Newcastle 1, Bournemouth 2: Pressure Mounts on Eddie Howe After Late Defeat as Cherries Chase European Spots

IT’S FUNNY who things work out. But there is absolutely nothing for Eddie Howe to smile about after Newcastle were plunged further into crisis.

Bournemouth were the club where the Toon boss made his name, leading them from the brink of oblivion in League Two into the promised land of the Premier League.

Eddie Howe is feeling the pressure at Newcastle after a fourth defeat in a row Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Adrien Truffert’s Bournemouth winner boosted their European hopes Credit: PA

He still enjoys God-like status on the South Coast. And just 12 months ago he had that too at Newcastle after ending a 70-year wait for a major trophy and qualifying for the Champions league for a second time.

But that fairytale has turned into a nightmare in the North East. The locals are fed-up. The players look like they have given up. And Howe is fast running out of ideas to stop the rot as his former club condemned his men to a fourth straight defeat thanks to Adrien Truffert.

Will Osula looked to have spared him more misery after levelling Marcus Tavernier’s first half strike. But instead the pressure has mounted even more on the Toon boss.

For Bournemouth, departing Andoni Iraola remains on course to leave his replacement Marco Rose with the gift of European football as this 2-1 triumph stretched their unbeaten run to 13.

But whether it is Howe or somebody else left to pick up the pieces this summer, a huge rebuilding job lies ahead at Newcastle.

The boos were loud at half time after a feeble opening 45 minutes from the Mags.

But, in truth, the Toon Army should have been celebrating the fact that they were only one behind.

Lewis Hall was the main culprit. Body language, passing, position, fight… you name it, it was all poor.

Just last month he was being talked about as being England’s World Cup left-back after starring against Lamine Yamal here in the Champions League. He’ll be lucky to even have a seat on the plane with many more performances like this.

He was put out of his misery at the break, veteran Kieran Trippier replacing him, but he was not the only villain here to leave his manager sinking in even more of the brown stuff.

Fellow Three Lions full-back hopeful Tino Livramento, who reverted to left-back upon Trippier’s introduction, was just as stinking. And the pair both had shockers alongside Malick Thiaw ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale as Bournemouth broke the deadlock just after half hour.

It was all too easy. In a move that started at left-back, Alex Jimenez was given all of Tyneside to pick out Rayan down the right. The Brazilian skipped past the half-hearted Hall with ease into the area towards the touchline before sending the ball low across goal.

Still, despite his poor defending, Hall’s team-mates still had chance to bail him out of trouble. Firstly, the flat-footed Thiaw made no attempt to stop it at the near-post while ‘keeper Arron Ramsdale stood slack-jawed as it rolled past him.

That allowed Tavernier, who gave Livramento a five-yard headstart, to punish his marker’s lack of aggression and tap home from close-range.

The Cherries attacker celebrated with his trademark golf swing before appearing to puff on an imaginary cigarette with pal Ryan Christie. They may as well have pulled out a deckchair and grabbed themselves a beer too.

The warning signs had already been there. Former Middlesbrough ace Tavernier, part of Newcastle’s academy as a kid, had already gotten the wrong side of Livramento only to fire into the sidenetting.

And just moments prior to the opener, Rayan had whizzed a first time side-footed strike past the post from the edge of the area following another move down Livramento’s side.

Though it was his compatriot Evanilson sho should have put it to bed on 40 minutes in a near carbon copy of the goal.

Alex Scott and Eli Junior Kroupi produced a one-two to send the latter skipping past the motionless Hall again. The French ace pulled it back and put it on a plate for his striker, only to watch agonisingly as Evanilson’s lunging effort went wide.

But the agony was all Howe’s. As frustration mounted in the stands, his team failed to land a punch on the visitors until the last attack of the half.

Hall’s free-kick sailed over everybody towards the backpost, masked Sven Botman bundled it goalwards, but it was easy work for Dorde Petrovic.

Newcastle were lacking in every department. None more than in attack. Given the absence of top scorer Anthony Gordon due to a hip injury, in a week when speculation intensified over his future, Howe was running out of talisman to turn to.

Though he did possess one. Skipper Bruno Guimaraes was back following a two month absence with a hamstring injury and battle with mumps. And it was his introduction on the hour that eventually brought the bite and fight that had been lacking for weeks.

And Toon’s leader soon inadvertently played a part in the equaliser – by being TACKLED.

Guimaraes was caught in possession carrying it forward inside his own half. Evanilson stole in, but he toed it through a sea bodies to Osula at the front of Newcastle’s attack.

The gangly Dane quickly sorted out his feet and spun his marker, charging towards goal and holding off Marcos Senesi to drill past Petrovic. It must have felt like an age for Howe as VAR intervened to check but you could feel the relief all-around St. James’ once it was eventually given.

There was another kick in the teeth in store, however, as Livramento’s injury curse struck again, this time hobbling out after pulling up following a run. But the sucker punch was still to come as Trueffert slammed home Evanilson’s knockdown for his first Cherries goal.