Perez goal gives Newcastle 1-0 win over Bournemouth

A week after Newcastle felt aggrieved to be denied points by an unreal performance from Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland, Magpies stopper Rob Eliot did the same against Bournemouth.

Newcastle provided a smash-and-grab job for the ages in a 1-0 win on Saturday.

The Magpies were outshot 20-2 and conceded 16 corner kicks to none, but all that matters is the final score and Ayoze Perez's goal in the first half somehow held up to give Newcastle its first away win this season. The victory moved the Magpies out of the relegation zone, but it felt like a hollow victory.

At one point late in the broadcast, there was a montage of Newcastle manager Steve McClaren's reactions, which seemed to get more and more anguished with ever shot.

No one could blame him because Newcastle was absolutely dominated, from start to finish, save for one moment of brilliance that produced the match's lone goal.

Rob Elliot made 5 match-winning saves, four of them coming in the first half.

Newcastle were overwhelmed by the newly promoted side, but the Barclays Premier League is all about goals and Perez took his one opportunity in a clinical fashion to gave NUFC a 1-0 lead at the break.

Elliot made save after save in the first half with each one seemingly more impressive than the previous. All told, Bournemouth outshot Newcastle 12-1 in the first half alone. He stopped two headers off set pieces that looked destined for the back of the net. Josh King's flick header was going straight for the corner until Elliot got just enough of a hand to deflect it away.

Then came his save of the half. On another set piece, former Newcastle man Ryan Gosling rose above Moussa Sissoko at the back post and headed it near post. Somehow, Elliot was able to scramble over to that side and get his body in the way of what should have been a sure goal.

Prior to all of these high-wire acts from Elliot, Newcastle had sucker punched Bournemouth to score the lone goal of the first half.

It came as a result of terrific interchange play between Aleksandar Mitrovic, Georginio Wijnaldum and Perez. One touch passing between the three, starting with a back flick from Mitrovic to Wijnaldum to Perez, who made no mistake with his shot that had enough power to get past Bournemouth keeper Adam Federici for a 1-0 Newcastle lead at halftime.

Bournemouth nearly scored in the opening seconds of the second half, if not for a tip-over save by Elliot.

The pressure continued with Newcastle offering little to nothing going the other way. McClaren brought on Papiss Cisse for Mitrovic in the 63rd minute. The Senegal international did little to add to the contest except be called for offsides twice.

McClaren's second sub was Frenchman Florian Thauvin on for Vernon Anita. Thauvin did offer something and was a big reason why Newcastle was able to see the match out. He held up possession the few times Newcastle was able to get it and drew a free kick late.

Newcastle were second best from the off, but the bottom line is its a victory, it's three points and the Magpies will hope to push on from here.