Newcastle hit by dramatic late sucker-punch

The Magpies looked to be in complete control as Dwight Gayle’s first-half double gave them a deserved two-goal lead at the break.

Rafael Benitez’s side should have been home and hosed when Jonjo Shelvey had the goal at his mercy in the 79th minute, but the midfielder somehow fired wide from the edge of the six-yard box.

Bournemouth clawed a goal back a minute later through a long-range effort from Adam Smith, and claimed a point with one minute left as former Newcastle midfielder Dan Gosling turned home Nathan Ake’s cross.

The result leaves the Magpies sitting in 15th position in the table, two points clear of the relegation zone. With ten minutes left, they had been in the top ten.

Benitez made the rare decision to name an unchanged starting line-up, sticking with the side that beat Manchester United in their last outing.

The Magpies had been in fine form against Jose Mourinho’s side, and if anything, they were even better in the opening 45 minutes at the Vitality Stadium.

Strong and resilient in defence, and a threat whenever they broke on the counter-attack, they deservedly found themselves two goals ahead at the interval.

They had to withstand some early pressure from Bournemouth in the opening quarter-of-an-hour, but with Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune rock solid at the heart of the back four, Martin Dubravka was not seriously tested despite the hosts dominating possession early on.

Gosling headed Junior Stanislas’ third-minute cross over the bar, but that was a rare occasion when the Cherries penetrated the Newcastle box.

Most of Bournemouth’s first-half opportunities were shots from distance, with Stanislas, Callum Wilson and Gosling all failing to find the target as the Newcastle defence held firm.

Newcastle’s first opportunity came to nothing shortly before the quarter-of-an-hour mark, with Kenedy curling a free-kick over the bar, but just three minutes later, the visitors were celebrating taking the lead.

Shelvey produced a magnificent floated pass to send Matt Ritchie away down the right-hand side, and the former Bournemouth midfielder delivered a crisp low cross into the middle.

Gayle’s initial shot was saved, but Asmir Begovic was unable to hold on to the ball, enabling Newcastle’s number nine to back-heel the loose ball into the net.

Buoyed by their opener, Newcastle almost added a second moments later, but Ritchie curled a shot narrowly wide after Ayoze Perez’s initial effort had been blocked.

With Gayle, Perez and Ritchie linking effectively, the Magpies were a threat whenever they broke, and they deservedly doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time.

Perez kept Paul Dummett’s low cross alive close to the byline, and Begovic somehow allowed the Spaniard’s cross to pass through his arms. Gayle had anticipated the opportunity for a tap in, and duly rolled the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

A two-goal advantage was no more than Newcastle deserved, and while Bournemouth began the second half displaying more attacking intent, they still struggled to create clear-cut chances such was the quality of the Magpies’ defending.

Ryan Fraser swept a first-time shot wide shortly before the hour mark after Joshua King crossed from the left, but Ritchie tested Begovic at the other end with a low effort that was saved by the Bournemouth keeper.

The hosts brought on Jermain Defoe with 17 minutes left, and the former Sunderland striker almost had an immediate impact, turning in the box to squeeze in a shot that went into the side-netting.

However, it was Newcastle who should have made the game safe in the 79th minute, only for Shelvey to miss a sitter. Christian Atsu unselfishly squared the ball to the midfielder after breaking clear of the Bournemouth defence, but with the goal gaping, Shelvey somehow sliced his shot wide.

It was a costly miss, as Bournemouth clawed their way back into the game with a goal just 60 seconds later.

Lewis Cook flicked King’s ball into Smith’s path, and Dubravka appeared to be unsighted as the full-back’s shot whistled past him from outside the area.

That was bad enough, but there was worse to come as Bournemouth claimed a dramatic equaliser in the 89th minute.

Francis’ low cross was stabbed to Ake, and when the defender delivered a cross-shot into the area, an unmarked Gosling was able to stab the ball home.

Bournemouth (4-4-2): Begovic; Francis, S Cook, Ake, Daniels (Smith 46); Stanislas, Gosling, L Cook, Fraser (Mousset 63); King, Wilson (Defoe 73).

Subs (not used): Boruc (gk), Simpson, Pugh, Surman.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Dubravka; Yedlin, Lejeune, Lascelles, Dummett; Shelvey, Diame; Ritchie (Manquillo 84), Perez, Kenedy (Atsu 64); Gayle (Hayden 77).

Subs (not used): Darlow (gk), Clark, Merino, Joselu.