Interesting to read through these BBC Sport ‘neutrals’ comments, following on from Newcastle United drawing with Bournemouth.
The visitors going 2-0 up in the opening 35 minutes.
Only for Matthias Jaissle’s players to battle back for a 2-2 draw, thanks to goals from Barnes and Ramsey.
Always good to hear the neutral perspectives.
This one is no different, an interesting start to the season as Newcastle United are unbeaten in the opening four matches of the season, in league and cup.
The BBC Sport readers comments from neutrals….
‘Newcastle showing great character especially with what’s gone on over last couple of months.’
‘Glad Newcastle got the equaliser . The dark arts from Bournemouth were tedious.’
‘If anybody moved inside that stadium you could guarentee a AFCB player went down, shocking refereeing all round.’
‘Elanga clearly pulled back prior to Bournemouth’s opening goal not given, but smith falling over under minimal contact with barnes when clean through on goal given. Is consistency too much to ask?’
‘The more refs are paid ( and its a lot) the worse they get.’
‘I wonder what Mike Dean Mini Game he was playing?’
‘Let’s see how long I can go before I have to give Newcastle free kick. Seems about right.’
‘Draw was probably a fair result in the end. 1st half was all Bournemouth, Barnes goal was Newcastle’s only contribution, lucky to still be in it. 2nd half Newcastle were better (but not good), Bournemouth were tired and cynical. Referee was atrocious.”
‘If that had been a cup game, Newcastle would have won it in extra time.
Newcastle seemed reticent to play through the lines. Too often the ball went back to the keeper to just launch it.
Nevertheless, unbeaten in 3, 5 points on the board, 6 goals scored. A decent start.’
‘5 points from Liverpool, Spurs and Bournemouth is a fantastic place to be for a team in ‘transition’ (an overused cliche). Also a reality check. That was the first time that we faced a really solid midfield and it showed. More work required.’
‘Rob Jones single-handedly getting a point for the visitors.
Clear foul on Elanga moments before their first goal, and quite clearly a dive by Smith, moments before Barnes’s disallowed goal.
Add to that the huge catalogue of mistakes made that benefitted Bournemouth today, and you may have possibly just witnessed the worst refereeing performance you’ll see all season.’
‘Er…didn’t you see Elanga trying to drag off his shirt? Selective?’
‘Er…didn’t you see Elanga nearly lose his shirt and shorts? Selective?’
‘Well, as a neutral, it was never a foul in the build to their first goal. Never. The ref got that one right. Didn’t notice any bias one way or the other. It isn’t helped that Newcastle players go to ground too easily though – that was noticeable.’
‘You are not neutral.’
‘Worst refereeing performance since last week, the standard of officiating in this league is worse every game. Do they have a fantasy refereeing league amongst themselves to see who can have their name mentioned the most or something? Diabolical how much they want to be the centre of attention.’
‘Thiaw & Botman just look so nervous on the ball. Newcastle really need Schar and Burn back.
Bournemouth need to learn game management. Great pressing but at some point they have to stop and defend.
Officials this year seem worse than ever too. Referee was dreadful.’
‘We were lucky to still be in the game at half time, but probably deserved a draw over the 90 minutes. Alex Scott is a top player. Ref wasn’t great today.’
‘A good point for Newcastle in the end. The Cherries were a yard faster in the first half and deservedly led at half time. The Toon improved after the break and got what their effort deserved in a very late equiliser. An entertaining game with just about the right result in the end.’
‘Game spoiled by Robert Jones the Referee from LiVARpool.
Worst man on the pitch.
Fair dues to Newcastle but the game should of been abandoned, opposition team playing with 12 men.’
‘Really enjoyed the game. Well done Bournemouth, fantastic pressing all game. Well done NUFC, great belief and just not giving up, and ended up the stronger. A draw was a fair result.’
‘A great advert for premiership football, end to end, attacking football, well done magpies.’
‘A terrible advert for the standard of officiating though.’
Newcastle 2 Bournemouth 2 – Saturday 5 September 2026 12.30pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Barnes 37, Ramsey 88
Bournemouth:
Tavernier 9, Thiaw OG 35
Possession was Newcastle 57% Bournemouth 43%
Total shots were Newcastle 8 Bournemouth 17
Shots on target were Newcastle 2 Bournemouth 5
Corners were Newcastle 4 Bournemouth 3
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 19 Bournemouth 23
Newcastle team v Bournemouth:
Hornicek, Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall (Livramento 90), Lewis Miley (Ramsey 63), Gonzalez (Steur 77), Elanga (Murphy 78), Barnes, Willock (Fernandez-Pardo 63), Wissa
Unused subs:
Pope, Schar, Bamba, Toure