adminZIMBABWE international, Jordan Zemura, provided the assist as Bournemouth held Newcastle United to a 1-1 draw in the English Premiership on Saturday.
The Cherries unbeaten run under interim boss Gary O’Neil continued after the draw on Tyneside.
Philip Billing’s close-range finish put the Cherries in the box seat at St James’ Park before summer signing Alexander Isak’s 67th-minute penalty levelled up the contest for the hosts following a VAR review.
Ahead of kick-off, there was a minute’s silence in respect to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as well as the national anthem.
The Cherries mustered the first shot on target with Ryan Christie’s low effort from the edge of the box comfortable for Nick Pope.
The hosts dominated the ball for the opening 15 minutes but it was the visitors who almost found the opener on the counter-attack. Christie’s flick allowed Zemura to get down the left and cross for Marcus Tavernier.
Formerly on the books on Tyneside, the Cherries midfielder’s header was wide of the far post.
Newcastle’s first shot on target came on 18 minutes. After a miskick from Senesi, Paraguayan Miguel Almiron drifted in off the right and forced Neto into a comfortable save.
Cherries switched to a back five early in the second half, with Jefferson Lerma operating as a third centre-back alongside Chris Mepham and Senesi.
After soaking up an array of pressure, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock just past the hour mark.
Zemura’s devilish delivery from the left allowed Billing to steer the ball in at the near post for his second goal in as many games.
It only took Newcastle five minutes to restore parity from the penalty spot, however. After Trippier’s cross was blocked by Lerma, referee Craig Pawson consulted the pitchside monitor following a VAR review and penalised the Colombian for handball.
The result meant the Dorset club have picked up five points in three games following the sacking of Scott Parker last month. – Bournemouth Echo
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter