Bournemouth 0-0 Newcastle

&c

Newcastle navigated a tricky post-Barcelona trip to one of our least-favourite grounds on Sunday lunchtime, coming away from a bore-draw at Bournemouth with a third successive 0-0 draw on the road.

In truth, it's a result that I would have taken before kick off given our record at the Vitality, but the complete lack of bite we seem to have is becoming slightly concerning.

Of course, this is at least in part explained by the absence of both Wissa and Gordon (the latter having now served out his ban), but it's fair to say something isn't really clicking at the moment.

We had similar periods last season, especially at the start, and got through, but the injury to Wissa was unfortunate to say the least.

We don't have much time on the training ground to get it right though, with the games coming thick and fast.

After a home time against Bradford City to kick off our defence of the League Cup, an actual trophy that I believe we won last season, we welcome Arsenal to St James' Park before heading to Belgium for a third consecutive midweek game.

Far be it for me to complain - this is the price of success - but the longer the season goes on without us hitting our stride, the harder it'll be to catch up.