Justin Kluivert lauded as he eclipses star father Patrick at Newcastle
Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game.
Time was when they loved seeing a Kluivert on the scoresheet at St James' Park, but not on this occasion.
Justin still has some way to go to eclipse the celebrated exploits of his famous father Patrick, but it certainly wasn't lost on the Bournemouth forward that he scored more Premier League goals in an afternoon than his dad managed in a season in front of the Gallowgate courtesy of his second hat-trick of the season.
"I heard I had more goals here than him here already, so that's one win over him," the 25-year-old reflected after his starring role in a stunning victory for Andoni Iraola's admirable side.
Kluivert senior claimed five goals at Newcastle's imposing home during a 12-month stint under Bobby Robson two decades ago, but they were shared around three competitions, with only one coming in the league. His son eclipsed that before half-time with cool finishes courtesy of either foot, before thumping home his 10th of the season in stoppage-time.
The 25-year-old recalls little of his brief spell growing up in the North-East, but left an indelible memory among the many Newcastle supporters who graciously clapped him from the field after a finishing masterclass sealed one of the season's more eye-catching results, especially as Eddie Howe's side had won their nine previous games.
Kluivert added: "I was obviously here when I was younger as my dad played here, but it feels a bit different now and unfortunately for Newcastle the Kluivert was on the other side this time."
His previous treble arrived when the Dutchman became the first player to score three penalties in a Premier League match, against Wolves in November, and the former Ajax striker added: "The two hat-tricks are equally pleasing. The first one was a record and it's beautiful to have a record to my name. This was from open play and it was wonderful, the best feeling ever."
In securing a biggest-ever win on Toon territory, Bournemouth were everything their supporters would have wanted them to be, especially those forced to board official club coaches at 3am to ensure a timely arrival on Tyneside for a ridiculously scheduled lunch-time kick-off for the longest trip in the Premier League this season, at the behest of a tone-deaf TV company.
Iraola's side were competitive, inventive, energetic and positive. Right from the first whistle, they refused to take a backward step in an at times wonderfully bad-tempered contest. They went toe-to-toe with a physical Newcastle side who were, to put it bluntly, bullied and failed to cope with a hefty dose of their own medicine.
The Cherries steadfastly refused to sit on their lead, they had a second-half effort from Dango Ouattara ruled out and after Kluivert completed his hat-trick, added a second stoppage-time goal through rampaging full-back Milos Kerkez to underline an afternoon brimming with ambitious intent that was richly rewarded.
This was arguably the most impressive display by a visiting side at St James Park this season, so just imagine how good they might be when a squad ravaged by injury starts to welcome players back into its ranks.
They are in the mix for a top six finish and sit only a point behind a Newcastle side laughably labelled as title contenders last week by that footballing non-Nostradamus Alan Shearer.
Kluivert is keen not to put a lid on expectations, and he added: "We can go very far. We had 11 or 12 fit first-team players today and we've got ones coming back from injury that we really need. We can dream big but we need to stay humble and work hard and let's see what we can achieve.
"I'm super proud of the team because this is an amazing result. Our squad isn't that big at the moment but that's no excuse to lose games. It's almost a help having fewer numbers. We trust in each other, we believe in each other, we give our all and the coach gives us great confidence."
Bruno Guimaraes headed Newcastle level midway through the first-half but that was as good as it got for the hosts, who failed to shake-off an abject start and could have no complaints at the final outcome.
It was meant to be the day Alexander Isak scored for the ninth game in a row, but the Swede wasn't alone in enduring an anonymous afternoon as he failed in his bid to equal a 130-year-old club scoring record held by Willie Wardrope, a redoubtable Scottish inside forward who died from cholera in his mid-30s shortly after emigrating to the United States in the lead-up to the First World War. Different times, indeed.
A somewhat shell-shocked Howe admitted his side weren't themselves after clocking-up a sixth league game without a victory against his former employers. Dan Burn was gracious in defeat, and the Newcastle defender admitted: "Bournemouth ask questions a lot of other teams don't ask. We've been on a great run so we just need to dust ourselves down and go again.
"It's disappointing because it's very rare we get out-worked but we were today. Bournemouth were the better team all over the park."
Dubravka 6; Livramento 5, Botman 5 (Schar 46, 6), Burn 5, Hall 6 (Trippier 66, 6); Guimaraes 6 (Osula 90, 5), Tonali 6, Joelinton 5; Murphy 5 (Willock 66, 4), Isak 4, Gordon 4.
: Kepa 6; Cook 7, Zabarnyi 7, Huijsen 7, Kerkez 8; Christie 8, Adams 8; Brooks 7 (Jebbison 82, 6), Kluivert 9, Semenyo 7; Ouattara 8.
: Stuart Attwell
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