Features
Away days: AFC Bournemouth
Written by Tom Easterby
Newcastle United head to the Vitality Stadium for just the second time ever in the Premier League at the weekend. Here, we take a look at the home of the Cherries…
Club: AFC Bournemouth
Stadium: Vitality Stadium
Capacity: 11,464
Distance from St. James’ Park: 353 miles
Previous Premier League visits: 1 (1 win, 0 draws, 0 defeats)
AFC Bournemouth are enjoying their third successive season in the top flight, having achieved a ninth-place finish in the Premier League table last season under the stewardship of manager Eddie Howe, and they're currently on course for another top-half finish.
The Vitality Stadium, formerly known as Dean Court, is a venue Newcastle fans aren’t too accustomed to visiting, with just the one game – a 1-0 win for the Magpies in November 2015, sealed by an Ayoze Perez strike – played there in the league since 1989, when Bournemouth ran out 2-1 winners in a Division Two clash.
There have only ever been five league meetings between the two sides, and nine in all competitions, including three FA Cup ties and one League Cup tie.
The Cherries’ tight, compact ground has already hosted some of Bournemouth’s best moments, including Premier League victories over Manchester United and Liverpool and with a round trip of over 700 miles, it will be United’s furthest away trip of the 2017/18 league campaign.