Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 2 – Saturday 18 April 2026 3pm
Instant fan/writer reaction from some of our regular contributors on The Mag.
Nat Seaton:
‘Beaten by a better team who as much as they were annoying with their time wasting, played some good football and deserved their victory.
Not sure where we go from here until the end of the season. This is new territory for Eddie Howe and these players and it’s not playing out well.
A season of great promise and some good memories along the way is petering out with five games to go and with many worrying signs that we don’t appear to have answers for.’
Billy Miller:
‘First ballot success of the season. Maybe that’s a blessing.
The frustration is that we were in control for a lot of it and, much like Palace, Bournemouth didn’t seem all that interested in participating.
The times they bothered to stroll into our half, they cut us open.
Europe is all but off the cards now.
I’d just like to see us try a few different things over these final weeks. Biggest summer of the takeover ahead.’
Simon Ritter:
‘A squad looking increasingly lacking in confidence fell to a third successive 2-1 defeat, though this time we tried a different approach.
Instead of being the stronger and more threatening team in the first half, we were second-best and deservedly trailed at the break.
Neither of our England full-backs subdued opponents who exploited the inability of Barnes and Elanga to work effectively.
Osula, as at Selhurst Park, took his goal well, having again been starved of decent service.
Ramsdale was reluctant to cut out crosses, a factor in Bournemouth’s winner, just as it was against Palace.
Bruno and Trippier improved matters but sadly not enough to earn a reward.
Newcastle United will need to be so much better next Saturday, when Arsenal will be massive favourites.’
Mark Jankowski:
‘I fear that may be the final nail in the coffin for Eddie Howe.
He’ll get the rest of the season but with such an important summer ahead you need to be confident that the manager you are spending millions on is the right man to use those players.
Based on our recent performances I’m not sure that Howe is.
There’s a lot more to dissect from that performance but that’s too much to go into for now. We’re crawling towards the finish line of a gruelling season.’
Jamie Smith:
‘Rinse and repeat.
This team has become utterly pathetic and today’s result was entirely expected.
Something has gone rotten and if the people running the place want to keep cranking up the match by match prices they better get some sorting out done.
The amount of weekends this clown show has spoilt this year is off the scale and today was the last nail in the European coffin.
When did we become such a joke at the back?
I wonder if Howe will sign the same NDA with us as he did with Bournemouth where he’s clearly promised never to beat them in a PL game after leaving.’
Tony Mallabar:
‘Being the old school casual I am, got myself a new pair of azelle trainers and unfortunately had them on today without first having a trial run. Come full time today, I couldn’t have picked a better way of describing my feet along with today’s performance. Too narrow, cramped at the front and totally lacking any sole (soul).
I’ve been a massive critic of the heedless one, but like Palace away, at least he puts a shift in.
Tino, Barnes and Botman awful.
Being the leader of the east stand casuals, we kept up our end supporting the team.
Am desperately disappointed with the performance today, but guess what, roll on the 10.24am to King’s Cross next Saturday.’
David Punton:
‘Every time we face this lot in the Prem we come off worse. Without fail.
This result is a terrible one for Eddie Howe – you felt it was a game he had to win.
What we got was another weak effort that sees another visiting side waltz away with all three points. It’s relegation form.
Howe, as manager is ultimately accountable, but the players are letting us all down too. Big time.
One year on from the League Cup and it’s all a bit of a mess.
It’s sad for Howe, who has given us some great days.
What happens now?’
Matt Busby said…:
‘Another (largely) lacklustre display and another defeat.
My positivity is getting sorely tested.
I would suggest rinse and repeat, although Bruno coming back and the upbeat way in which both the crowd and team reacted to his comeback made it feel for a fleeting moment that we might have been able to salvage something from this.
Not so, as we’re dealt a hammer blow five minutes from time when some sloppy defending allowed Bournemouth to score the winner.’
GToon:
‘Normally I’m raging after a defeat but this was so expected I should have bet my house on it.
I couldn’t care less about our next five results.
The only emotion I have is that if this team and manager line up for next season then that might be it for me.
This is no different to the Ashley years.
Cups count for nowt unless you win them.
The league is the true measure of a club and this lot are quite simply a disgrace when you consider the money invested.’
Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 2 – Saturday 18 April 2026 3pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Osula 68
Bournemouth:
Tavernier 32, Truffert 85
Possession was Newcastle 54% Bournemouth 46%
Total shots were Newcastle 12 Bournemouth 12
Shots on target were Newcastle 3 Bournemouth 3
Corners were Newcastle 2 Bournemouth 3
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 40 Bournemouth 24
Newcastle team v Bournemouth:
Ramsdale, Livramento (Burn 74), Thiaw, Botman, Hall (Trippier 46), Miley, Tonali (Woltemade 86), Ramsey (Bruno 62), Osula, Barnes, Elanga (Jacob Murphy 62)
Unused subs:
Pope, Wissa, Alex Murphy, Willock