Eddie Howe is not one to get choked up in public, but even the Newcastle United head coach looked like he was just about holding it together as he clapped his hands and made his way around the pitch at the Vitality Stadium at full-time. Howe may have been wearing a Newcastle tracksuit, but the former Bournemouth boss was serenaded by both sets of supporters on his return to his old stomping ground. No wonder Howe admitted he was 'emotional' following Saturday's 1-1 draw.
Years have passed since Howe left Bournemouth, but these fans will never forget how the former Cherries defender took their side from the depths of League Two in his first spell as manager to the promised land of the Premier League in his second stint. That ability to build was one of the main reasons why Newcastle turned to Howe last year and this reception was yet another reminder that the Magpies' owners have already made their most important addition amid Bournemouth fans' undying gratitude.
That the stalemate felt like a disappointment of sorts showed just how far along this build is under Howe. It said it all that Marcos Senesi's opener on the half-hour mark was the first time Newcastle had even gone behind in the Premier League since the reverse fixture in September. This was a new experience for Sven Botman, who threw his arms up and down in frustration after the ball hit the back of the net.
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Just how would Newcastle respond after such a sluggish start, particularly without suspended talisman Bruno Guimaraes? Well, Miguel Almiron equalised right before half-time and that goal was the cue for Howe to deliver a 'strong' message at the break. The Newcastle head coach called for more urgency and a killer instinct to try and win the game against a relegation-threatened side, who were without a win since November.
The players were clearly eager to do just that and the visitors were out a couple of minutes before Bournemouth for the second half, even passing the ball around on the pitch to keep warm. However, Newcastle were unable to find a winning goal after the break for a second week running following last week's 1-1 draw against West Ham at St James' Park.
It was Newcastle's fifth draw in their last six league fixtures and their 11th stalemate so far this season on a bruising night where Joe Willock, Allan Saint-Maximin and Almiron all hobbled off. That return can be looked at in two ways; Newcastle clearly have to do more to win games but, equally, Howe's side are still picking up points even when they have not been at their best. As Kieran Trippier told Sky Sports: "We know we can improve so much more....but, you never know, come the end of the season, these could be massive points."
Context, as always, helps. Newcastle will contest their first League Cup final in 47 years later this month and the fourth-placed Magpies are currently 17 games unbeaten in the Premier League, which is the longest undefeated streak in Europe's top five leagues. Yet to get into the top four, Newcastle are going to have to find a way of winning these matches - by hook or by crook.
"There's an element of frustration definitely in there," Howe told reporters. "But the emotions have to be different this week to last.
"Last week, we gave away a lead. We were at home and I felt that game was there to win. This was a different game, especially going behind.
"At that moment, we were facing an uphill battle to come back so credit goes to the players for that response. We were really hoping to grab the game in the second half and it never truly happened. That's the frustration."
A sluggish start to the game ultimately proved costly. Newcastle players had spoken about the importance of racing out of the blocks at the Vitality but they did not match the intensity Bournemouth played with as the hosts grew in confidence and the stadium started to rock.
There were 13 minutes on the clock when Bournemouth fired an early warning and Jaidon Anthony's teasing cross was met by the head of Dominic Solanke to send Nick Pope scrambling to keep the ball out of the net. If that was a warning, Newcastle did not heed it and the Magpies were soon behind.
Newcastle let in a rare goal from a corner kick against West Ham last week and history repeated itself on the half-hour mark after Dango Ouattara flicked the ball on and the unmarked Senesi stabbed home at the back post. It was the first goal Newcastle had conceded in the first half of the top-flight fixture in more than five months.
Newcastle may have folded once upon a time, but the visitors were soon level following their best move of the game. Saint-Maximin did well to keep Botman's heavy pass in play before the ball eventually came back to the Frenchman following good work by substitute Anthony Gordon. Saint-Maximin then took four Bournemouth players out of the game with a well-timed pass for Longstaff to run onto. Although Neto kept out Longstaff's effort, Almiron was there to mop up and score his first goal since Boxing Day and his 10th of the campaign.
Newcastle could not have found the back of the net at a better time, right before the break, and the Magpies had the platform to go on and win the game - if they took their chances. The pick of those second-half opportunities came in the 70th minute when Saint-Maximin's low effort was spilled by Neto, who managed to block Longstaff's follow-up, before Gordon fired wide from close range.
However, it was Bournemouth who came closest to a winner at the death. With Botman down, Hamed Traore nicked the ball off Dan Burn and drilled it across goal. Solanke improvised with a clever back-heeled finish that had Pope beaten - only for Trippier to keep it out with a remarkable goalline clearance. It may yet prove a big point in Newcastle's season on a night the visitors were frustrated not to go home with all three.
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