• Monday, 23 December 2024
Matt Richie earns a point for Newcastle against Bournemouth

Matt Richie earns a point for Newcastle against Bournemouth

Matt Ritchie's first Premier League goal since 2020 earned Newcastle a dramatic point and denied Bournemouth their first top-flight victory of 2024.

Eddie Howe's team were trailing going into added time, but second-half substitute Ritchie converted from close range after the visitors failed to adequately deal with Bruno Guimaraes' inswinging delivery.

Bournemouth will be deeply frustrated not to have claimed all three points at St James' Park after twice taking the lead in an entertaining and, at times, chaotic second period.

Dominic Solanke capitalised on a Martin Dubravka slip to break the deadlock, only for Newcastle to equalise seven minutes later through Anthony Gordon's contentious penalty.

Antoine Semenyo appeared to have earned Bournemouth their first league victory since 26 December with a thunderous finish from the corner of the penalty area, but veteran winger Ritchie had the final say against his former club.

"I probably shouldn't have celebrated as much as I did because we needed to push for a win," Ritchie said. "I'm 34, not 25 now, but I'm still full of love for the game.

"When you haven't played and haven't scored, you miss that feeling. It's one of those things that keeps you going - scoring a goal, especially at that end of the stadium.

"I'm delighted to get the goal and the equaliser but frustrated that we didn't perform to the levels we know we can."

Newcastle stay seventh in the table, while Bournemouth move nine points clear of the bottom three.

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