An entertaining South Coast battle between Brighton and Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium last weekend could have very easily gone either way, but not for the first time this season, the Seagulls were indebted to a late strike from their Japanese wing king.
With 87 minutes on the clock, Kaoru Mitoma’s looping header found its way into the back of the net to extend Bournemouth’s miserable winless streak in the division, but there have been some signs of promise for O’Neil to feel proud about in recent weeks.
From being on the verge of victory against Nottingham Forest to giving European chasers Brighton a good run for their money, a Bournemouth side who strengthened their squad considerably in January can feel quietly optimistic about the second half of the season, but optimism does not put points on the board.
Having now gone six games without victory in the top flight – losing five of them – the Cherries remain mired in relegation danger in 19th place, just two points above basement side Southampton and also two adrift of the safety of 17th place, so Bournemouth could clamber out of the drop zone if results go their way this weekend.
Netting just one goal in their last 540 minutes of top-flight football is not a recipe for success, though, and Bournemouth’s tally of 43 goals conceded makes them the worst defence in the league. Their visitors, meanwhile, can proudly boast the league’s meanest rearguard – albeit one that was breached by a struggling West Ham side.
Failing to capitalise on Arsenal and Manchester City’s respective defeats to keep the pressure on the title-chasing pack, Newcastle’s EFL Cup hangover may have been in effect during the visit of West Ham, who travelled back down to London from St James’ Park with a hard-earned point to their name.
After a first-minute goal from Joe Willock was disallowed, Newcastle quickly made lightning strike twice as Callum Wilson opened the scoring with three minutes gone, but Lucas Paqueta tapped home just after the half-hour mark to force a share of the spoils.
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The Hammers’ defensive resilience paid dividends at St James’ Park, but Newcastle remain in the fourth and final Champions League spot – one point clear of Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand – and victory would allow the Magpies to leapfrog third-placed Manchester United on goal difference after the Red Devils dropped points in a 2-2 drawwith Leeds United on Wednesday.
The stalemate with West Ham was undoubtedly two points dropped rather than one gained for Eddie Howe’s team – who have now played out four draws in their last five Premier League contests – but a 16-game streak without defeat is the longest current unbeaten run in the competition.
An Alexander Isak penalty rescued a point for stalemate specialists Newcastle in a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth back in September, before the Magpies edged their EFL Cup fourth-round tie 1-0 thanks to Adam Smith’s own goal – their seventh consecutive match without defeat against the Cherries.
