The recent Newcastle United vs AFC Bournemouth head-to-head record shows just how difficult this fixture has become to predict.
Ahead of their Premier League meeting at St James' Park on April 18, 2026, the previous 10 competitive encounters had produced only four outright winners, with six matches ending level before any penalty shootout was considered.
Newcastle have traditionally entered this matchup as the bigger club historically, but Bournemouth have repeatedly made life difficult for the Magpies.
The Cherries have taken points at both the Vitality Stadium and St James' Park, while late goals, defensive mistakes or narrow margins have decided several meetings. The result is a fixture that has become increasingly balanced.
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Newcastle vs Bournemouth: Last 10 Meetings
The 10 competitive meetings immediately before the April 18, 2026 Premier League fixture were:
Newcastle United 3-3 Bournemouth — FA Cup, January 2026. Newcastle won 7-6 on penalties.
Bournemouth 0-0 Newcastle United — Premier League, September 2025.
Newcastle United 1-4 Bournemouth — Premier League, January 2025.
Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle United — Premier League, August 2024.
Newcastle United 2-2 Bournemouth — Premier League, February 2024.
Bournemouth 2-0 Newcastle United — Premier League, November 2023.
Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle United — Premier League, February 2023.
Newcastle United 1-0 Bournemouth — EFL Cup, December 2022.
Newcastle United 1-1 Bournemouth — Premier League, September 2022.
Bournemouth 1-4 Newcastle United — Premier League, July 2020.
Across those 10 matches, the record stood at:
Newcastle wins: 2
Bournemouth wins: 2
Draws: 6
Newcastle goals: 14
Bournemouth goals: 15
Total goals: 29
Average goals per match: 2.9
Newcastle also progressed from the January 2026 FA Cup tie after winning a penalty shootout, but the game itself finished 3-3 after extra time. That distinction matters when looking at the overall head-to-head record because it shows just how frequently these teams had been difficult to separate.
Draws Have Defined the Recent Rivalry
The clearest pattern from the previous 10 meetings is the number of draws. Six of the 10 matches finished level, including results of 0-0, 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3. That tells us more about this fixture than simply comparing the number of wins.
Newcastle have often had more possession or entered as favourites, but Bournemouth have repeatedly found ways to stay competitive. At the same time, Newcastle have frequently responded when the Cherries have taken the lead. The result has been a series of matches where neither side has been able to establish long-term control over the rivalry.
Newcastle Had Struggled to Beat Bournemouth in the Premier League
One of the most striking statistics heading into April 2026 was Newcastle's lack of recent league victories against Bournemouth. Their last Premier League win over the Cherries came in July 2020, when Newcastle travelled to the Vitality Stadium and produced an emphatic 4-1 victory.
Since Bournemouth returned to the Premier League for the 2022/23 season, Newcastle had failed to beat them in the league.
That sequence included:
a 1-1 draw at St James' Park in September 2022;
a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium in February 2023;
a 2-0 Bournemouth victory in November 2023;
a 2-2 draw at St James' Park in February 2024;
a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth in August 2024;
Bournemouth's 4-1 win at St James' Park in January 2025;
a 0-0 draw in September 2025.
That run demonstrated Bournemouth's ability to frustrate Newcastle regardless of venue.
Bournemouth's 4-1 Win at St James' Park Was a Major Statement
One of the standout results from the recent Newcastle vs Bournemouth head-to-head record came in January 2025. Newcastle entered the match in excellent form, but Bournemouth produced one of their best performances of the season to win 4-1 at St James' Park.
Justin Kluivert was the star of the afternoon, scoring a hat-trick as Bournemouth ended Newcastle's six-match Premier League winning streak. The result was significant for several reasons.
Newcastle were playing at home, had built strong momentum, and were competing near the top end of the table. Bournemouth nevertheless pressed aggressively, created chances, and repeatedly punished mistakes.
It showed that the Cherries were capable of doing more than simply frustrating Newcastle with defensive organisation. They could also take control of the game and win convincingly.
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The January 2026 FA Cup Match Added More Drama
The teams met again at St James' Park in January 2026, this time in the FA Cup. That match produced one of the most dramatic encounters in the recent history of the fixture.
After 120 minutes, the score was 3-3, forcing the tie to be decided by penalties. Newcastle eventually won the shootout 7-6 to advance. Although the Magpies progressed, the match once again demonstrated how closely matched these teams had become.
Even with home advantage and cup progression at stake, Newcastle could not separate themselves from Bournemouth during normal time or extra time. The shootout victory gave Newcastle an important result, but it did little to change the wider pattern of competitive games between the clubs.
Bournemouth Have Been Difficult for Eddie Howe
The fixture carries another interesting storyline because of Newcastle manager Eddie Howe's long association with Bournemouth. Howe spent much of his managerial career with the Cherries and played a major role in taking the club through the English football pyramid and into the Premier League.
That history has made meetings between Howe's Newcastle and Bournemouth particularly notable. However, familiarity has not translated into easy victories.
Bournemouth repeatedly managed to take points from Howe's Newcastle in league meetings, including draws at both grounds and the convincing 4-1 victory at St James' Park in January 2025. That record added another layer to the April 2026 meeting.
