Bournemouth

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Football fans are sometimes accused of living in the past, particularly when the present is less than palatable. What about those league titles, that cup run, those legendary players of yesteryear?

But there are times in life when you cannot see where you are going, without the perspective of where you have been. That even applies to a team like Bournemouth when - by most metrics - the club is riding the crest of a wave in the most successful period in its history.

Older supporters may reference the bucket collections and the on-field "Great Escapes" from the days when the club was living from hand to mouth. Now they are into their ninth season as a top-flight club, with a new training ground and plans in place to expand Vitality Stadium from next summer, there is precious little to gripe about.

So if fans were tempted to moan after drawing a blank in Saturday's goalless draw with Newcastle United, it may be time for another reminder of perspective.

Eddie Howe was lauded, while managing Bournemouth, for "having a go" when they came up against the big clubs - opponents against which Howe's Cherries were given no chance whatsoever, yet occasionally upset the status quo.

It was rare indeed for Howe to set up ultra-defensively with damage limitation the name of the game. A five-man defence was occasionally adopted against Manchester City, usually to no avail.

Yet Howe arrived at his old club on Saturday with a five-man defence, leaving the Cherries seemingly in the land of the giants against towering centre-back triumvirate Dan Burn, Sven Botman and Malik Thiaw.

With the two teams mustering only three shots on target between them in the entire game, Newcastle left far happier with their point than Bournemouth.

It may not have been pretty, but it can be seen as a measure of progress for the hosts.

Opta's statisticians, external ranked Bournemouth's opening five fixtures as the second hardest in the Premier League but, despite selling three key defenders, they sit fourth in the early table.

So with a little perspective from the past, the Cherries' present and future looks even brighter.

Sam Davis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It was another clean sheet for Bournemouth at the weekend, this time locking out a Newcastle side that has already put goals past giants Liverpool and Barcelona this season.

That makes it three clean sheets in the opening five games for the Cherries, having played three opponents who play in the Champions League - very impressive stuff.

So why have Andoni Iraola's men been such a tough nut to crack? After all, the club lost four of their main back five in the summer, and the one that remains in Adam Smith is currently out injured.

Under Iraola, Bournemouth play on the offensive and defend from the front.

The relentless pressing is evident in every game, but the defensive solidity has been a pleasant surprise.

Djordje Petrovic is the new man between the sticks and he has been a breath of fresh air, commanding his box and looking like a top keeper already.

Both Bafode Diakite and Veljko Milosavljevic look like really good additions in the centre-back positions, and Adrien Truffert at left-back has been excellent.

Similarly, centre-back Marcos Senesi deserves a lot of credit too. He has been at the club since the summer of 2022 and has seen plenty of his defensive partners depart, but he has remained pivotal and showed real leadership qualities.

Also, props to Tyler Adams who sits in front of the defence as a deep-lying midfielder and anchors them excellently - a true unsung hero of the side.

Will Andoni's Bournemouth continue to play on the front foot? Yes. Will they concede goals? Absolutely. But the continued progression of the side is clear for all to see, and adding some defensive nous will only help the side going forward.

Find more from Sam Davis at Back of the Net, external

Image source, Getty Images

Guinness World Records have posted a tribute, external to Justin Kluivert after he recently received his official certificate.

The Bournemouth midfielder earned the award for the most penalties scored by a football player in an English Premier League match, and was given the frame before the 2-1 win over Brighton a week last Saturday.

Kluivert's hat-trick of spotkicks came in the Cherries' win over Wolves on Saturday, 30 November 2024, in a 4-2 win at Molineux.

Until then, there had been 69 instances of a player scoring twice from the spot in a single Premier League match, but never three times.

The 26-year-old was the fifth player to have taken three penalties in a Premier League match but is the first to successfully convert all three.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Mick: The fact that a team like Newcastle comes to Vitality Stadium with a defensive setup and is determined not to lose shows the respect now being shown to Iraola's team. Not our best display, but we never gave up trying to break down their low block. Impressive that our 'short' team held their own against Newcastle's giants! Brilliant start to the season by the Cherries.

Martin: Land of the Giants with this Newcastle team. Cherries needed more guile to unlock the defence but couldn't find it. Had 0-0 written all over it.

Jim: Solid performance. With all the changes this season, little old Bournemouth are playing so well!

