When the 1,700 Bournemouth fans with a ticket for Saturday’s match at Newcastle left their homes in the early hours of the morning – some just after midnight – they may have been questioning their own judgement.
The high-flying Magpies had won nine in a row in all competitions, had triumphed in each of their previous five home matches, and had one of Europe’s most in-form strikers at their disposal in Alexander Isak.
Andoni Iraola’s team had not lost in the Premier League since November, but were without a host of first-team players through injury, including Marcos Senesi, Marcus Tavernier, Luis Sinisterra, Evanilson and Enes Unal.
As it turned out, Cherries supporters needn’t have worried.
Dutchman Justin Kluivert was the hero in the magnificent 4-1 victory, scoring a hat-trick against the club for whom his Champions League-winning father, Patrick, netted 13 goals in 37 appearances during the 2004-05 campaign, but only one at St James’ Park.
“I heard I had more goals than him here already, so that is one win over him,” the 25-year-old told BBC Match of the Day. “I followed Newcastle when I was younger – unfortunately for them, Kluivert now plays for another team.”
The win not only extended Bournemouth’s club-record unbeaten top-flight run into double figures, it also lifted them up to sixth place – just a point behind the fourth-placed Magpies.
“We can dream big,” added Kluivert, who netted a landmark hat-trick of penalties against Wolves back in November. “We can go very far.
“A result like this just feels amazing. It’s the best feeling in the world. We trust in each other and believe in each other. I think that’s the spirit in our team.”
“Bournemouth are right up there now,” former West Ham, Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole told TNT Sports. “I think they’ll be challenging for Europe.
“Their front four tore Newcastle apart.”
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