Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Newcastle United and Bournemouth.

Neither side have been very prolific of late, but this contest has all the makings of an entertaining tussle towards the bottom of the table. Steve McClaren and his Newcastle players know that they need to take advantage of their home fixtures so they must go for maximum points this afternoon. Bournemouth, on the other hand, have shown lately that they are capable of stopping goals as well as scoring them and they will fancy their chances in the North-East.

Before he continue our preview of this game, let us bring you an update on the North London derby. It's all going on at White Hart Lane, and Harry Kane's wonder strike has just given Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 lead. You can follow the closing stages here.

Anyway, the team news is out at St James' Park. Let's take a look at what McClaren and Eddie Howe have decided.

NEWCASTLE UNITED XI: Elliot, Janmaat, Taylor, Lascelles, Dummett, Shelvey, Colback, Sissoko, Perez, Wijnaldum, Riviere

NEWCASTLE UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Anita, Gouffran, Aarons, Saivet, Darlow, Doumbia, Mitrovic

BOURNEMOUTH XI: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Gradel, Afobe, King

BOURNEMOUTH SUBSTITUTES: Elphick, Pugh, Federici, Distin, Murray, Grabban, O'Kane

I'm sure that the Newcastle team has divided opinion! Steve McClaren has made two changes to the team that lost at Stoke City, but Seydou Doumbia remains on the bench. Yoann Gouffran and Aleksandar Mitrovic are the men to make way for Ayoze Perez and Emmanuel Riviere.

As for the Cherries, Howe has kept alterations to a minimum after their victory over Southampton. Harry Arter picked up a knock in that game and misses out, with Dan Gosling coming into the team. Max Gradel makes his third appearance in a week after returning from a serious knee injury last weekend.

UPDATE! The 10 men of Arsenal have equalised at White Hart Lane! Find out how, and following the final 10 minutes, with our live text commentary.

HEAD TO HEAD! As you can imagine, there haven't been too many fixtures involving these two teams! Today's contest represents the eighth meetings, with both sides claiming three victories apiece. You have to go all the way to 1992 for the last time that Bournemouth visited St James' Park, with the South-Coast outfit emerging victorious in an FA Cup replay on penalties.

If we take a look at the Premier League table, we can see that Newcastle need a result if they are to climb out of the bottom three. They could still be denied even if they win, but I'm sure that McClaren wants everyone to focus on their own results. Bournemouth currently sit eight points clear of Newcastle, and a win at St James' Park would realistically mean that they would finish above Newcastle at the end of the season, giving them a huge chance of retaining their status in the top flight. This is a massive game for the visitors.

Ahead of today's game, the Newcastle players have taken the opportunity to give their full backing to Steve McClaren. Their had been suggestion in the week that the former England boss was just a game away from losing his place in the dugout, but his squad have put out a message in the matchday programme that they will do everything they can to try to keep the club in the Premier League. I'd say that was pretty obvious, but it's a good show of unison from the Magpies.

We mentioned earlier that McClaren had made a bold decision regarding his team selection. Doumbia must have expected to feature on the starting lineup after playing just 26 minutes since joining on loan in January, but the Ivorian is again on the bench. On paper, it seems somewhat of a baffling choice because he impressed in his six-minute cameo at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday night. If things don't go well for the Magpies in the first half, expect calls for the Roma forward's involvement!

For Eddie Howe, he had far easier choices regarding his selection for this game. While Bournemouth weren't at their free-flowing best against rivals Southampton, they showed a steely determination to grind out a comfortable win. They also recorded their second clean sheet in succession, which will be something that Howe is proud of with much of the credit that his team receives revolving around their offensive play. At one stage of the campaign, it looked like their defending could be their downfall but it has developed into a strong part of their game and four points against Watford and the Saints at this stage of the season is significant.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has been blown at White Hart Lane and it's honours even in the North London derby. Catch up with what happened with our on-the-whistle match report.

PREDICTION! This is a tough one to call. Bournemouth will be confident after their last two results, but Newcastle need a result and in front of 50,000 supporters, we are backing them to deliver. Newcastle to win 2-1.

There are plenty of other games going on this afternoon. You can catch them all here with our Saturday football coverage.

The two teams have emerged from the tunnel at St James' Park. We will be underway very shortly!

We have kicked off in the North-East!

SHOT! Nice, positive start from Newcastle, who conclude a period of possession with a long-range drive from Shelvey which goes just wide of the post.

Bournemouth came straight back at their hosts, but Ritichie's delivery into the middle went into the grateful hands of Elliot, who may feel he owes the fans a performance today after his mistake from Shaqiri's goal for Stoke.

Gradel offered Bournemouth a different dimension against Southampton and his speed and directness earns the Cherries a corner. From the resulting set piece, the ball rebounded to him in the box, but his shot just drifted wide. Unlucky.

CHANCE! Newcastle started well, but it has been all Bournemouth since then. A floated ball into the middle found Afobe, but despite having time to control the ball and get his volley away, his effort went just over the crossbar. He will be very disappointed not to have hit the target.

Newcastle take a chance to finally get their foot back on the ball. It's sprayed between defence and midfield before a long ball is aimed towards Riviere, but the Bournemouth backline clear up.

SHOT! Perez has barely featured so far, but a speculative effort on the turn gets him into the game. McClaren will be expecting more though, and off Wijnaldum, who hasn't got himself on the ball.

No chances to speak of over the past few minutes. It's Bournemouth's turn to try to slow the game down and further frustrate the home support.