Bournemouth's Press Has Caused Newcastle Problems
One reason Bournemouth have been able to compete so effectively in this fixture is their willingness to play aggressively. Under Andoni Iraola, the Cherries developed a high-intensity approach built around pressing opponents, winning possession in advanced areas and attacking quickly after turnovers.
That approach was particularly effective during the 4-1 win at St James' Park. Rather than allowing Newcastle to build comfortably from defence, Bournemouth pressured the ball and created opportunities from mistakes.
For Newcastle, that presents a tactical challenge. When the Magpies move the ball cleanly through the first line of pressure, they can create space further forward.
But when Bournemouth disrupt those early passes, Newcastle can quickly find themselves defending dangerous transitions.
Newcastle's Home Advantage Has Not Guaranteed Success
St James' Park is generally one of the more difficult away grounds in the Premier League, but Bournemouth have shown that they are capable of competing there.
The recent meetings in Newcastle included:
a 1-1 Premier League draw in September 2022;
a 1-0 Newcastle EFL Cup victory in December 2022;
a 2-2 Premier League draw in February 2024;
a 4-1 Bournemouth Premier League victory in January 2025;
a 3-3 FA Cup draw in January 2026 before Newcastle advanced on penalties.
That is a remarkably mixed set of results. Bournemouth's willingness to attack rather than simply defend deep has helped make the venue less intimidating for them than it has been for many visiting teams.
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Both Teams Have Often Found the Net
Goals have also been a regular feature of Newcastle vs Bournemouth. The previous 10 competitive matches produced 29 goals, with Bournemouth narrowly outscoring Newcastle 15-14.
Several encounters featured goals from both teams, including:
Bournemouth 1-4 Newcastle;
Newcastle 1-1 Bournemouth;
Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle;
Newcastle 2-2 Bournemouth;
Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle;
Newcastle 1-4 Bournemouth;
Newcastle 3-3 Bournemouth.
However, not every meeting followed that pattern. Bournemouth's 2-0 victory in November 2023, Newcastle's 1-0 EFL Cup win in December 2022 and the 0-0 draw in September 2025 all showed that the fixture can also become more controlled.
The broader trend is therefore not simply that every game becomes a shootout. Instead, the rivalry has produced a wide range of match types, from goalless draws to six-goal cup ties.
The 0-0 Draw in September 2025 Showed a Different Side of the Fixture
The Premier League meeting at the Vitality Stadium in September 2025 was very different from the high-scoring games that came before it. The teams finished 0-0, with neither side able to find a breakthrough.
Newcastle struggled to create clear opportunities, while Bournemouth were unable to convert their stronger attacking moments. The match showed that the tactical familiarity between the teams could sometimes lead to them cancelling each other out. It also extended Newcastle's wait for a Premier League victory against Bournemouth.
How the Balance of Power Shifted
The last 10 meetings can be divided into different periods.
1. Newcastle's Earlier Advantage
Newcastle's 4-1 Premier League victory at Bournemouth in July 2020 was a dominant performance. They also recorded a 1-0 EFL Cup win at St James' Park in December 2022. Those results suggested Newcastle had the stronger position in the fixture.
2. Bournemouth Became Increasingly Difficult to Beat
From Bournemouth's return to the Premier League in 2022 onward, however, the league meetings became much more difficult for Newcastle. Draws became common, and Bournemouth eventually turned competitive performances into victories.
Their 2-0 win in November 2023 was followed by the emphatic 4-1 victory at St James' Park in January 2025. By the time the clubs met in April 2026, Bournemouth had established themselves as an opponent Newcastle consistently struggled to overcome.
Who Had the Better Head-to-Head Record?
Looking only at the previous 10 competitive matches, there was remarkably little between the teams. Newcastle and Bournemouth had each won two matches outright, while six finished level.
Bournemouth held a narrow advantage in total goals, scoring 15 compared with Newcastle's 14. Newcastle could also point to their January 2026 FA Cup progression, when they won the penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw.
But the most important trend from a Premier League perspective favoured Bournemouth. Newcastle had not beaten the Cherries in the league since July 2020, while Bournemouth had recorded two league victories and several draws during that period.
Newcastle vs Bournemouth: What the Last 10 Meetings Tell Us
The Newcastle United vs Bournemouth head-to-head record reveals a fixture defined more by competitiveness than dominance.
Across the 10 competitive meetings immediately before April 18, 2026:
Newcastle won two matches outright.
Bournemouth won two matches outright.
Six matches ended in draws.
Newcastle advanced on penalties after one of those draws.
Bournemouth scored 15 goals.
Newcastle scored 14.
The teams combined for 29 goals.
Bournemouth recorded an emphatic 4-1 victory at St James' Park.
Newcastle had not beaten Bournemouth in the Premier League since July 2020.
The numbers show why this matchup had become so difficult to predict. Newcastle may have carried greater expectations into many of the meetings, but Bournemouth repeatedly demonstrated that they could match the Magpies tactically, compete at St James' Park and punish mistakes when opportunities appeared.
For Newcastle, the April 2026 meeting represented another opportunity to finally end their long Premier League wait for a victory over the Cherries. For Bournemouth, it offered the chance to continue a recent record that had made them one of Newcastle's most stubborn opponents.