Newcastle United vs Bournemouth Preview: Team News, Tactical Overview & Prediction
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
After three successive wins in the Premier League Newcastle United face Bournemouth at St James's Park on Saturday in the third round proper of the FA Cup.
Match Details
Fixture: Newcastle United vs Bournemouth
Competition: FA Cup
Date: Saturday 10 January 2026
Kick-off: 3.00pm GMT
Venue: St James’ Park
TV coverage: No
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Newcastle United Team News & Predicted Line-Up
With Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Jammal Lascelles all unavailable Newcastle will again have a shortage of options in the defensive back four. Forwards Anthony Elanga and Will Osula are still recovering and will not make the squad.
Both teams played on Wednesday and Newcastle especially are likely to field a much changed side from the one that beat Leeds. With the first leg of the Carabou Cup semi final mid next week Eddie Howe will be looking to rest key players ahead of that game.
Newcastle United Predicted Line Up: Pope - Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, A Murphy - Ramsey, Miley, Joelinton - Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes.
Speaking ahead of the game, Eddie Howe addressed injuries, form and transfer speculation in his pre-match press conference.
Bournemouth: Team News & Predicted Line Up
Bournemouth have a number of injuries and key players Justin Kluivert, Ryan Christie and Ben Doak will all miss the game. They have also just lost star player Antoine Semenyo who has signed for Manchester City.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola will be hoping to cause an upset and take advantage of a Newcastle side missing some of their top players. For that reason he is likely to play his strongest available eleven in pursuit of a win.
Bournemouth Predicted Line Up: Petrovic - Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert - Scott, Cook; Tavernier - Kroupi, Brooks; Evanilson
Tactical Overview
This will be Bournemouth's first game without their star player and talisman Antoine Semenyo and manager Iraola will have to compensate for the power, pace, assist and scoring ability that Semenyo brought to the team.
Bournemouth play the same 4-3-3 formation that Eddie Howe uses for Newcastle and adopt the similar high-intensity and aggressive pressing that is a feature of Newcastle's style. Iraola's side do not give up possession easily and excel at winning the ball in all areas of the pitch.
Bournemouth are a comfortable twelve points above a relegation place and, at this stage, looking unlikely to be involved in a relegation battle. The FA Cup will therefore be viewed as a priority and Iraola will want his team to go all out for the win.
However, only the three teams in a Premier League relegation position have conceded more than Bournemouth's forty goals this season. Newcastle will look to exploit that weakness in defence and without Semenyo Bournemouth's goal threat is diminished.
With Bournemouth pressing high and looking to force their game on the home team, the risk is that they will leave themselves open to the quick breaks that Newcastle are especially adept at.
An open attacking match can be expected and the key to the game will be which side can create and take the chances that usually come when both teams go all out for a victory.
Match Prediction
As an ex manager of Bournemouth Eddie Howe will want to improve on his poor record against his old club. In his press conference Eddie stressed that he will not allow the upcoming Carabou Cyp semi final to distract his focus on this game.
Under Howe, Newcastle have not enjoyed much success in the FA Cup and this home game is an opportunity to progress into the next round and stay on the road to Wembley.
With changes to the starting line up from the eleven that began the game against Leeds, this is a chance for players like Trippier, Alex Murphy, Jacob Ramsey and possibly Joe Willock to show that they are worthy of a regular place,
After three successive wins the Newcastle squad should be high on confidence and whoever starts the game the team should have the quality needed to win the match.
Prediction: Newcastle United 3–1 Bournemouth
Last Post Eddie's Bingo v Bournemouth