After the dismal display on Sunday against Manchester City, the Magpies bounced back in style.
What on earth were we watching? The movement, pressure, work ethic and most of all quality were there for all to see. In fact this performance is everything that was needed against Manchester City on Sunday.
Newcastle were on it from the start, in the faces of the Bournemouth players and that’s where the first goal came from, Sean Longstaff, playing in a more advanced role pounced on Jefferson Lerma’s heavy touch. Allan Saint-Maximin then fed Dwight Gayle, who banished the nightmare miss of Sunday, by making no mistake with the finish.
As bad as Bournemouth were, Newcastle were terrific in all areas of the pitch. Longstaff impressed in a more advanced role and his eye catching performance was topped off with a goal. Saint-Maximin tore down the left, leaving Bournemouth players in his wake, the Frenchman was completely unplayable yet again. After making Bournemouth players look like Sunday league opposition, Saint-Maximin cut the ball back to Longstaff who blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
On Twitter last night, Steve Bruce was trending. Many thought at the start of the season if the manager would be trending at this point of the season - It certainly wouldn’t be for anything positive. Newcastle passed the ball very well, Nabil Bentaleb and Jonjo Shelvey produced some very slick passes which really hurt Bournemouth.
This was not Newcastle-like. I did not find myself shouting expletives at the TV, instead it was an absolute joy to watch. The Magpies went into the break 2-0 up and cruising, the look on Eddie Howe’s face told the whole story. The Bournemouth manager, like his players, looked defeated and deflated.
Newcastle survived an early scare in the second half, Dominic Solanke’s deflected shot bounced back off the post before Josh King headed into an empty net. Luckily for Newcastle, King was offside.
The lively Saint-Maximin was at it again, the Frenchman slipped in Miguel Almiron who weaved his way towards the box, before clipping an exquisite finish over Aaron Ramsdale and into the corner of the net.
Bruce introduced Valentino Lazaro and Andy Carroll on the hour mark, the former found himself on the scoresheet when Shelvey delivered a through ball to the Austrian. Lazaro made no mistake with the finish, 4-0, game set and match.
There was still time for Isaac Hayden to challenge Gayle for miss of the season, when somehow the midfielder hammered over from close range. That could and should have made it 5-0. Martin Dubravka, largely a spectator at the Vitality stadium couldn’t hold on to his clean sheet. Former Newcastle player, Dan Gosling bundled the ball home in the final few minutes, nothing but a consolation for Howe’s men.
The win moves Newcastle to 42 points, any fears of relegation are now extremely minuscule. The Magpies are now looking up the table rather than over their shoulders and long may it continue.