While our transfer frustrations continue as the never-ending Marc Guehi saga ‘edges closer’, we got off to a good start to the 2024/25 season in tough circumstances last weekend.
It’s important to mention that we struggled in that opening 25 minutes before the red card. We were poor on the ball, looked a yard off the pace and Southampton looked the better side with 11 vs 11. However, our response to the setback was impressive, showing the grit, determination and organisation needed to see out a precious 1-0 win.
It’s fair to say we’ll need to be better than we were in that opening half hour if we want to beat a dangerous Bournemouth side that will be celebrating 125 years and welcoming new £40m striker Evanilson to the Vitality this Sunday.
The Brazilian arrives highly-rated from Porto but has big shoes to fill, replacing last season’s top scorer Dominic Solanke following his move to Spurs. The Cherries drew 1-1 at Nottingham Forest last weekend thanks to an 86th minute equaliser and drew 2-2 at St James’ Park the last time the two sides met in February.
Eddie Howe’s pre-match comments
“We defended our goal really well (against Southampton), a great return to the style of how to defend. It is about doing that consistently, that was only one game, but I was very pleased. It was an important game for us, sets the marker for us.”
“We had two really tough games against them (Bournemouth) last season, they are an athletic side who will hurt you on transitions if you are not on it. We are not fooled by how difficult this game will be, we need to be better on the road then we were last season.
“We need to go into this game with the right frame of mind. When you turn up for a game, you are there to win. We have to try and start well; we have to try and get momentum in our season.”
Team news
Fabian Schar starts his three-match ban after our appeal was rejected, meaning he’ll miss out next three games against Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest (cup) and Spurs.
Sandro Tonali (ineligible) misses out for the final time, while Callum Wilson (back), Lewis Miley (foot), Sven Botman (ACL) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL) remain out. Matt Targett and Kieran Trippier both played 45 minutes for the U21s on Monday.
Predicted line-up: (4-3-3) Pope – Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Hall – Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
With Marc Guehi – or any other centre-back – yet to sign and Schar suspended, it looks like we’ll see Emil Krafth come in alongside Dan Burn. Not ideal, but the pair did help us see out that 1-0 win over Southampton.
One position to watch is at left-back. Lewis Hall really struggled last weekend – he was poor defensively, picked up an early yellow and had too many cheap giveaways in bad areas – so I wouldn’t be shocked if Lloyd Kelly came in. However, for now at least, I think Howe will keep faith in Hall after his strong end to 2023/24 and impressive pre-season.
Tino Livramento is likely to keep his place at right-back and it may be another game where Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes are restricted to the bench, with Anthony Gordon and Joelinton set to get the nod again.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-2 Newcastle
The last time we traveled to Bournemouth were struck down with injuries, struggling badly with fatigue and delivered an absolute stinker in a 2-0 defeat. Thankfully, Eddie Howe has a much stronger squad to pick from this time, but there are concerns at centre-back with Schar suspended, Botman injured and Guehi yet to sign.
Krafth and Burn is not an ideal partnership and Hall must improve at left-back, leaving me to wonder how we’ll cope defensively when we’ll no longer have eight or nine men behind the ball as we did last weekend.
I think Isak, Gordon and Bruno could be the difference, but I’m expecting a tough one. After our woes on the road last season, it would be a hug early-season boost to make it back-to-back wins here.