Rob Been to every Cherries game this season, and the start has been immense, but here they were lacking intent. No crisp, sharp passes or real dynamism. Newcastle had made seven changes but there was no penetration or ability to cause consistent danger. Fourth as it stands though!

Newcastle fans

Smudge: Abject performance going forward again. Nowhere near good enough. But another fantastic effort for the defence and four clean sheets in five games is absolutely brilliant. Poor team selection again has cost us three points but given then struggles at Bournemouth over the past few seasons, that could prove to be a good point at the end of the season.

Bryan: Let's hope Yoane Wissa is available sooner rather than later as we possibly won't score before Christmas otherwise. Blunt force trauma.

Duncan: Boring! We went for the draw and I would have taken that before kick-off, but not in that manner. Big Nick Woltermade is finding out the difference between the Bundesliga and the Premier League. It's a lot faster and more physical. He will get there but it will take time. I think the point was bigger with the two Brazilian midfielders rested, which they needed. They were both tired in the midweek game. Sandro Tonali was doing his best to get things moving, but he was flogging a dead horse really. It was an uninspiring performance and a boring game.

John: A very hard-earned point. The time is coming when Newcastle will actually win three points at Bournemouth. It's a very hard place to go to and come back with the points - as we well know!

Pundits Shay Given and Theo Walcott join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

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• Bournemouth 0-0 Newcastle

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Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Few sides cope after losing one key player - let alone three crucial defenders in a single transfer window.

But Bournemouth have not just muddled through after selling Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi - the Cherries have lost just one top-flight fixture in the opening weeks of the campaign and that was away at Liverpool.

New centre-back Bafode Diakite and full-back Adrien Truffert have slotted in and, going forward, this side caught Wolves, Spurs and Brighton cold with early goals on the way to victory.

There was no repeat against Newcastle but it was a mark of Eddie Howe's respect for his former side that he, tellingly, moved from his favoured 4-3-3 formation and played three central defenders.

Bournemouth still had their chances, though, through Tyler Adams and Justin Kluivert, and it was the Cherries who were pushing for a winner in stoppage time.

That will give manager Andoni Iraola encouragement with his side riding high in third place.

Andoni Iraola spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Bournemouth's draw against Newcastle:"We have to value the point, we are playing against a Champions League club.

"I'm happy with the performance. The way we defended, we played in their half and we didn't concede many set pieces. The ones we did, we defended really well.

"It is a good start. We were not as brilliant today as we were in previous games but we have to be competitive. We have to keep this level of performance."

Antoine Semenyo spoke to Sky Sports after Sunday's draw: "I've been riding high for a little bit. The bar was set high and I want to contribute anywhere I can for the team. It's disappoonining but it's a fair result.

"There were a few opportunities. A point will do for us and we go to Leeds next week and hopefully get three.

"I think we wanted to attack the space a little bit more but it didn't happen as much today. We have to continue and find another way if that doesn't work.

"It's been good. We just want to continue and not get too big headed. Take it game-by-game."

Did you know?

Bournemouth have won 10 points from their opening five games of the Premier League season (W3 D1 L1); their joint-best return at this stage of a top-flight campaign (also 10 in 2018-19 – W3 D1 L1).

Hear more from Iraola on BBC Sounds

Hear from Djorde Pertrovic

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Newcastle's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Bournemouth have made two changes as Bafode Diakite and Alex Jimenez come into the side.

Bournemouth starting line-up: Petrovic, Truffert, Senesi, Diakite, Jimenez, Scott, Adams, Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo, Evanilson

Subs: Dennis, Soler, Christie, Gannon-Doak, Kluivert, Adli, Kroupi Jr, Hill, Milosavljevic

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has made seven changes to the side beaten by Barcelona midweek.

Malick Thiaw makes his full debut for the club after Fabian Schar came off with a head injury in the 2-1 defeat.

Sven Botman, Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock and record signing Nick Woltemade also come into the team.

Newcastle starting line-up: Pope, Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Miley, Murphy, Woltemade, Willock

Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Lascelles, Joelinton, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Elanga, Guimaraes

There are three games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

Bournemouth v Newcastle (14:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Sunderland v Aston Villa (14:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Arsenal v Manchester City (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

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This is tough because you could make an argument for every outcome, but I'm going to back Bournemouth.

