesy(Quote)
Tonali is the only player that can hold his head up. Awful, awful performance.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I’m not his biggest advocate but Dubravka made four very smart stops
Jonesy(Quote)
It would appear that normal service has resumed. Sometimes a kick up the backside works wonders and Bournemouth were always going to be the team to do it. Lets us just hope it works.
nutmag(Quote)
No pace. No runners.
Groucho(Quote)
Umm .. Gordon, Murphy, isak, livramento, tonali are all quick. Bmouth played it perfectly.
Exploiting the lack of pace in nufc defence for sure and forced nufc narrow and short to bring their pace towards the congested MF.
the way they shut down nufc’s outlets was exceptional.
Any time nufc got the ball there were several bmouth players around them and they were very aggressive and not afraid to put a foot into the tackle. Then took their chances after nufc mistakes.
A perfect away performance
Jonesy(Quote)
As a team we don’t go forward altogether. I accept the players you mentioned have pace but I wouldn’t include Murphy because in my view he lacks consistency. He would be a better player if he put in the same effort as Gordon.
Groucho(Quote)
I picked them to lose. They were a bit sloppy paying Wolves. Very short period between games and were outplayed. Hope we don’t get CL as I don’t think this squad is up to it and PSR will hinder a good summer window. Europa would be better.
Barratone(Quote)