CHANCE! Riviere has only scored one goal for Newcastle, but he comes so close to his second! Janmaat gets the ball across to the South American and he connects sweetly on the half-volley. However, the ball deflects off a defender and goes marginally wide of the post. We remain goalless but it has raised the mood of the Newcastle crowd.

SHOT! A magnificent turn from Shelvey - captaining the side for the first time at St James' Park - frees up some space but after he sets up Perez, the Spaniard lashes a 25-yard effort harmlessly off target.

Disaster for Steven Taylor! Bournemouth work the ball out to the left-hand side for King, who drills a low cross into the middle. Taylor attempts to intervene but he can only divert the ball into his own net, with Elliot already on the floor expecting to claim the ball. Big test for Newcastle now.

SUBSTITUTION! Not sure if this is tactical or injury-related, but Dummett has been replaced by Anita. Either way, the crowd don't like it...

The noise level at St James' Park has dropped to such a level that you can hear the individual criticism that is being fired in the direction of the Magpies players. I'm not sure that is going to help. Newcastle need a boost though. Their opponents are in full control of this one now.

Big penalty shots for Bournemouth but the referee seems to have made the right decision. Afobe went down under the challenge of Colback, who has reverted to left-back, but there doesn't seem much in it.

Shelvey has taken it upon himself to try to regain possession off the Bournemouth defence but it's not really his job. He is using up energy that he is probably going to need later in the game. He might need a n explanation on why his teammates further up the pitch aren't putting in the same effort.

Newcastle are trying to will their players on but they aren't getting into positions where they may test Boruc. I don't think he has had a save to make so far.

CHANCE! Some good work from Riviere results in the ball reaching Taylor in the penalty area but just when it looked like he was going to volley in an equaliser, his strike from eight yards was deflected wide by Francis. There will be two minutes of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at St James' Park and Newcastle have it all to do after the restart after falling behind to an own goal from Steven Taylor. They have played fine in patches, but McClaren will want to see much more, especially in the final third.

The teams are ready to make their way back out. You'd have to say this is a make-or-break 45 minutes for Steve McClaren. No matter what has been said before this game, a decision regarding his future may have to be made later on this evening if Newcastle can't get at least a point.

McClaren has replaced Riviere with Mitrovic. Still no Doumbia...

We are back underway at St James' Park.

Newcastle have come out with more intent and Sissoko is unlucky not to see Mitrovic connect with a cross from the right. Gradel had an opportunity soon after up the other end, but he sent his effort wide. More of the same please!

SHOT! There is no indication that Bournemouth will look to defend their lead. Adam Smith gets forward and forced a decent low stop out of Elliot. It would be a long way back for Newcastle if they concede again.

Shouts of "attack, attack - attack, attack, attack!" from the Newcastle supporters. I think McClaren gets the message. He doesn't look at all impressed with his team.

The bad thing for McClaren is that he only has one more substitution up his sleeve. That has to be Doumbia, but it will be another non-appearance for January signing Saivet.

SUBSTITUTION! I'd say that Howe is playing it safe with Gradel here. He is withdrawing the winger after his three appearances in a week and Marc Pugh has been introduced in his place.

SHOT! Mitrovic finally gets into the game with a right-footed curler from 20 yards but he can't get the ball to sneak into the far post. Good effort, but he needs to be testing Boruc.

SCORE UPDATE! Swansea have taken the lead against Norwich! Newcastle could do with that game ending in a draw. Swansea will also be out of their reach if results stay the same.

SHOT! As usual, Janmaat is doing his best work in forward positions and he forces a solid save out of Boruc from an acute angle. The goalkeeper would expect to stop efforts like that but it could have still found its way inside the near post.

Newcastle have really started to get a hold of this game now. Mitrovic's direct approach is striking fear into the Bournemouth defence, but so far, they doing just enough to stop him from finding an equaliser.

SUBSTITUTION! Wowzers. McClaren has used his last change and it isn't the one you would expect. Aarons has replaced Sissoko, and the fans are about to riot. Newcastle's fans are singing "you're getting sacked in the morning" to their own manager...

Oh dear. That could be that for McClaren. Less than a minute after the change, Ritchie slips the ball through to King, and he composes himself before lashing a shot past Elliott from 12 yards. Game over.

Is there any coming back for Steve McClaren after this? Whether it is the result or the substitutions, or the sheer lack of warmth emanating from the stands, this situation looks irretrievable.

We shouldn't make this afternoon all about Newcastle though. Bournemouth have been brilliant and they are going to stay in the Premier League. It's far from being mathematical but they are a team who should be focusing on 12th and above, not thinking about what's behind them.

Game on again! Newcastle halve the deficit through Perez, who runs onto a Shelvey pass before applying the finish past Boruc. Can Newcastle salvage an unlikely point? McClaren's future probably depends on it.

SHOT! Credit to Bournemouth, they aren't retreating into their own final third. Grabban, who replaced Afobe, gets a shot away but Elliot pulls off a smart save. Four minutes to go.

Sunderland have taken the lead at Southampton! Newcastle desperately need an equaliser now.

SHOT! Wijnaldum has remained on the periphery of this game, but he has a shot that is deflected just wide. Newcastle are pushing forward.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

Now that is definitely game over! Charlie Daniels strides through on goal and slots past Elliot.

The full-time whistle goes at St James' Park and Bournemouth have secured a 3-1 victory away at Newcastle, who could be looking for a new manager by the end of the weekend! Thanks for joining us this afternoon. Goodbye for now.