BOURNEMOUTH, England :Two second-half strikes by forward Dominic Solanke gave Bournemouth a 2-0 home win over a depleted Newcastle United on Saturday which lifted the Cherries to 17th place in the Premier League table, three points clear of the relegation zone.
Newcastle were missing a slew of players through injury and suspension, forcing manager Eddie Howe, a former player and manager at Bournemouth, to deploy Anthony Gordon as a makeshift centre forward.
The reshuffle seemed to have given the desired effect as midfielder Sean Longstaff almost scored with an early drive, but after weathering the storm in a goalless first half, Newcastle's weaknesses were exposed.
Solanke struck his first goal on the hour mark as the ball was inadvertently played into his path by Newcastle's Joe Willock and the 26-year-old slotted home.