I've been impressed by the Cherries so far this season in defence and attack and, although Newcastle beat Wolves last time out, they haven't really got going yet.

Former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is yet to win at the Vitality Stadium in three visits with Newcastle, and I think he's going to have to wait a little longer for his first success.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

After facing Barcelona on Thursday, Newcastle make the long trip to the south coast to face in-form Bournemouth. BBC Sport takes a look at the key talking points going into the game.

Bournemouth went into the weekend in fourth place after making their best start to a Premier League season. The Cherries continue to defy the doubters who predicted they might struggle after their defence was asset stripped over the summer by a host of Europe's biggest clubs.

Victory over Newcastle would match their club record of four successive Premier League wins, set twice under former manager and current Magpies boss Eddie Howe.

The Cherries are unbeaten in all six of their matches against Howe's Newcastle and enjoyed one of their best Premier League results in their last encounter with a stunning 4-1 victory at St James' Park in January.

Antoine Semenyo may not have been on the scoresheet that day but he has started this season in sensational form, contributing three goals and two assists to their tally of six goals so far.

The Cherries' famed scouting team may have struck gold yet again if the performance of 18-year-old debutant Veljko Milosavljevic in the win over Brighton is anything to go by.

If selected, the towering Serbian centre-back may come up against another man who stole the headlines on his first Premier League appearance in Newcastle's Nick Woltemade.

The Geordies had mustered just two goals from 34 shots across their opening three games, so were grateful for the German to step up and help them record a first win of the campaign against Wolves last Saturday.

Howe, who describes his 6ft 6in forward as an "unusual and very distinctive striker", sprung a surprise by dropping him to the bench for the defeat by Barcelona on Thursday.

But he is expected to restore him to the starting line-up as they try to score a first away goal of the campaign after two 0-0 draws at Leeds and Aston Villa. Leicester City, in 1976-77, are the only side in top-flight history to record goalless draws in their first three away top-flight matches to a season.

At the other end of the pitch they have impressed with a joint top-flight high three clean sheets so far and the Premier League's lowest expected goals against total of 2.1.

They will need to start well against a Cherries side that have scored an early goal in three of their four games so far, which has helped them lead for more minutes than any other top-flight side this season.

In the wake of the Barcelona defeat, Howe spoke of how his side will need to deal with the comedown following that match and be switched on for their test at Vitality Stadium.

"It's a psychological issue rather than a physical issue," the Newcastle boss said. "It's the big high [of the Barcelona game] - a big experience for the players, another big, emotional game – then the big comedown, then you've got to go to Bournemouth, which is a really tough away game."

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Newcastle United at Vitality Stadium (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Ryan Christie and Bafode Diakite have recovered from their injuries and should be available: "Ryan is training well without any problems. Bafode is also training well - I wouldn't say he is 100% but I would expect him to also be available."

• On when full-back Adam Smith should return: "I wouldn't expect him back before the international break - that's going to be very difficult. I don't want to rule him out completely because his recovery might go really well and he might want to play against Fulham."

• On whether he has been enjoying the selection dilemma in midfield or if it has been giving him a bit of a headache: "Enjoy is probably not the right word, but I do have the privilege of choosing between very good players now. When you have two good options, even if you don't choose the best one you still have a very good option. These are the best headaches to have."

• Newcastle United have a "very similar" playing style to Bournemouth, so he is expecting "a very physically demanding game" and hoping it will be "a good challenge" early in the season.

• Iraola added: "The games we have played against them have been quite open. We have our chances and they also have their chances, so you never know what's going to happen. We enjoy those kind of games, even if the opposition is very good. We have to be ready for everything."

• Eddie Howe has "plenty of squad depth" and made "very early substitutions" against Barcelona on Thursday night, so the Cherries will be prepared to face a side operating at "100 per cent".

• He praised Evanilson for being "a very difficult player to deal with", having won more penalties [five] than any other player since arriving at Bournemouth: "He's a threat when he comes to receive, his link-up play is amazing and he's a threat in behind. We are starting to use him more around the offside line and around the defenders, so I think we're also finding him in better spots now."

