Eddie Howe returns to his former club, AFC Bournemouth, on Sunday (kick-off at 2pm) as he looks to secure back-to-back victories following Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Southampton last weekend. The Magpies managed to win despite playing with 10 men for over an hour after Fabian Schar was sent off for a clash with Ben Brereton Diaz.
The incident occurred when Brereton Diaz barged into Schar, even though referee Craig Pawson had already stopped play for a free-kick. In response, Schar confronted Brereton Diaz, and when their foreheads touched, Brereton Diaz dramatically fell to the ground, prompting Pawson to issue a red card after reviewing the incident with VAR.
After the game, Howe described the sending-off as “harsh,” leading the club to file an appeal. However, the appeal was rejected, meaning Schar will miss the next three matches against Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham Hotspur. He will be eligible to return for the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, September 15th. The club is still awaiting an explanation as to why the decision wasn’t overturned.
In Schar’s absence, Emil Krafth is expected to partner Dan Burn in central defense, while Newcastle continues to pursue a club-record transfer for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi before the summer transfer window closes on Friday at 11pm.
