English Premier
2026-04-18 - Newcastle United vs Bournemouth
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 18th April 2026 - Kick Off 3pm
Newcastle United
A number of Premier League clubs are either making managerial changes or are rumoured to be making managerial changes and there is a growing pressure on Eddie Howe at the helm of Newcastle United. He will never have to buy himself another drink in the 'toon', but there are big ambitions at St James' Park and Newcastle United are well below where they would have imagined themselves at the start of this campaign.
They are not going to be adding to the long awaited silverware won last season, but the real negative for Newcastle United fans is seeing the club in 14th place in the Premier League table and it will hurt being below rivals Sunderland. A strong end to the season may yet be rewarded with European Football and a reprieve for Eddie Howe, but that run needs to start at St James' Park this weekend where Newcastle United have an 8-2-6 record.
Newcastle United have won 1 of the last 6 games in all competitions and they have suffered 4 defeats in that time, including in each of the last 3 fixtures played. The squad will have really been stung by conceding injury time winners against Sunderland and Crystal Palace either side of the March international break with both matches ending in 2-1 defeats. Newcastle United have lost 6 of the last 10 home matches in all competitions, while losing 4 of the last 5 Premier League games here.
Bruno Guimaraes is pushing very hard to return from injury and help his team, but this weekend may yet be too soon for him. Fabian Schar should return to training next month.
Bournemouth
In each passing week, Andoni Iraola has begun his press conference by stating that there has been no news about his status as Bournemouth manager beyond the end of this season. The squad have continue to play hard for the Spaniard who is well respected for the work he has done at the Vitality Stadium, but speculation has officially ended after it was announced this week that Iraola will be leaving the role.
That statement came days after Bournemouth upset Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and Andoni Iraola has been linked with some big vacant roles both in England and in Spain. The focus remains on earning a strong end to the campaign with Bournemouth up into 11th place in the Premier League table and very much in contention to earn a European place for next season. Improving the 4-7-5 away record will go a long way towards Bournemouth playing in any one of the three UEFA competitions that are run.
Bournemouth extended the unbeaten run to 13 games in all competitions with the upset win at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday and they also ended a run of 5 consecutive Premier League draws. They will be travelling to Newcastle United for a second time this season and Bournemouth are unbeaten in 7 away Premier League games and have won 3 of the last 5 on their travels.
Julio Soler could be available this weekend, while Lewis Cook is also pushing for a return. Justin Kluivert is keen to get back into the fold as soon as possible to improve his chances of representing Netherlands at the World Cup.
Head to Head
These two teams played out a goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium in September.
They also met in the FA Cup Third Round at St James' Park and Newcastle United progressed on Penalties having scored a 90th minute Penalty to force Extra Time.
Newcastle United have won 1 of the last 5 home games in normal time against Bournemouth in all competitions and were beaten 1-4 here in the Premier League last season.
Prediction
Outplaying the current Premier League leaders and earning three vital points has just given Bournemouth a lift as they look to push towards European qualification at the conclusion of the campaign.
However, days after that victory at the Emirates Stadium, it was announced that Andoni Iraola will be leaving as manager at the end of his contract this summer.
Most supporters likely saw this coming and credit has to be given to the Bournemouth squad for maintaining their focus as they have extended the unbeaten run to 12 Premier League games. Draws have prevented Bournemouth from really motoring up the standings, but the win at Arsenal last Saturday is a huge boost to take into the final six League games.
They are certainly going to travel to the North East playing with a lot more confidence than hosts Newcastle United who suffered another late Premier League defeat last Sunday. After taking the lead at Selhurst Park, Newcastle United failed to push on and it is the second Premier League game in a row where they have scored first and still lost.
Eddie Howe is under some pressure with some linking Iraola with any vacancy that could come up at St James' Park, but there is still time for Newcastle United to at least earn a return to European Football. Playing consecutive seasons in any UEFA competition would keep the financial growth moving forward, but this is a team that have looked short of confidence in the last couple of months.
Newcastle United did give Barcelona as good as they got in the home Leg of that Last 16 Champions League tie, but the defeat to rivals Sunderland means they have lost 4 of the last 6 here in all competitions. It is a defeat that also means The Magpies have been beaten in 4 of the last 5 Premier League games here and prevented Newcastle United from challenging for another top five finish in the Division.
Some players may be thinking about the future and it is going to be a challenge for Eddie Howe to pick the squad up.
This is an opponent that has given Newcastle United real problems in recent years and Bournemouth have only lost 1 of the last 9. They were very close to winning a FA Cup tie here in January with Bournemouth pegged back by an injury time Penalty, while The Cherries are unbeaten in 3 Premier League visits here.
Andoni Iraola's announcement this week is unlikely to shake the squad too much with most expecting this, while the win at Arsenal will have given the Bournemouth players a real shot of confidence.
Considering the recent form of the two teams, there is a real temptation to back Bournemouth to win back up the three points earned in North London and pick up another three in the North East. However, Bournemouth have been something of a draw specialist before that win, and 6 of the last 9 between these clubs have ended in draws after normal time.
You could take a chance in backing Bournemouth on the 'Draw No Bet' market, but ultimately it feels difficult to trust Newcastle United to win at close to odds on prices.
That makes Bournemouth a decent enough price to avoid defeat and that is the play from this Premier League fixture.
The Pick :
Newcastle United 1-2 Bournemouth
