Newcastle v Bournemouth: Match Preview, Team News & Prediction

Newcastle United return to St James’ Park on Saturday in a 12.30pm KO looking to add a home win to the four points already gained from Liverpool and Spurs.

The first three games of the season can often set an early tone of expectation or concern and the first two performances and results under new boss Matthias Jaissle have definitely given Toon fans encouragement that a good season lies ahead.

Match Preview

Bogie team Bournemouth have have been anything but the cherry on the cake for Newcastle having won their last two games 4-1 and 2-1 at SJP and we haven't beaten them in our last eight games - four draws and four defeats in that time.

Bournemouth may be without a league win this season, but they scored first in both of their opening matches against Man City and Everton only to end with a defeat and concede a stoppage time goal that denied them a home win last Saturday.

Cherries boss Marco Rose likes to play on the front foot and dominate possession and in Kluivert, Tavernier and Evalinson - the likely front three - they can be a dangerous attacking force.

Whilst Newcastle have those four points in the bag, one concerning statistic is that no team has faced more shots in the division this season than the Magpies (44), who allowed only eight shots in their opening two fixtures last term.

Only conceding two goals from 44 shots is a stat that is unlikely to last and is an area that Jaissle needs to address if our promising start is to continue.

The partnership of Nico Gonzalez and Lewis Miley will hopefully play a big part in cutting that shot tally down.

However, we have plenty of irons in the fire to toast the Cherries.

Wissa and Elanga are burning hot with Anthony on target to become the first player in Newcastle's PL history to score in the first three PL games.

Harvey Barnes has two EPL goals to his name and knows that young Toure is bursting to take his place, and Joe Willock has been a revelation with his surging runs capped off by that superb goal against Liverpool.

Plus, all four of those players know that the dynamic Pardo could play in any of their positions and is waiting to be unleashed from the subs bench and nail down a starting place.

With another week of training under Jaissle and his coaching team I'm expecting a highly motivated and organised Toon team to come out flying in front of a crowd full of excited expectation.

Bournemouth will already know all about our pace on the break and that will give their manager plenty of questions to answer in how they adapt their front foot game to cope.

If it turns into an in-match tactical battle my money is on Jezza to come up trumps.

Team News

There are no new injuries so it would be no surprise if the eleven that started against Spurs get the nod against Bournemouth.

The one change might be Pardo stepping in for an early debut but given that he hasn't played since the WC and didn't train with the first team at Lille for a week I think he is more likely to start on the bench.

One thing though is certain; if Pardo comes on he will get a tremendous reception from a crowd who sense that he could play a massive part in our progress this season.

Prediction

We have to beat Bournemouth sometime and tomorrow would be a cracking time to put that hoodoo to bed and stay right up near the top of the PL on 7 points.

A perfect day and result would be the Toon winning and Pardo scoring after coming on as a sub. That really would put the cherry on the cake against our bogie team.

So, my usual fiver is going on a 3-0 win.

The mood in the Toon camp must be higher than the Empire State Building and I believe our heads will be in the clouds when the whistle blows for full time.

I can't wait to watch this revitalised, highly motivated, fleet footed, pitch burning team step onto SJP tomorrow.

Dare I say it...

But I haven't felt this way since King Kev's time as boss.

PS: Click here to enter Jezza's Bingo

Last Post: Eddie Howe

Next Post: Newcastle 2 Bournemouth 2