Newcastle United drew 1-1 with AFC Bournemouth as Eddie Howe was roared off the field at the Vitality Stadium. Howe was understandably emotional after he'd made his way around the pitch following the clash with the Cherries. Howe spent more than two decades as a player and manager with the South Coast club.
After the game the Toon boss stated he still felt "emotional" but after he left the club in 2020 during the pandemic and amid a fan lockout he did not get his opportunity to say farewell.
He said: "I never got the chance to say goodbye to the fans. Even though there was an absence I never got to say it so it was nice to have that moment."
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Ryan Fraser gets a rough ride from fans who used to sing his name
The home supporters may have served up a warm reception for Howe on his homecoming but the same can't be said for Ryan Fraser. The winger left Bournemouth when his contract expired during Project Restart and did not sign a temporary extension.
Fraser made his reasons clear for that at the time but Bournemouth fans saw it as walking away from the club in a relegation fight. The Scotland international was booed from the start as Cherries fans hurled abuse his way with feelings still raw.
And it continued when he warmed up throughout the game. Fans were baying for Fraser to be brought on to extend their anger towards the Newcastle star with chants of "Eddie, Eddie warm him up".
The boo boys were desperate for Fraser to come on. But Howe sensibly opted against bringing him on but will look to use him in the remaining fixtures in the Premier League.
Frustration is a positive sign for Newcastle
Not too long ago, getting a point at Bournemouth would have been deemed a good result for Newcastle given their struggles against the drop. But there was some frustration on social media after the game.
United remain unbeaten in 17 matches and have not lost an away game in eight outings. Howe was also disappointed but his team stayed in the top four as Tottenham imploded at Leicester. Newcastle also have a game in hand over Spurs in the race for the top four.
Is sharpness the only thing Newcastle are really lacking?
For all the talk of a missed opportunity, as Spurs lost and Arsenal drew in the top four, Newcastle created sufficient openings to win the game. They managed seven shots on target in all but with Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon still getting familiar in this Newcastle team they were unable to force the issue.
Isak had one decent run into the box in the first half but then overran the ball while Gordon had a close range chance to win it. You'd like to think that United can get that clinical edge as the two stars begin to gel in a United shirt.
In a slightly different way, fit-again Allan Saint-Maximin is another who is still getting into his stride after his injury. He had a hand in the goal for Miguel Almion and also looked more dangerous than the previous 1-1 draw against West Ham.
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