A Steve Cook header two minutes into injury time has given Bournemouth a 1-0 win over Newcastle United in Saturday's Premier League encounter at St James' Park.
In a game full of attacking intent, Matt Ritchie hit the post from distance while Asmir Begovic produced fine saves to deny Ritchie and Christian Atsu.
Dwight Gayle also came close to getting on the scoresheet, though his close-range effort on the rebound was chalked off for offside.
Bournemouth dominated in the second half, hitting, the woodwork through Marc Pugh, before Cook glanced home a 92nd-minute corner to edge the Cherries out of the bottom three.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action on Tyneside.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Newcastle United and Bournemouth.
Today's game at St James' Park will pit a side doing considerably well following promotion from the Championship against one that has done superbly since their own ascent to the top flight two years ago but is now in danger of entering a full-blown relegation battle.
Newcastle endured a poor start amid reports of a fallout between manager Rafael Benitez and owner Mike Ashley, but have since picked up form to edge into the top half of the table - which included a stint in the top four.
Eddie Howe's charges, meanwhile, have lost seven of their 10 league games so far, which has seen them slip to 19th in the table, and only basement side Crystal Palace have scored less than the Cherries so far.
Granted, Bournemouth's defence has not been too bad - 14 goals conceded in 10 games - but combined with their lack of firepower, it's left them in trouble.
Without further ado, let's bring you the team news from Tyneside.
NEWCASTLE STARTING XI: Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Shelvey, Hayden, Atsu, Ritchie, Joselu, Gayle
BOURNEMOUTH STARTING XI: Begovic, Daniels, Francis, Steve Cook, Ake, Arter, Surman, Pugh, Ibe, Wilson, King
NEWCASTLE SUBS: Darlow, Clark, Murphy, Diame, Perez, Gamez, Mitrovic
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Boruc, Gosling, Smith, Lewis Cook, Defoe, Fraser, Mousset
Newcastle have made two changes from their 1-0 defeat at Burnley on Monday night, with Dwight Gayle coming in for Ayoze Perez, while Isaac Hayden is in for Mohamed Diame. Both dropped players will start the game on the bench.
Mikel Merino has picked up a back injury, with Benitez admitting that the midfielder will be sidelined for "a couple of weeks at least" and will not join up with Spain's Under-21s during the forthcoming international break.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, have been boosted by the return of Callum Wilson, who is set to make his first start in more than a year following a serious knee injury.
All in all Howe has made five changes to his starting XI from the 1-0 defeat by Chelsea as Wilson, Harry Arter, Marc Pugh, Jordon Ibe and Josh King are in, while Adam Smith, Lewis Cook, Junior Stanislas, Benik Afobe and Jermain Defoe make way.
Afobe is out with a thigh injury, while Stanislas is nursing a groin complaint after both were forced off in the defeat to Chelsea last weekend.
So what have the managers said about the game ahead of kickoff? Let's start with Benitez.
The Spaniard told reporters in his pre-match press conference: "I have told the players something they already know - we have to have perspective. Nobody was expecting we would be in the top 10. We are much better than people were expecting. It could be better, but it could be worse. We have to be competitive and make sure we are good enough to stay up. Then we can continue to build from that."
Howe, meanwhile, said: "These games will define our season in the respect of what kind of season we'll go on to have. We've scored six goals, that's not enough, and we've not been potent enough in the final third. That is not down to one individual, but as a team. We've always been a team that has attacked with everyone and we need to get our fluidity back in that sense."
Off the pitch, Newcastle are said to be close to a takeover, with Ashley having put the club up for sale in October. Reports suggest that Amanda Staveley's PCP Capital Partners firm is favourite to become the Magpies' new owner.
It remains to be seen what happens in terms of Newcastle's ownership, but for now the club is giving a good account of itself on the pitch, with Benitez having done superbly well despite seemingly not having had his way in the transfer market over the summer.
HEAD TO HEAD: Today's encounter is the ninth meeting between these sides and only the fifth in a league competition.
Bournemouth won the corresponding fixture 3-1 in March 2016, which resulted in the sacking of Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren six days later.
The last time Newcastle beat Bournemouth at St James' Park was in February 1990, with Micky Quinn scoring twice in a 3-0 win.
The head-to-head record stands at three Newcastle wins, four Bournemouth wins, and one draw.
The first meeting came on November 6, 1963 when the Cherries were known as Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic, and the result at Dean Court on the day was a 2-1 home win.
Both sides have won just one of their last five games, but Newcastle have only lost once at St. James' Park in the Premier League under Rafa Benitez.
In addition, Benitez has lost just once in 58 home top-flight games played on a Saturday.
