Dominic Solanke was the hero at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening, as his second-half brace helped Bournemouth to a 2-0 win over injury-ladden Newcastle United.
The Anglo-Nigerian forward took his season tally to six Premier League goals in just 12 games to equal his whole output from last season.
WHAT A WIN ???? pic.twitter.com/NR9LLyhdVs
— AFC Bournemouth ???? (@afcbournemouth) November 11, 2023
The home side were in full control and had the chance to take the lead on a number of occasions in the first half, but Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope was in inspired form to thwart away any of the attempts from Solanke, Justin Kluivert, Ryan Christie, and Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo.
The Magpies were handed another injury blow as Paraguayan forward Miguel Almiron was withdrawn from the action with an apparent hamstring injury, adding to the long list of players sidelined for Eddie Howe’s men.
Solanke broke the deadlock for Bournemouth on the hour mark, placing his effort into the bottom-right corner. The 26-year-old benefitted from a deflection off a Newcastle defender after Semenyo tried to play him through on goal before firing low and hard into the goal with a right-footed strike.
Marcus Tavernier almost doubled the Cherries lead, but his left-footed effort aiming for the top corner was pushed behind by Pope.
What a player ???? pic.twitter.com/J8pbpp7eCj
— AFC Bournemouth ???? (@afcbournemouth) November 11, 2023
Bournemouth benefited from the resulting corner as Solanke doubled their lead. After Lewis Cook sent in a dangerous cross into the box, which substitute Luis Sinisterra headed against the post, the former Chelsea and Liverpool manager was the quickest to react and sent his effort past Pope into the net.
Despite Newcastle’s disappointing performance and being two goals down, Pope had an outstanding game, with the England international called to action in the seventh minute of stoppage time to deny Sinisterra, whose deflected shot almost caught him unaware.
The win was Bournemouth’s second in the league this season, and they finally defeated the Magpies at home after being winless in their last five meetings at the Vitality.
The Cherries move out of the relegation zone with nine points from 12 games, while Newcastle’s seven-match domestic unbeaten run comes to an end. The two teams will return to action after the international break as Bournemouth travel to Sheffield United, while Newcastle host Chelsea at St. James Park.
