Key Takeaways
- Newcastle have lost five of their last six home league games and are only six points above the drop zone.
- Bournemouth made it 13 matches unbeaten and closed to within two points of sixth place after winning at St James’ Park.
- Fulham and Brentford are winless in eight and six games respectively, leaving outside hopes of Europe fading.
Newcastle’s free-fall continued as Bournemouth came from behind to win 2-1 on Tyneside and leave Eddie Howe searching for answers. The Magpies have now dropped 12 of the last 15 available points at St James’ Park and sit 14th, their lowest standing since promotion in 2017. Howe admitted his side are “nowhere near” the required level, while fans filed out in silence long before the final whistle.
The visitors, playing their first match since Andoni Iraola announced he will leave in summer, showed the energy Newcastle once prided themselves on. Adrien Truffert’s late winner kept the Cherries’ dream of a first European campaign alive and stretched their unbeaten run to 13 games. Iraola’s side are level with Chelsea and Brentford and will fancy their chances of overtaking both with home fixtures against Leeds and Crystal Palace next.
At Craven Cottage, Fulham were held 0-0 at Brentford to stretch their winless away sequence to eight matches. Only bottom club Wolves have collected a smaller share of points on the road, and Marco Silva still appears unsure of his best XI. With star winger Harry Wilson expected to leave and contract talks stalled, questions grow over whether a fresh voice is needed to lift the Cottagers.
Brentford are also stuck in the mud. The Bees have drawn five league games in a row, three of them goalless, and have not won at the Gtech since early January. Injuries to Vitaly Janelt, Fabio Carvalho and others have left Thomas Frank short of attacking options; he did not make a single substitution in the west-London derby. Igor Thiago remains the main threat, but support is thin and European qualification may stretch a squad that is already creaking.