• On whether summer addition Alex Jimenez can expect more minutes soon: "He had a pre-season with AC Milan but he hasn't had a lot of minutes. He went to Spain with the under-21s and played a game from the start, so he is training well. We used him the other day to close the game out, but until we see him competing at Premier League level we won't really know where he is at."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to full commentary of Bournemouth v Newcastle on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 from 14:00 BST on Sunday

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

While teenage debutant Veljko Milosavljevic grabbed many of the headlines following Bournemouth's win over Brighton on Saturday, and was announced as the sponsors' player of the match, another young man caught the eye at Vitality Stadium.

Alex Scott finally recorded his first home league goal for the Cherries with a brilliant turn and shot from the edge of the box, with his less-favoured left foot, after being set up by fellow ex-Bristol City star Antoine Semenyo.

Midfielder Scott, dubbed "the Guernsey Grealish", arrived in Dorset in the summer of 2023 – or rather, returned there, having spent a year with Bournemouth's academy earlier in his young life.

He came with a burgeoning reputation as the Championship's young player of the year for 2022-23, but his Cherries career has been the definition of stop-start because of injuries.

With Ryan Christie having hernia surgery in the spring, that opened up a slot for Scott to have his longest run in the team so far, until an encounter with Tyrone Mings' elbow left the Channel Islander with a fractured jaw.

But he bounced back to play a significant role in England Under-21s' successful European Championship campaign, starting five of the six games wearing a protective mask, and that run of games looks to have done him the world of good.

With Christie, Lewis Cook and Justin Kluivert all unavailable at the start of the new Premier League season, Scott has seized his opportunity and started each of the four opening games as the Cherries have enjoyed their best start to a top-flight campaign.

Scott left the field on Saturday to a standing ovation when replaced by Kluivert, and while he is now too old for the Under-21s, fans will hope his undoubted talent can finally burst into full bloom at the highest level this season.

Jordan Clark
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth have released computer-generated images to illustrate how they plan to expand Vitality Stadium, but when will work start on renovating?

This is one of the questions sent in via our 'Ask about Bournemouth' form and we put it to Jordan Clark at BBC Radio Solent.

Bournemouth have not given an exact start date for the renovations to begin but if everything goes to plan then they're hoping the work will start at some point between January and March 2026.

The club is currently working with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on the planning and consultation phase, something Cherries chairman Bill Foley gave a positive update on in his programme notes before Saturday's win over Brighton.

If planning permission is granted, then the club wants to start the redevelopment by installing a new perimeter fence and turnstiles, a new ticket office and a 'small-scale extension' to the West Stand, as well as an internal refurbishment of the East and West Stands. They hope to have that work completed by March 2026.

Attention will then turn to building a new South Stand and infilling the four corners of the stadium by August 2026.

The final phase of the redevelopment should see the expansion of the North and East Stands, which the Cherries hope to start work on in the summer of 2027.

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Bournemouth intend to accelerate contract talks with head coach Andoni Iraola over the next month with the Spaniard's current deal expiring next summer. (The I paper - subscription required), external

Iraola is among list of potential replacements for Ruben Amorim should Manchester United sack him. (Star), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Tom Jordan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola has been nothing short of exceptional since his arrival at Bournemouth.

His brand of energetic, intense and offensive football has been a breath of fresh air to the Premier League as a whole, and his individual tactical nous has also been remarkable.

The Cherries have continued to supply him with some truly exciting talent, but Iraola's foresight into how to utilise them continues to impress.

For example, Antoine Semenyo was seen predominantly as a striker until Iraola allowed him to become the powerhouse winger that he currently is. Similarly, Ryan Christie was notably a back-up wide option for Bournemouth until he was given the licence to be an all-action central midfielder.

But recently, he may have uncovered another...

Marcus Tavernier has arguably had his best start to a season in a Cherries shirt, and this is all while playing a role somewhat alien to him. He has had spells at wing-back but, more often than not, he has been utilised as one of the wingers during his career. However, he is now flourishing centrally.

With so many wide options and a few injuries in central areas, Tavernier was tasked with starting the season in the centre of midfield in front of the Tyler Adams anchor, and it has worked a treat.

His non-stop running and off-the-ball discipline ties in so well with his aggressive dribbling attributes, and both Tavernier and Bournemouth are reaping the rewards.

Massive props to Marcus himself, who has relished his new role, but it is also another example of just how lucky the Cherries are to have such a special coach in Iraola.

