Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle

&c

Another patchy performance, another decent result.

Newcastle came away from the longest trip of the season (barring any cup misadventures to Plymouth Argyle) with a hard-fought and fortunate point to back up the opening weekend win over Southampton.

After a bright opening period however, Bournemouth started to gain the upper hand, as we once again struggled to impose ourselves on the game.

Lloyd Kelly, back on his old stomping ground, looked slightly shaky at left back, as had Hall in the previous game.

I find the lack of talk about the left back position in relation to the transfer market slightly puzzling given our dearth of natural options in that position.

Before long, Joelinton was dispossessed in midfield and Bournemouth opened the scoring with a simple goal.

It wasn't until Eddie Howe turned to his bench (commendably early) and introduced Willock, Trippier, Hall and Barnes (Gordon shifting to the right to good effect) that Newcastle started to regain a foothold in the game.

A series of decent aerial chances came and went before a beautiful cross from Barnes was turned in by an unmarked Gordon at the back post.

From then, Newcastle looked as likely to win it as Bournemouth, but in the 94th minute a corner was shouldered in by Outtara of Bournemouth.

Despite a total lack of appeals from the visitors, VAR decided a "factual handball" had occurred and disallowed the goal.

We were on the right end of it this time, but VAR belongs in the bin of failed attempts to improve the beautiful game.

There was just time for Bournemouth to be doubly aggrieved as Joelinton prevented their keeper from taking a quick kick by trying to garotte him, only to incredibly see a yellow, rather than a red card - VAR seemingly uninterested.

File this one under "I'd have taken a point before the game" - but we still don't look quite up to speed.