Alan Shearer’s 14-word verdict on Newcastle United’s ‘poor’ Bournemouth draw

Alan Shearer was left disappointed by a “poor” Newcastle United performance against AFC Bournemouth.

The Magpies have drawn five of their opening seven Premier League games after struggling to break down the Cherries defence.

Philip Billing opened the scoring for the visitors on 63 minutes before Alexander Isak equalised from the penalty spot after Jefferson Lerma handled the ball inside the area.

In many ways, VAR, for once, bailed Newcastle out, after Craig Dawson awarded the spot-kick after reviewing the incident at the pitchside monitor.

There was a distinct lack of quality in the final third, and Shearer summed up how supporters were feeling after the game.

“Didn’t do enough to win today,” he tweeted. “Poor performance from the Toon. Well done Bournemouth.”

Shearer, however, did set aside praise for Isak after dispatching his penalty emphatically past Neto in the Bournemouth goal.

Despite netting his second goal in just his third appearance, the 22-year-old impact was mostly limited against the newly-promoted side.

“Alexander Isak didn’t have a lot to do today, but he did brilliantly with the penalty,” Shearer said.

“Stepped up with courage after not being involved for much of the game, and even if the goalkeeper had dived the right way, he still wouldn’t have saved it. A brilliant penalty.”

Shearer sent Isak a text message wishing him good luck after completing his club-record move from Real Sociedad before congratulating him on his first Premier League at Liverpool.