Another mad game at St James’ Park and another big win, as Newcastle United beat Bournemouth on penalties to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.
After a quiet opening 45, the 90 minutes ended 2-2 after Anthony Gordon’s stoppage time penalty sent us to extra-time, which went back and forth once again as Harvey Barnes’ 118th minute header was cancelled out at the death by Marcus Tavernier, who made it 3-3.
Spot kicks at the Leazes End saw Nick Woltemade and Bruno Guimaraes both miss, but Aaron Ramsdale came to our rescue on an up and down afternoon for our on-loan stopper, as he saved three Bournemouth penalties to help us win the shootout 7-6!
That’s now 11 ‘wins’ and two draws in our last 13 home games, four on the spin and a victory that keeps the momentum building the mentality strong to start 2026, with Newcastle rallying late and coming through the big moments on top once again.
Howe made SEVEN changes from that 4-3 win over Leeds on Wednesday, as Ramsdale, Botman, Trippier, Livramento, Ramsey, Willock and Wissa replaced Pope, Schar, Hall, Miley, Bruno, Joelinton and Gordon.
Finally a chance to see Wissa and Woltemade in the same side, as we started in more of a 4-4-1-1, with Willock on the right, Ramsey alongside Tonali, Barnes down the left and big Nick just behind our new No 9.
Newcastle: Ramsdale – Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Livramento – Willock, Ramsey, Tonali, Barnes – Woltemade – Wissa.
Subs: Pope, Hall, Joelinton, Gordon, A.Murphy, Bruno G, Neave, Miley, Alabi
Bournemouth: Petrovic – Smith, Diakite, Hill, Soler – Cook, Scott – Brooks, Adli, Kroupi Jr – Unal
It was a fairly flat first 45. We had plenty of the ball and, in some ways, a rare element of control, but our final ball was often lacking just as we entered the final third.
Wissa had our best chance after good work from Woltemade, Ramsey was the bright spark with some sharp passing and bursts into space, while returning trio Trippier, Botman and Livramento all looked a little rusty. Ramsdale was largely untested, but made one vital stop to deny Scott.
Willock struggled and looks a man lacking in confidence, Botman will have to sharpen up ahead of an upcoming battle with Erling Haaland on Tuesday, and Woltemade had mixed success in a deeper role, which would unlock the door in the second half.
After no changes at the break, Big Nick’s through ball allowed that man Barnes to get in behind and score again, although 1-0 very nearly became 1-1 as an awful Livramento giveaway almost gifted Evanilson an immediate equaliser shortly before Tino was forced off with a hamstring injury, seeing Lewis Hall come on.
Then came the chaos, as Botman hit the bar, going close to making it 2-0 just two minutes before the visitors rallied in a game we’d lost control of since taking the lead. First Scott tapped in at the back post, then a great finish from Brooks saw the Cherries going ahead after Trippier was done for pace from a Bournemouth breakaway.
We huffed and puffed – too many Hall crosses for good positions didn’t find black and white shirts – and more changes followed, as Gordon, Miley, Joelinton and Bruno replaced Wissa, Trippier, Willock and Ramsey, who had done well before fading slightly in the second half.
Then, with seconds of the 90 to go before six minutes of injury time was announced, Tonali burst onto a ball in behind and was brought down. PENALTY. And Gordon made no mistake, finishing emphatically at the Gallowgate. 2-2, more late drama and into extra time.
30 more minutes we could do without ahead of Man City on Tuesday, and the chaos continued. Botman cleared off the line shortly after a bad Gordon giveaway and Barnes’ headed a good chance wide from Bruno’s cross, but soon made up for it by nodding in at the Gallowgate to make it 3-2!
A 118th minute winner after his 102nd minute strike on Wednesday? Not quite, as Bournemouth equalised in extra time stoppage time, with Ramsdale and Botman making a mess of it to allow Marcus Tavernier to score! 3-3, penalties and even more drama.
In the shootout, it wasn’t looking good as back to back misses from Woltemade and Bruno left us behind, but three Ramsdale saves swung the tie in our favour, as the former Arsenal stopper was the hero in the end to send us into the forth round!
Four days, 13 goals and two massive victories at St James’ Park, keeping this superb start to 2026 going!
Next up, the small matter of Man City, who won 10-1 today, in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi final first leg.
Keep the faith. Howay the lads!
Villa game all kicking off at the end
kimtoon(Quote)
We did just about enough, but defensive frailty worries me.
kimtoon(Quote)
Awful defensively again, and I don’t like players trying to be clever with penalties FGS put your bloody foot through it! Messrs Bruno and Woltemade.
Woltemade is becoming a worry with no real centre forward instincts.
Willock, January sales beckons, just doesn’t look at it.
Barnes our only goal threat at the moment.
We have won our last two and have barely deserved it and my worry is it is just papering over the cracks.
Livramento injury we could have done without, Howe might be FORCED to give some youth a chance, because he obviously doesn’t like doing it.
Joseph(Quote)
Can we stop these games as pleasing as it is that we show fight and a never give up attitude it’s not good for my heart.
Hopefully we’ll get some defensive reinforcements in this window with a few going the other way, Tripps (legs gone) and Willock (everything gone since his loan) heading out would be fine imo.
I said it a while back that Ramsdale should be our no. 1 but i hold my hands up as neither he or Pope should be, i think we should have a cheeky bid for the Mackem keeper.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
A long way from perfect, but I thought we played some of our best football for a long time at times. Wolte looked a lot more comfortable in the 10 position – basically due to having a bit more time and space and players ahead of him. Sadly, a big part of this is that Bournemouth aren’t great atm, so would expect that setup to be less effective against the better sides who could still press Wolte when he is in that position.
Willock was hopeless, it’s rare to see a player who not only can’t control the ball but actually look like they will trip over themselves when they attempt to run. I hope we can bring in a replacement this month.
So frustrating about Livro’s injury as that will peg Miley back into in the right back position. Trips was decent going forward today, but a complete farce defensively.
I thought Ramsey looked a bit better in the first half, Tonali was marginally better, and Joe continued his good form. All really positive signs. Barnes is outstanding atm and carrying us, hopefully we can get more goal threat from elsewhere – it was notable in today’s setup how we got a lot of space on the edge of the box and our midfielders didn’t look confident at shooting.
Howe the toon(Quote)
Some good and some bad today.
A bit less heart stopping chaos would be nice tho.
Sadly not convinced at all that botman can recover from his injuries to be a first team player regularly.
Livramento didn’t look right today.
Ramsey ok but lacking a bit of oomph to make a difference.
Wissa .. hmmm
Subs made a difference again and Gordon and hall looked good off the bench
On the penalties please guimaraes just place the ball better to the corners instead of poncing around
GR(Quote)
I think I’ve aged 10 years in the last week with those last 2 games. Frantic!
Can we please, please buy some defenders that a) know how to actually defend, and b) can stay fit!
Schoolboy defending today did not help! Barnes was outstanding again though. Agree with all that’s been said above too.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
As exciting as the last 2 games have been – they have both lacked quality on our part.
With both being home games we showed a total lack of game control or dominance – and barrel fulls of luck!!
The problem with that is luck runs out.
We need to be better because all those wins have done is encouraged visiting teams that they have a real fighting chance.
Sharpy17(Quote)