MARCOS Senesi’s first goal for Cherries proved enough for a point, as Eddie Howe’s Champions League-chasing Newcastle United were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

Senesi put Cherries ahead after a well-worked set-piece, only for Miguel Almiron to equalise in first-half stoppage time.

Howe was back in the dugout at Vitality Stadium for the first time since July 2020, and his visiting side were almost sent back home defeated, only for Kieran Trippier to produce a vital goal-line clearance to deny Dominic Solanke at the death as the game ended 1-1.

Gary O’Neil made two changes to the XI which lost at Brighton, with Solanke and Jack Stephens returning from injury. They took the places of Antoine Semenyo and Chris Mepham, who dropped to the bench alongside fit-again duo Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Fredericks.

Newcastle were without former Cherries striker Callum Wilson due to a minor hamstring injury. Former Cherries pair Matt Ritchie and Ryan Fraser were named among the substitutes, the latter receiving verbal abuse from the home fans at various points throughout the evening.

The visitors dominated possession during the early stages, but neither side could carve out a clear opening, until Fabian Schar headed wide from a corner.

Cherries grew into the contest and began to look increasingly dangerous going forwards. Home debutant Hamed Traore was linking up well with Dango Ouattara and Solanke, but the final pass was lacking.

Cherries tested Nick Pope on 13 minutes, Solanke meeting a Jaidon Anthony cross and seeing his header tipped behind.

The Magpies were struggling to breach Cherries’ defence and the hosts got a lead their performance in the opening half an hour deserved. It came via a set-piece, Traore’s delivery flicked on at the near post by birthday boy Ouattara for Senesi. The Argentina international escaped his marker Alexander Isak to tap in at the back post, for his first goal since joining Cherries last summer.

Newcastle were rocking, with Pope well-placed to save a Solanke header shortly after Senesi’s strike.

At the other end, it took until the 44th minute for Neto to finally be worked, Isak’s weak effort straight at Cherries’ new skipper.

But Cherries were dealt a cruel blow on the stroke of half-time. The dangerous Allan Saint-Maximin picked out Sean Longstaff, whose shot was beaten away by a diving Neto. However, Almiron was on hand unmarked on the rebound to slot into the bottom corner.

Cherries were forced into their first change of the evening early in the second half, scorer Senesi limping off to be replaced by Mepham.

O’Neil soon turned to his bench again, with Tavernier making a much anticipated return, coming on for Anthony just past the hour mark.

The visitors carved out a fortuitous opening midway through the half, a ball falling kindly for Isak in the box, but he blazed over the bar from a tight angle.

Cherries instantly hit back with Tavernier finding space for a shot, but he could not seriously trouble Pope.

Back came Newcastle, Saint-Maximin’s low effort fumbled by Neto. In came Longstaff on the rebound, who fired straight at the Brazilian before clattering into him. The ball squirted out to Gordon, who could not hit the target.

Both Semenyo and Fredericks were introduced by the hosts as the game moved towards the final 10 minutes.

Newcastle arrived on the south coast having lost just once in the Premier League all season, that coming way back in August. But they were inches away from being beaten again, Solanke’s clever flick just about cleared off the line by Trippier.

A win would have taken Cherries outside the relegation zone, instead they stay 19th.

Cherries: Neto; Smith (Fredericks, 79), Stephens, Senesi (Mepham, 52), Zemura; Lerma, Billing; Ouattara (Semenyo, 79), Traore, Anthony (Tavernier, 63); Solanke.

Unused subs: Vina, Rothwell, Christie, Moore, Travers (g/k).

Booked: Smith, Stephens.

Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Joelinton, Willock (Gordon, 36); Almiron (Murphy, 81), Saint-Maximin (Anderson, 84), Isak.

Subs: Dummett, Lewis, Miley, Ritchie, Fraser, Dubravka (g/k).

Booked: Gordon, Botman, Joelinton.

Referee: Stuart Attwell.

VAR: Tony Harrington.