Match Report and MOM v Newcastle

Written by Neil Dawson

I thought I’d give the match reports a one-off dusty resurrection to mark the homecoming…

Welcome Home Eddie…

The Return of the Prodigal Son painting represents a symbol of homecoming, the darkness of human existence illuminated by tenderness. I’m not sure 4 points out of 39 represents the darkness of human existence but recently on social media and through arguments in the recesses of stadiums, it has felt close. It was fitting therefore that our own prodigal son returned today, in strange guise, to illuminate the stadium once more by propagating an edge and an atmosphere he had made his own for over a decade.

From the moment he entered from the tunnel (‘turn right, turn right’..no doubt spinning around his brain) the crowd responded by showing him how good we can be, lest he thinks we’ve lost it. The team, with Solanke back and Traore making his home debut crackled from the off – looking to play on the break and use the pace of Outtara behind Dan Burn – a tactic employed to decent success all game. It left the new arrival well-versed in Brexit football as several elbows, trips and blocks welcomed him to his new world. Newcastles’ high press was bypassed with more long balls and this caught them by surprise and on the back foot. Solanke headed Anthony’s cross narrowly wide with Pope rooted and then headed again straight at the keeper as Bournemouth created space with rapid breaks.

The game proceeded in the same vein, Newcastle creating spiralling familiar Howe rotations on the wing but lacked a cutting edge with Isaak’s forays bludgeoned to death by the SS (Senesi/Stephens) partnership. With Lerma snapping and Phil Bill turning in one of his 1 in 3 days Bournemouth finally looked like a football team again. The crowd were lapping it up, dutifully ignoring any ‘disloyal’ serenading of their old hero and instead turning to the day’s most crucial question – when will weeman warm up? One by one the subs appeared but Fraser, in an ironic reprise of his post covid relegation battle stance went into complete hiding. Only one thing would divert attention from the midget baiting – a goal. It duly arrived when Outtara flicked on Traore’s booming corner and SENESI arrived like a bullet at the far post to smash home a first PL goal.

The little stadium rocked, wee-man slid so far into his chair two kit men had to pull him out and Traore fired down Pope’s throat when well placed. A feature of Eddie’s last two seasons was teams scoring against us with their first meaningful attack after being dominated. So, it was like he’d never left when Newcastle equalised just before half time having been no threat. Someone will be ashamed of their lack of tracking of Longstaff who had the pitch to himself to thud a shot that was brilliantly kept out by Neto. Unfortunately, ALMIRON was there to fire back across the keeper into the bottom corner

HT Bournemouth 1 Newcastle 1

The second half saw Newcastle start brighter and Bournemouth sit deeper, a pattern that didn’t really change although the threat level remained minimal. Senesi departed holding his back to be replaced by Mepham but the dominance of the centre-back partnership against Isaak continued, particularly aerially. Newcastle continued to look pretty while Bournemouth looked pacy but chances for both sides were at a premium. Tavernier arrived, a welcome sight, for Outtara and shuffled into the box only to shoot too tamely when the goal opened up.

Still, no sign of Fraser – the anticipation building with many chants before a desperate ‘Eddie, warm him up’. There was a false dawn when a smallish tracksuited guy sprinted towards the North Stand. Everyone instantly stood to a man with a cacophony of boos until the realisation it was Matt Ritchie and the mood changed to a rendition about winning the league at the Valley. Weeman sloped off down the tunnel for a bit, presumably to warm up on a bike or treadmill. Newcastle threatened a lot in the middle with Saint-Maximin particularly lively and beating people at will on cross-box runs only to find his path shut down at every shooting opportunity.

There was one final pivotal moment just before the final whistle. Sub Fredericks, Taverner and Traore combined cleverly for a low cross to Solanke who flicked the ball goalwards off his back foot, it looked like it had crossed the line before Trippier’s last-ditch clearance but there was no buzz of the referee’s watch and the headmaster avoided being humbled by the PE teacher.

FT Bournemouth 1 Newcastle 1

Neto 7 – Rapid delivery and smart hands.

Smith 6 – Stuck to St Max well but wisely removed after booking.
Stephens 8 – A rock and brave.
Senesi 7 – As above, but for shorter and with a crucial goal
Zemura 6 – Played in bursts, less effective than normal.

Outtara 6 – Bright, clever and tricky in spells – faded.
Billing 7 – Great leg-work and more vigilant
Lerma 7 – Snapped around being physically dominant.
Anthony 6 – Some good contributions and defensively aware.

Traore – 7 Looked very encouraging and moved the ball well.
Solanke – 6 – Toiled away and had three good chances not come off for him

(Mepham 7, Tavernier 6, Fredericks 6, Semenyo 6)

MOM – Stephens for me, best game since arriving and looked exceptionally solid.
Senesi might have got it had he played like that for 90 minutes. Billing and Lerma honourable mentions.

Verdict
Much better from Bournemouth, key players back and the tempo matched the crowd/crowd matched the tempo symbiotic relationship was back. Gary avoided the temptation to hang on to a draw today and made the right substitutions. Ultimately though another game has gone by and its 5 points from 42. We are going to need to take a win off a top side and its not looking likely. The frustrating thing is looking at Newcastle, who are having a tremendous season, our players are not as bad as that points total. As we said with Brighton and Brentford its the managerial situation that’s costing us rather than sitting looking at teams thinking ‘wow they are special’ as we did when first in this league. Keep this spirit going though and we have a chance of staying up – and that’s what the players will hopefully take from today.

You can’t end this without talking about the incredible emotion of that pitch walk. Eddie, who is the reference point for doing things correctly started first with his travelling support from the North East. What followed brought tears to my eyes, as i remembered watching so many familiar strolls with my late dad. I’m sure many had similar thoughts. It was a well trodden arc heading towards the South stand and the adjoining bit of the main stand before the turn towards the East stand. We’d seen it hundreds of times but the walks in my head were the ones against Grimsby, Carlisle, Bolton, Sunderland, Man Utd with an arm around Arter, survival games against Swansea and others, Liverpool, Spurs and the very last time against Chelsea. A walk that told you all was well with the world. The same studied look, appreciative but with a mind half whirring the match just happened and half whirring the one to come. That longer stint in front of the North Stand as the songs grow before a final head to the tunnel and some waves towards familiar faces in the main stand.

For a brief moment, it was as it ever was. I knew because I could hear the elderly gloved hands clapping beside me.

Your say…

SlowDownDerek wrote…

Feels like Phil Bill is the key to this season. After a slight blip, Lerma is back to his consistent best and you pretty much know what you’ll get with him. I think with the return of Dom, Tav and the introduction of the new lads we should have enough to turn our results against anyone.

Phil is absolutely good enough to compete against any side at this level, if he can play consistently like yesterday I think we’ll survive. He’s surely got to be desperate not to have a third straight relegation on his CV. Come on PB, seize the day! – To join the conversation, click here.