Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Bournemouth at St James' Park on April 18, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Bournemouth at St James' Park on April 18, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Newcastle United 1-2 Bournemouth: Marcus Tavernier, William Osula and Adrien Truffert scored at St James’ Park as Eddie Howe’s side lost again.
Newcastle United suffered yet another defeat as bogey side AFC Bournemouth claimed a 2-1 win at St James’ Park.
Marcus Tavernier’s first half strike was cancelled out by William Osula’s second goal in as many games before Adrien Truffert secured three points for the Cherries late on.
It’s the third straight 2-1 defeat for the Magpies decided by a late goal as Eddie Howe’s side now find themselves looking over their shoulder with five games remaining.
Anthony Gordon misses out
Gordon’s absence came just a day after Howe warned that he wouldn’t play players who are not committed to the club. The winger has been subject to fresh transfer speculation this past week and the Newcastle boss namechecked the England international in his warning.
“I think the biggest thing I look for is the commitment to training because I think if I see the commitment to the training ground work, the player will perform,” Howe said.
“That will be the same with Anthony. That will be the same with every player. One thing I'm not going to do is play a player, any player, if I don't feel they're 100 per cent committed to the club and to its future. Because that commitment, that resolve, what the player gives the team has to be total.”
Newcastle were boosted by the return of captain Bruno Guimaraes after two months out injured, but the Brazilian started the game on the bench.
New captain for NUFC
With all five of Newcastle’s leadership group among the substitutes, Howe named Sandro Tonali as Newcastle’s captain for the first time in a competitive game.
Howe’s previous comments about commitment also referenced the speculation surrounding Tonali and a potential summer exit so handing him the armband while Gordon missed out entirely sent a message, whether intentional or not.
Newcastle went into the game sitting 14th in the Premier League table with six games left to play and their chances of European qualification hanging by a thread.
Howe’s future has been a big talking point amid increased pressure on the Magpies boss but he was given a vote of confidence from the home crowd, who chanted his name early on. But those chants would turn to boos by half-time.
After an even opening half hour at St James’ Park, Bournemouth took the lead as Rayan’s low cross was bundled in by former Magpies academy player Marcus Tavernier. That goal proved to be the difference between the sides at the break as Bournemouth led 1-0.
Howe made one change at the break with Lewis Hall - who was putting in an uncharacteristically poor performance at left-back and allowed the cross in for Bournemouth’s goal - hooked for Kieran Trippier. Tino Livramento moved out to left-back in the second half as a result.
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Bruno Guimaraes returns
With the score still at 1-0 by the hour mark, Howe played his joker with Guimaraes returning to action for the first time in over two months.
Even after his extended spell on the sidelines, the Brazilian remains Newcastle’s top scorer in the Premier League this season.
Within 10 minutes of his introduction, Guimaraes played a role in Newcastle drawing level - or so it seemed. William Osula looked to be played in by the Brazilian to make it 1-1, but the flag went up for offside.
But a VAR check showed that Osula was played in by another Brazilian, Bournemouth’s Evanilson, and the decision to disallow the goal was overturned following a lengthy check.
It marked Osula’s sixth goal of the season and third in his last four Premier League appearances.
While Guimaraes looked understandably rusty after his spell out, the Newcastle captain’s ability to quickly get involved in key moments and pick the side up helped the some side get a foothold in the game at a key moment. But it would be short lived.
Tino injury blow
After equalising, the Magpies were almost immediately dealt a setback as Tino Livramento went down holding his groin and was forced off. It marked another injury blow for the defender, who only recently returned from a hamstring injury suffered against Bournemouth in the FA Cup back in January.
Dan Burn came on at left-back in Livramento’s place and things would only get worse from there. Burn was unable to clear the danger as Bournemouth went back in front in the closing stages through Adrien Truffert.
And once again Newcastle found themselves on the receiving end of a 2-1 defeat. It’s a third straight defeat in the Premier League for Howe’s side by the same scoreline and an eighth defeat in 11 Premier League games.
What now for Newcastle United?
With five games left to play, Newcastle stay 14th in the table but the gap is closing on the teams behind them. Leeds United winning means they are just three points behind the Magpies in the table.
And with Arsenal away and another bogey side in Brighton up next for Newcastle, it’s hard to see where the next points are coming from.
United are likely to have already done enough to stay in the Premier League but it’s an embarrasing situation that a side who started the season with Champions League ambitions now find themselves sleepwalking into the relegation conversation.
But when asked if Newcastle were in a relegation battle, Howe said: “I don't know necessarily about that, but eight defeats out of 11 isn't good enough.”
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