GOALS from Dwight Gale, Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almiron and Valentino Lazaro pushed Cherries further into relegation trouble, as Newcastle United overcame the hosts 4-1 at Vitality Stadium.

The quartet were on target as the visitors ensured Cherries were yet to take a point from their three games since the Premier League’s resumption.

Dan Gosling did add a consolation for the hosts late on.

Defeat left the Dorset club inside the bottom three, with 27 points from 32 league games.

Boss Eddie Howe handed a first Premier League start to defender Lloyd Kelly for the clash with the Magpies.

He slotted in at left-back in place of Jack Stacey, who dropped to the bench. Adam Smith switched to the right of the back four.

Dominic Solanke, Arnaut Danjuma and fit-again Joshua King also came into the hosts’ line-up, with the suspended Callum Wilson unavailable. Junior Stanislas and Lewis Cook dropped to the bench.

Former Cherries star Matt Ritchie was fit enough to take a place on the Newcastle bench after a soft-tissue injury.

And it was the visitors who were gifted the opener after just five minutes at Vitality Stadium.

After Jefferson Lerma lost possession to Longstaff on the right, Newcastle dangerman Allan Saint-Maximin released Gayle.

The Newcastle striker confidently slotted past Aaron Ramsdale into the far corner to put Steve Bruce’s men a goal up.

Despite being left rocked by the opener, Cherries then looked to respond with their first chance created just three minutes later.

Good work from Danjuma down the left allowed him to tee up Philip Billing on the edge of the box – but the Dane failed to keep down his effort at goal.

A set-piece then provided Howe’s men with another half-chance. After David Brooks was felled out wide, his free-kick was only half-cleared before Smith headed back into the box and Solanke fired over.

But Cherries were left with a mountain to climb after just 30 minutes on the clock, when Newcastle added a second.

Having switched flanks, trickery from Saint-Maximin allowed him to get to the by-line past Smith and Brooks. The Frenchman put the ball on a plate for Longstaff, who rifled into the roof of the net.

That was to be the final contribution from the goalscorer however, as he was replaced by Almiron after picking up an injury.

Another set-piece chance then presented itself for the hosts as King was brought down by Nabil Bentaleb 20 yards out.

But Danjuma’s powerful free-kick failed to work Martin Dubravka in the away goal.

Manager Howe swapped Billing with Lewis Cook at half-time and Cherries almost pulled one back within seconds of the restart.

After Solanke’s strike looped off the post, King put the ball into the net – only to be flagged offside.

Saint-Maximin continued to threaten at the other end however, as he found space to work Ramsdale with a stinging low effort the home stopper was up to thwarting.

But Ramsdale could do nothing about the visitors adding a third through Paraguayan Almiron just before the hour mark.

The pacey forward drove at the home defence and after gaining half a yard on Nathan Ake – his effort flew into the top corner.

Brooks then looked to find a response for the hosts on the hour mark when latching on to Lewis Cook’s pass. The Wales international’s strike rattled the crossbar.

But the game was ended as a contest when substitute Lazaro skipped away from the Cherries defence to add a fourth 13 minutes from time.

Substitute Gosling did pull one back for Cherries in stoppage time after turning in Ake’s header from close range.

Cherries: Ramsdale, A Smith, S Cook (Mepham, 80), Ake, Kelly, Brooks (H Wilson, 62), Billing (L Cook, h-t), Lerma (Gosling, 75), Danjuma (Stanislas, 62), King, Solanke.

Unused subs: Stacey, Rico, Surridge, Boruc (g/k)

Booked: Kelly, Ake.

Newcastle: Dubravka, Krafth, Lascelles, Fernandez, Manquillo (Yedlin, 73), S Longstaff (Almiron, 33), Shelvey, Bentaleb, Gayle (Carroll, 62), Joelinton (Hayden, 72), Saint-Maximin (Lazaro, 62).

Unused subs: Schar, Ritchie, Rose, Darlow (g/k)

Booked: None

Referee: Kevin Friend

VAR: Paul Tierney