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Lee: Hard fought win for the Cherries. Definitely played the better football and deserved the win but we always have close games with the Seagulls. I am really positive about what lies ahead!

Peter: Antoine Semenyo bullies defences, while Alex Scott is emerging as a skilful number 10. At the back, there are already signs that Bournemouth won't concede many this season.

Charl: Veljko Milosavljevic had a very good debut, he grew in confidence as the game progressed. We need to work on our corner taking, it's wasteful and lacking in any kind of threat. James Hill needs to concentrate for 90 minutes, he failed to pick up their scorer again.

Keith: What a glowing endorsement of the recruitment team at Bournemouth to discover such talented defenders to replace those who have left. Bring on Newcastle!

Brighton fans

Fran: Just in previous games, good at times, poor at other times. I have said it before - we are too slow in our build-up play. We really should have gone for an experienced striker. It is all very well signing young players and giving them time to adapt, but we need players now. I hope not but I think this is going to be a struggle this season.

Andy: Dunk is too slow for the modern game. If he remains at the heart of the defence, Brighton will continue to struggle. I find it incomprehensible that Hurzeler cannot see the problem.

Mark: On paper our squad looks decent despite all the outgoings. Worry for me is that I'm not sure if our conductor is good enough to mould them into a team that can play.

Joe: Back to drab and toothless. There's no way we'll get anywhere near Europe - Tony's stated aim for this year - if we have a season playing football like Saturday and three of the four games played so far. I worry for Hurzeler if the trend continues.

Tom Gayle
Match of the Day commentator at the Vitality Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

I don't think I was alone in considering Bournemouth's deadline day signing of Veljko Milosavljevic as 'one for the future', given he is just 18 and had a mere 27 senior appearances for Red Star Belgrade.

Football moves quick.

Because Bournemouth didn't want to take any risks with Bafode Diakite, who I was told was not 100%, the stage was set for Milosavljevic to become the club's youngest player - and the youngest Serb - to start a Premier League match.

Andoni Iraola's response when I asked him pre-match if Milosavljevic was ready to play at this level was: "I'm not sure." The honest answer will have come from only having worked with the teenager for a couple of days as a result of him being away with Serbia Under-21s.

After Saturday's 2-1 victory over Brighton, the answer in the short term is an emphatic yes.

The biggest praise has to be for his mentality. The only visible sign of nerves was the slightly awkward pre-game dressing room photo posted on Bournemouth's social media, external.

As for his performance, I wouldn't go as far as saying he is the complete package of a modern, ball-playing centre-back yet, but he was more than comfortable playing out from the back and slotted in perfectly alongside Marcos Senesi.

Clearly the quicker of the two centre-halves, Milosavljevic was more effective in dealing with Brighton's pace in behind. He can do the ugly stuff too. Despite his boyish looks, Milosavljevic more than held his own when dealing with the physicality and guile of the experienced Danny Welbeck.

Described as "one of the biggest talents in Serbian football" by media in his homeland, I'm reluctant to add to the hype train after a sample size of one Premier League game.

I'm more inclined to echo the more measured assessment of match-winner Antoine Semenyo when I asked him about his new team-mate's debut: "Solid - did everything right. A great start for him and many more to come".

• Find and follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport

Sam Ashoo
Final Score reporter at Vitality Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

If it wasn't already clear that Bournemouth are a good side, it should be now.

Their flair and creativity, coupled with a high press and ability to counter-attack, make them a great team to watch. But it is their defensive capabilities that could see them as serious challengers for a European spot this season.

And the addition of Veljko Milosavljevic only enhances that argument. The defender joined from Red Star Belgrade on transfer deadline day and is recognised as 'one of the biggest talents in Serbian football'.

After Saturday's performance against Brighton, it's no surprise why. The 18-year-old was unfazed by the occasion and dealt comfortably with Danny Welbeck and Georginio Rutter.

It poses an interesting problem for Andoni Iraola who had initially partnered Marcos Senesi and Bafode Diakite at centre-back before Diakite missed out on Saturday because of injury.

Iraola once again has solid options at the back and, having conceded just one goal in three Premier League games, the compact Cherries are going to be tough to beat.

Pundits Ashley Williams and Shay Given join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

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