Eddie Howe conceded his Newcastle United team were unable to get their attacking game going during their drab goalless draw with Bournemouth on Sunday. 

Howe watched on as his team were unable to trouble Djordje Petrovic in the Bournemouth goal, registering an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.1 from their four shots. 

Indeed, Bournemouth and Newcastle produced just 15 shots and a combined xG of 0.7 – both of which are the lowest totals in a Premier League game in 2025-26 so far.

In terms of xG, only Aston Villa (3.8), Burnley (4.1), Leeds United (4.3), Wolves (4.4) and Sunderland (4.5) have recorded lower tallies than Newcastle's 4.6 this term. 

Three of Newcastle's five games in the top-flight this season have ended 0-0, the most goalless draws after five games of a single campaign since Burnley in 2014-15 (also three).

"It's not good. You want to create chances and clear-cut chances. It didn't feel that in our performance," Howe said of Newcastle being unable to register a shot on target in the second half. 

"We are going through one of those phases where it's hard to score away from home.

"Joelinton, we have to really protect from injury. He's just back. Bruno is different, but the two who played today did really well.

"We're evolving and changing as an attacking force. Our ability to defend has been at a high level, and we will score goals.

"I haven't give it too much thought in terms of who deserves what. We know Bournemouth are a really good team.

"We limited them to long shots, and Nick [Pope] made some good saves. We didn't get our attacking game going."

And while there were struggles for the Magpies in the final third, Howe was quick to point out the positives at the other end after registering yet another shutout this season. 

Newcastle have already kept four clean sheets in the Premier League in 2025-26, the joint-most after five matches of a top-flight campaign in the club's history, along with 1900-01 and 1922-23 (also four).

"It was mixed. I think there were some really good things. Defensively, we were good. You want to see the team defending our box well. We were strong, robust," Howe said.

"We didn't create the amount of chances we would want, but it's a really hard place to come.

"If you look at the games we've played, it's not by luck we've kept these clean sheets.

"We weren't as aggressive, but it was a mixture of Wednesday and getting the best out of our players."

Bournemouth, meanwhile, made it four games unbeaten in the Premier League as they moved up to fourth in the early-season standings. 

They have now won 10 points from their opening five games of the Premier League season (W3 D1 L1), their joint-best return at this stage of a top-flight campaign (also 10 in 2018-19 – W3 D1 L1).

And the Cherries' good form has been spearheaded by Antoine Semenyo, with the Bournemouth talisman's five goal involvements (three goals, two assists) a total only bettered by Erling Haaland (six goals) in the division in 2025-26 after his strike against Arsenal later on Sunday.

Semenyo was unable to make his mark against Newcastle, though, but he is keen to continue his good early form, starting away to Leeds United next Saturday. 

"I've been riding high for a little bit. The bar was set high, and I want to contribute anywhere I can for the team. It's disappointing, but it's a fair result," Semenyo added. 

"There were a few opportunities. A point will do for us, and we go to Leeds next week and hopefully get three.

"I think we wanted to attack the space a little bit more, but it didn't happen as much today. We have to continue and find another way if that doesn't work.

"It's been good. We just want to continue and not get too big-headed. Take it game-by-game."