Miguel Almiron on target as Newcastle are held at Bournemouth on Eddie Howe's return

Another draw for Newcastle dents Champions League ambitions

Newcastle United's Miguel Almiron celebrates after levelling the scores in the 1-1 Premier League draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on February 11, 2023. AFP

Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi (r) celebrates after putting his side ahead. PA

Marcos Senesi celebrates scoring. PA

Marcos Senesi scores for Bournemouth past Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. AFP

Newcastle's Miguel Almiron celebrates scoring. Action Images

Miguel Almiron scores for Newcastle. PA

Bournemouth manager Gary O'Neil and Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe on the sidelines. PA

Miguel Almiron’s 10th goal of the season and a late clearance by Kieran Trippier ensured Newcastle boss Eddie Howe claimed a point on his Bournemouth return but only after a potentially costly 1-1 draw.

Marcos Senesi poked the struggling Cherries ahead and while Almiron levelled by half-time, the Magpies could not arrest their stuttering form and slumped to a fifth draw from their last six Premier League fixtures.

It may have been worse had Trippier not denied Dominic Solanke’s goalbound flick on the verge of full-time and that ensured the visitors extended their unbeaten top-flight run to 17 matches but injuries to Joe Willock, Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin will be a major concern to Howe with the League Cup final only two weeks away.

Howe made his first return to the south-coast club since he departed in 2020 but a knock in training denied Callum Wilson the chance to face his old team.

It meant Alexander Isak, Newcastle’s record £60million signing, made only his sixth appearance in the league following an injury-hit first campaign.

Nick Pope was the first goalkeeper into action when Jaidon Anthony’s cross was impressively flicked on by the returning Solanke, but the away custodian scrambled across to parry wide.

It was an encouraging moment for a Bournemouth side that had only scored one league goal since the league resumed in December.

Goals against had been a lot more frequent for Gary O’Neil’s men but after withstanding a succession of corners, they made the breakthrough with half an hour played.

Hamed Traore’s corner was flicked on by fellow January recruit Dango Ouattara and summer arrival Senesi was on hand to poke home at the back post for his first goal for Bournemouth.

Newcastle were dealt another blow when Willock was forced off with a thigh injury, a concern with a Wembley trip a fortnight away, and Anthony Gordon’s introduction saw a switch in formation to a 4-2-3-1.

A first shot on target for the visitors arrived when Isak’s weak effort was sent straight down Neto’s throat with two minutes of the first half remaining but the Magpies next foray into the area resulted in the equaliser.

Saint-Maximin threaded a pass into the onrushing Sean Longstaff, who was denied by Neto from 20-yards but Almiron was on hand to slot home with his left foot to level it up at the break.

Bournemouth were forced into a change early in the second period when goalscorer Senesi had to be replaced and a second substitution for the hosts, this time tactical, occurred just past the hour mark with Marcus Tavernier brought on to help halt Newcastle’s growing momentum.

Just as Howe’s team were building a head of steam, a string of stoppages helped take the sting of the match but the Cherries were still fortune not to go behind with 20 minutes left.

Neto made a rare error when he fumbled Saint-Maximin’s shot and despite saving Longstaff’s follow-up effort, Bournemouth were thankful £40million man Gordon fired wide from close-range under pressure from Jack Stephens.

Howe did eventually turn to his bench with Jacob Murphy readied before Almiron became the latest player struck by injury after he landed awkwardly on his wrist.

Minutes later and Saint-Maximin limped off before a Dan Burn mistake let Traore cross in for Solanke, but his flick was stopped by Trippier to ensure the spoils were shared.