Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle: Anthony Gordon rescues a point for Eddie Howe’s men as Cherries are controversially denied late winner

He was wearing a jumper so could not make his point about short sleeves as clearly he would have liked, but as Andoni Iraola jabbed his upper arm repeatedly, you wondered if he was about to be done with it and just punch himself in the face, such was his frustration.

Indeed, the Bournemouth boss thought his team had landed a knockout blow when, with the bell about to sound, substitute Dango Ouattara turned in from a corner in the third minute of injury-time. 

On first viewing, you had no idea which part of his upper body the ball had come off before flying beyond Nick Pope. Even on second viewing, it was unclear. His shoulder was the most likely. 

Stockley Park thought otherwise and referee David Coote was instructed to disallow what would have almost certainly been the winning goal. 

The VAR decision was based on a ‘factual handball’, and that meant the ball had struck below the forward’s sleeve. They must have had a better angle than us, because the replays on offer in the press box and on live television were inconclusive. Without a clear and obvious error, the majority here expected the goal to stand. Iraola thought so, too.

But his goal was controversially ruled out after it was adjudged that it went in off his arm

Anthony Gordon netted his first goal of the season from Harvey Barnes’s cross to earn Newcastle a point

James Tavernier earlier gave Bournemouth the lead as he tapped home Antoine Semenyo’s cross

 The Spaniard later reasoned – with reason – that the ball would not have travelled at such pace and into the back of the net had it hit the softer part of his arm below the sleeve. By way of illustrating his logic, he stabbed the bicep beneath his black sweater, the colour of the knitwear capturing his mood. He only smiled when it was suggested the club should make jerseys with longer sleeves next season. 

So after much talk about sleeves – and the annoyance of believing he had pulled an ace from his own – Iraola finally came to reflect on a match in which his side were desperately unlucky not to win, yet just as fortunate not to lose. The same could be said of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle. It was that sort of game. Come the end, the pendulum deserved a rest.

Bournemouth, after a terribly slow start followed by a brisk resurgence, deservedly led on 37 minutes when Antoine Semenyo robbed Joelinton, drove into the area and crossed for Marcus Tavernier to nick in and score at the far post. Semenyo was the game’s best player, Joelinton its worst. The latter was strangely out of sorts and that affected his team, so good was the Brazilian during the opening-day win over Southampton. From lion to lamb in just over a week, it meant Newcastle looked ready for the slaughter entering half-time.

The visitors only improved when Howe, having seen enough of his one-dimensional side, decided to change shape and personnel just before the hour. On came Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes. The former wants to leave the club this week. On the evidence of what played out in the final half hour, Newcastle should tell the England star he’s staying. They should also tell him he’ll be starting the next game against Tottenham on Sunday. And the one after that.

Kieran Trippier’s introduction in the second half led to an improved display from Newcastle

Harvey Barnes also made a positive impact and registered an assist for Gordon’s goal

Trippier, at 33, is still better than would-be replacement Tino Livramento, 12 years his junior. The younger man was caught napping for Tavernier’s goal, and it was only when Trippier arrived that Newcastle woke up. Saying that, Barnes had an even greater impact.

In the 77th minute, the winger worked a yard off Julian Araujo and delivered a wicked ball from the left, landing it in an area that causes nightmares for defenders. It was a dream for Anthony Gordon, and he stole in to prod home from inside the goalmouth.

Bournemouth then needed goalkeeper Neto to preserve what was becoming a fortuitous point when he clawed clear from Dan Burn’s close-range header and plucked Bruno Guimaraes’ long-range curler from the top corner. The latter effort, in the 90th minute, had felt like the expiry of all the anxiety, for both managers. It was only just beginning.

Andoni Iraola was furious that his side’s late goal was ruled out by VAR

Eddie Howe is still yet to be beat his former club Bournemouth since taking over at Newcastle in 2021

From Lewis Cook’s corner, Ouattara muscled in between Joelinton and Dan Burn to score. But the muscle was the problem, VAR deeming he had used the lower part of his bicep. There was no complaint from Newcastle’s players and even Howe admitted he saw no reason for a review at the time. He later called it a ‘welcome surprise’.

For Iraola, it was a nasty shock. He’ll be scratching his head today, not to mention rubbing his sore arm.