CHERRIES battled back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United and inch closer to Premier League survival.

Dwight Gayle’s first-half double had put the Magpies in control at Vitality Stadium but late goals from substitute Adam Smith and Dan Gosling earned the hosts a share of the spoils.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe made one change to the starting XI that had crashed to a 4-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town, Joshua King replacing Jordon Ibe who dropped out of the squad through injury.

The Dorset side switched to a 4-4-1-1 formation and striker Jermain Defoe was selected on the bench having recovered from a fractured ankle.

Marc Pugh came back into the squad but there was no place for midfielder Harry Arter.

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez kept the same line-up that had started the 1-0 victory over Manchester United, Matt Ritchie returning to Dean Court for the first time since his departure in the summer of 2016.

Cherries fashioned the first chance in the third minute, Junior Stanislas’s deflected cross looping to Gosling who, unmarked, nodded well over the bar.

Stanislas twice took centre stage in the ensuing moments, his teasing cross a fraction too far ahead of Wilson, before the ex-Burnley man fired into the Ted MacDougall Stand soon after.

Still inside the opening 10 minutes, Gosling was carelessly shoved over by Kenedy. Stanislas’s near-post free-kick found Callum Wilson, who tested keeper Martin Dubravka on the turn.

Newcastle’s opening opportunity came after generous refereeing from Roger East saw them win a free-kick, Ritchie going to ground with Gosling in close attendance. Kenedy floated his free-kick over the top.

But in the 17th minute, the visitors forged ahead. Ritchie latched on to Jonjo Shelvey’s flighted ball over Charlie Daniels and his low centre was smuggled past Asmir Begovic by Gayle, who then backheeled into the empty net.

Ritchie flashed an effort past the left upright after Cherries had twice failed to clear their lines, while Stanislas was off-target with a dipping half-volley at the other end.

Cherries had grown wasteful in possession and their frustration was compounded when King’s centre zipped beyond the head of Wilson, the only red and black shirt in the box.

Another half-chance for the hosts came when Daniels’s cross was half-cleared by centre-back Florian Lejeune. Ex-Magpies star Gosling, like Stanislas before him, saw his first-time strike fly clear of the bar.

Daniels smashed over with half-time looming but there was still time for another twist in the tale. Nathan Ake failed to deal with a poor corner and Paul Dummett’s overhit delivery arrived at the feet of Ayoze Perez at the back post. His cross somehow flashed between Begovic and the goal-line and Gayle gleefully tapped home.

Howe elected to make one change at the break, bringing on Smith for Daniels.

Cherries needed a good start to the second half but did not get one. First they had a penalty appeal turned down after Fraser had been bulldozed into by Jamaal Lascelles. Then King roared down the left and sent in a low ball which found Fraser, the Scotland international’s effort fizzing high and wide.

An organised Newcastle side were largely restricting their opponents to shots from outside the box. Smith screwed weakly wide as Cherries’ desperation increased.

On came Mousset for Fraser, Benitez quickly responding by putting on former Cherries loan ace Christian Atsu for Kenedy.

Begovic had to be alert to snaffle a crisply-struck shot from distance by Ritchie in a rare second-half attack for the Magpies.

Cherries had another close escape after Mousset was penalised for foul on Atsu. Gayle blasted into the wall and the ball dropped kindly to Perez six yards out, the Spaniard inexplicably poking over from six yards.

Defoe entered the fray and within seconds had unleashed an effort at goal, the ball rippling the side-netting after taking a nick off Ritchie.

Dubravka was in the wars when he was clattered into by Shelvey after punching clear Steve Cook’s goal-bound header.

Newcastle then carved open a gilt-edged chance, Atsu streaking clear down the left before squaring for Shelvey. With the goal gaping, the midfielder crashed off target.

Ten minutes remained when Smith gave his team hope. King’s pass was expertly flicked on by Lewis Cook and Smith arrowed the ball home, his sizzling strike kissing the underside of the bar on the way in.

Mohamed Diame’s heavy challenge on Mousset afforded Stanislas a chance from a free-kick but Dubravka collected the curling effort comfortably.

With a minute left, the equaliser. Simon Francis’s cross evaded a crowd of bodies and went to King. He played the ball to Ake, whose intelligent, angled pass was instinctively stabbed in the top corner by Gosling.

Desperate for a winner, Cherries piled on the pressure in the closing seconds but Newcastle held out for a point.

MATCH FACTS

Cherries: (4-4-1-1): Begovic; Francis, S Cook, Ake, Daniels (A Smith, h-t); Stanislas, L Cook, Gosling, Fraser (Mousset, 63); King; Wilson (Defoe, 73).

Unused subs: Simpson, Surman, Pugh, Boruc (g/k).

Booked: Ake.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Dubravka; Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett; Shelvey, Diame; Ritchie (Manquillo, 84), Perez, Kenedy (Atsu, 64); Gayle (Hayden, 78).

Unused subs: Clark, Joselu, Merino, Darlow (g/k).

Booked: Ritchie, Yedlin, Diame, Perez.

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire).

Attendance: 10,808.