Out of all the opponents we have faced this season, Bournemouth provides us with the least amount of history in this fixture having only met a total of eight times. The recent 2015/16 season was the first time the two teams were in the top flight at the same time. Back in 1989/90, they were both in the old second division which accounts for all the times they have met in the league

The only other times we came up against the Cherries were in the FA Cup (1973 and a 1992 tie which went to a replay) and the first match up came in the League Cup in November 1963.

Facts and Figures

All Competitions

Newcastle wins: 3 (11 goals)

Bournemouth wins: 3 (9 goals)

Draws: 2

At St. James' Park

Newcastle wins: 2

Draws: 1

Bournemouth wins: 1

Biggest win (in this fixture)

Newcastle United 3 - 0 Bournemouth (28/02/1990)

This win back in February 1990 gave the Magpies a boost in their hope of achieving promotion to the top flight whereas it heaped on the pressure for Bournemouth to avoid relegation which both teams ended up failing to achieve at the end of a frustrating season. After finishing third in the table, promotion was missed out after losing in the play-off semi-finals to Sunderland who went on to achieve promotion themselves.

Biggest defeats (in this fixture)

Newcastle United 1 - 3 Bournemouth (05/03/2016)

An absolute disastrous performance at home made it easy for Bournemouth as they picked up their first ever win on Tyneside. The match ended up being Steve McClaren's final match in charge of Newcastle but it didn't give Rafa Benitez enough time to save the rapidly sinking ship in the remaining ten games of the season. Because of the one and only season in the Championship last season, this match was the last time the two sides met.

I'll also throwback to the reverse fixture earlier that season as we won narrowly on a Saturday lunchtime to pick up our first away win that season. A man of the match performance from Rob Elliot rescued the points with excellent saves and setting out a great example of how to command your own box.

After a momentary flirt with relegation last season for Bournemouth, the board decided to keep hold of Eddie Howe, a move that proved to be the correct decision as excellent performances from Josh King picked Bournemouth up into the top half and they delivered the final blow on Sunderland's bid for safety last season. However, for the Cherries, it's not quite gone to plan so far as the Cherries go into the weekend sitting in 19th place.

Finally, the match on Saturday will be the first time Matt Ritchie will be playing against Bournemouth since leaving the club to come to Newcastle in summer 2016. His excellent contribution last season was a big help in getting Newcastle back to the Premier League at the first attempt.