concerns by turning in an inspired display as Steve
McClaren's team stole a 1-0 win over fellow Premier League
strugglers AFC Bournemouth with a goal from Ayoze Perez.
Striker Perez netted the winner after 27 minutes from
Newcastle's only shot of the first half.
That measured up to 12 attempts on goal from
Bournemouth in the opening period but Elliot - whose thigh
problem left Newcastle pondering a plunge into the
emergency loan market this week - ensured there would be
no way through.
Wasteful finishing also played its part as Eddie Howe's side
drew a blank for the third consecutive match in all
competitions.
Newcastle climb out of the relegation zone at the expense of
Bournemouth, who have lost all four Premier League games
between the October and November international breaks.
Josh King and Junior Stanislas came on at half-time to
spark an improved performance in their side's 2-0 defeat at
Southampton last time out and they were rewarded with
starts against an unchanged Newcastle.
King stung Elliot's palms with an angled shot in the fourth
minute before Paul Dummett blocked a Matt Ritchie attempt
amid a sluggish start from the visitors.
Elliot's fitness concerns were done no favours in the 14th
minute as he was forced to spring from his goal and deny
King after Chancel Mbemba sloppily gave away possession.
Bournemouth were zipping the ball around on a slick playing
surface to fine effect and Elliot was called upon once more
when the impressive King danced around Fabricio Coloccini.
It was therefore against the run of play when Georginio
Wijnaldum collected Aleksandar Mitrovic's backheel and
played in Perez to open the scoring - Adam Federici getting
a strong hand to the ball before it crossed the line for
Bournemouth's latest forgettable piece of goalkeeping this
season.
By contrast, Elliot continued to distinguish himself by
keeping out set-piece headers from King and Dan Gosling
either side of Adam Smith fizzing a drive narrowly over.
The story continued inside the first minute of the second
half, with Elliot at full stretch to keep out Ritchie's header
after the Scotland international's wonderful dummy sent
Smith charging down the right.
Former Newcastle midfielder Gosling then missed his kick
from close range and Stanislas blazed over as
Bournemouth's composure in front of goal again
undermined their dominance of the contest.
McClaren substituted Mitrovic after 63 minutes, switching to
a central midfield three and moving Perez to a wide role - a
tactical tweak that served to stem the hosts' free-flowing
approach.
Bournemouth lacked for ideas and could not conjure an
equaliser during the closing stages, meaning Howe's men
have now taken a solitary point from their past six Premier
League outings.
No comments:
Post a Comment