A Dan Gosling strike one minute from time has helped Bournemouth salvage a vital point at home to Newcastle United in the Premier League, ensuring they remain above their fellow relegation strugglers in the table.

Dwight Gayle netted a brace for the Magpies in the first period, giving the Cherries a mountain to climb after the break, but a screamer from substitute Adam Smith coupled with Gosling's late effort ensured the spoils were shared.

Both sides started the match in subdued fashion, setting out tight defensive stalls, but an early chance fell Bournemouth's way in the 10th minute when Callum Wilson swerved his marker with a deft turn inside the box and forced a save out of Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

The Magies broke the deadlock with their first meaningful chance of the afternoon seven minutes later when Jonjo Shelvey's long ball was diverted into the penalty area by Matt Ritchie, allowing Gayle to bundle the ball beyond Asmir Begovic with a tricky backheel.

Gayle netted his second on the stroke of half time, with Paul Dummett picking out Ayoze Perez from a deep position, allowing the Spaniard to thread a low pass to the striker in front of goal, gifting him with a tap-in.

Bournemouth's fightback did not begin until late in the second half, but they almost pulled a goal back in the 75th minute when Lewis Cook's header was met with a superb, acrobatic save from Dubravka.

Dubravka was a mere spectator when the Cherries did reduce the deficit in the 80th minute, with Cook's dummy giving Smith the time and space to shoot from inside the penalty area, his blistering effort leaving the Slovakian goalkeeper standing and the net rippling.

Buoyed by their consolation, Eddie Howe's side levelled the match one minute from time as Nathan Ake's strike caused chaos in the Newcastle box, pinballing around before former Magpie Gosling scrambled it over the line.

Bournemouth looked the more likely to score in the closing stages, winning several corners in quick succession during five nervy minutes of stoppage time, but a third goal proved a bridge too far.

The draw leaves Bournemouth in 10th place in the Premier League table, still four points ahead of Newcastle in 15th, and five points away from the dropzone.

BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-1-1): Begovic; Daniels (Smith, 45'), Ake, S. Cook, Francis; Fraser (Mousset, 63'), Gosling, L. Cook, Stanislas; King, Wilson (Defoe, 73')

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-1-1): Dubravka; Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett; Ritchie (Manquillo, 84'), Shelvey, Diame, Kenedy (Atsu, 64'); Perez, Gayle (Hayden, 78')