Gary O'Neil has suggested that Bournemouth came 'closest' to ending Newcastle United's unbeaten run in the Premier League after his side gave the Magpies 'a real good run for their money'.
Bournemouth may have been languishing in 19th place, but the Cherries did not look like a team who had not won a game since November on Saturday night. Newcastle just did not match Bournemouth's intensity at the Vitality Stadium in the opening stages and Marcos Senesi gave the hosts a deserved lead on the half-hour mark.
However, Joe Willock's injury and the introduction of Anthony Gordon from the bench in a free role through the middle briefly unsettled Bournemouth in the 39th minute. O'Neil even admitted he was 'desperate' to get to half-time at 1-0 up to address the visitors' change of shape before Gordon played his part in the build-up to Miguel Almiron's equaliser just before the break.