PREDICTION: Time for me to have a go at predicting today's result. Personally, I think it has "draw" written all over it. Newcastle have a decent enough attack but Bournemouth are likely to shut up shop, while they've been struggling all season at the other end, so even with their changes, I'm going to go for 1-1.
Both sets of players have emerged from the tunnel, with a minute's silence to take place ahead of kickoff in remembrance of the UK's fallen troops.
KICKOFF! We're underway at St James' Park following an impeccably observed minute's silence.
Newcastle are first on the attack with Shelvey slipping the ball over to Atsu on the left, but the winger skies his cross into the crowd behind the goal.
Shelvey loses the ball in midfield and Bournemouth push forward, winning a corner through Ibe, but it comes to nothing.
CHANCES! Dangerous from Newcastle as former Cherries man Ritchie picks the ball up 30 yards out and lets rip towards the bottom corner, but Begovic palms the effort behind for a corner, and from the set piece, Shelvey drills into the side netting!
Lejeune wins the ball back and gets the ball to Hayden, who in turn feeds Atsu on the left, but the winger's cross is easily claimed by Begovic.
A long ball over the top finds its way to Wilson who holds it up and turns towards goal, but Lejeune does well to reclaim and hack away.
CHANCE! Newcastle threaten through Gayle as he rises to get on the end of the cross from Ritchie, but Cook blocks the goalbound header and gets it out for a corner!
CHANCE! Atsu controls an aerial ball and rifles a ferocious half-volley from 25 yards out, only for Begovic to dive to his left and tip the effort behind for a corner!
DISALLOWED GOAL! Yet another Magpies attack sees Ritchie's effort from the edge of the box ricochet off the post before Gayle taps home on the rebound, but it won't count as it's deemed offside!
Gayle has yet to score in the league this season but replays show the decision was correct as he was just ahead of the last defender.
Another effort from Newcastle but this one fails to trouble Begovic as Shelvey has a go from about 35 yards out and it's well over.
We're approaching the mid-point of the first half and it's been all Newcastle so far, who have been kept at bay wonderfully by Begovic, while Bournemouth are yet to get going.
BOOKING: First card of the game is shown to Surman for a late tackle on Joselu.
Bournemouth now break as Wilson gallops down the right with the ball but his diagonal pass to centre bypasses both the defending Lascelles and Ibe on the left and goes out of play.
CHANCE! Newcastle continue knocking on the door as Ritchie's long ball forward is picked up by Atsu, who cuts onto his right and fires towards the top corner, only for Cook to charge the effort down!
Surman gives away possession to Hayden, who works the ball to Joselu 20 yards out, but the subsequent left-footed effort goes wide of target.
The clock ticks over the half-hour mark and the way things are going, Bournemouth will be lucky to be level at the break as Newcastle continue to dominate.
CHANCE! But here come the Cherries who manage to set off on a counter-attack through King, who has Wilson making headway down the right, but the Norwegian opts to go for glory and skews his effort wide.
Now the Magpies push again towards goal as Hayden plays the ball over to Gayle, who has his back to goal, but his turn and shot is charged down by Ake.
End to end stuff - now the visitors make their way up the pitch and Ibe gets a cross into the box, only for Elliott to collect with ease.
And at the other end, Gayle wins the ball deep in Cherries territory and slips a pass through to Hayden, who skews a shot high and wide of Begovic's goal.
CHANCE! Bournemouth so close to scoring against the run of play as Francis whips a cross into the area for Pugh to head goalwards, but Elliot tips the ball over the bar!
CHANCE! Another chance for the visitors! Wilson muscles Lejeune off the ball and is able to get a shot away from a tight angle, only for Elliott to save and then claim the ball with Wilson bearing down on the stopper!
A spell of respite now following that frantic period of end-to-end play and chances aplenty, though somehow, we remain goalless.
Manquillo is the latest player who fancies a go for goal but his effort is poor, firing so wide from 20 yards out that it's not far off being a throw-in.
Now Daniels tries his luck from range after galloping forward from the back but his effort is almost as bad as Manquillo's, flying into row Z.
We have one minute of stoppage time here at St James' Park.
HALF TIME: NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-0 BOURNEMOUTH
Paul Tierney blows the whistle to signal the end of the first half and both players head back into the dressing room with the scores all even and the breakthrough yet to come.
It's been a game full of attacking endeavour, with Newcastle looking the most dangerous, but Bournemouth improved as the half went on and threatened with several good efforts of their own.
We could be talking about a 2-2 or 3-3 right now were it not for the form of goalkeepers Rob Elliot and Asmir Begovic, who made two fantastic saves apiece and have both been very sharp overall.
HALF TIME STATS: Newcastle have had 12 shots, four of which were on target, their possession stands at 49%, and they've won four corners.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, have mustered seven shots, two on target, just shading possession at 51%, and have won three corners.
It's been pretty quiet on the goal front in the Premier League's 3pm kickoffs, with just two across the four games - Huddersfield lead West Brom 1-0 (and that only came on the stroke of half time) and Brighton are ahead at Swansea, while Southampton against Burnley is goalless.
How much different would this game be had Mikel Merino been fit?
1 - No @NUFC player has made more passes (348), tackles (26) or interceptions (13) than Mikel Merino in the Premier League this season. Miss pic.twitter.com/JW2SL8BuCF — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 3 November 2017
KICKOFF: We're back underway on Tyneside as neither side made any changes at the break.
Newcastle win an early free kick which Shelvey lumps into the box, Begovic is quick off his line to punch clear but the ball falls to Atsu, who sizes up the goal, but his effort flies wide.
CHANCE! Cook concedes a corner which is swung towards Joselu at the far post, he sends a header down into the ground and towards goal but Begovic tips the ball over!
As in the first half, Newcastle have been quickest out of the starting blocks but continue to labour in front of the Cherries goal. Gayle and Shelvey play a one-two on the byline but the former can't get back onto the ball and it runs out of play.
CHANCE! Now here come Bournemouth as King controls and slip Wilson through on goal, but Elliot comes out and forces the striker to shoot quickly, resulting in the effort hitting the side netting!
SUBSTITUTION: Jamaal Lascelles can't continue as he succumbs to a knock from the first half, so Ciaran Clark comes on in the Newcastle captain's place.
Will Lascelles' enforced departure provide more impetus for Bournemouth to step things up in attack and take the game to Newcastle?
Still goalless at the hour mark as Newcastle win a corner through Shelvey, who opts to whip the ball into the box, but the Cherries manage to clear, albeit with a bit of panic.
CHANCE! King crosses for Pugh at the back post, who tries to flick the ball to Wilson at the centre, but it's too close to goal and Elliot can claim.
BOOKING: Lejeune is shown a yellow card after coming together with King, who accused the Newcastle man of diving as the ball ran out of play for a corner.
Newcastle win a corner through Atsu which Ritchie takes but it's too deep, landing towards back of the box, and Bournemouth clear.
SUBSTITUTION: Second change of the match for Newcastle, with Joselu's mediocre shift coming to an end as Ayoze Perez takes his place.
Truth be told, the second half of this game has really been lacking in quality. Should it finish goalless, it wouldn't be a surprise. Very toothless from both sides.
Bournemouth now push forward as Pugh picks the ball up, cuts onto his right and goes for goal, but it's harmlessly wide.
Another tentative Cherries attack as King finds Ibe, who goes for goal from 20 yards out, but Manquillo charges the effort down.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Callum Wilson is taken off for Adam Smith, while Jordon Ibe makes way for Jermain Defoe, who receives a chorus of boos due to his Sunderland connections.
BOOKING: Francis takes one for the team as he hauls down Atsu, who was just embarking on a run, and is cautioned for his troubles.
Shelvey fouls Ake and gives Bournemouth a free kick around 35 yards out, which Daniels whips in, but Ritchie heads away at the far post.
CHANCE! Bournemouth give the ball away deep in their half as Atsu bears down on goal but his effort from outside the area sails wide.
SUBSTITUTION: Christian Atsu's shift is over as Jacob Murphy comes on for the latter stages of the game.
BOOKING: Shelvey sarcastically applauds the referee after giving away a foul and, predictably, is shown a yellow card.
A spell of pressure by Bournemouth ends with Arter firing well over from outside the box, one of many wayward efforts from range in this game.
CHANCE! Pugh weaves his way through the Newcastle defence and fires towards goal, only for his effort to be deflected onto the post! Heart in mouth moment there!
Three minutes of stoppage time here at St James' Park...
GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-1 BOURNEMOUTH (STEVE COOK)
We finally have the breakthrough and it's right at the death as an extended period of Cherries pressure ends up proving fruitful as Cook heads home from a corner!
FULL TIME: NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-1 BOURNEMOUTH
Bournemouth are out of the bottom three of the Premier League thanks to a smash-and-grab victory at Newcastle United, as a game which ebbed and flowed and saw the pendulum swing backwards and forwards finishes with Steve Cook clinically heading home from a corner to give Eddie Howe's side a 1-0 win at St James' Park.
That's all we have time for here on Tyneside but don't go anywhere as Sports Mole will be bringing you a match report, reaction from the game, and all the latest news from the day's football! Thank you for following and, until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
