Burnley vs Newcastle: pre-match thoughts, team news & predicted line-ups

Olly Hawkins

After a weekend without football, we return under the Sky camera’s tomorrow night, taking on Burnley in a Monday Night Football clash at Turf Moor.

Prior to last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Palace, we’d been without a victory in our last three, so Mikel Merino’s late winner really does send us into this one with a spring in our step.

Burnley come into this one just a point behind us on 13 points, however it’s fair to say they’ve had far tougher fixtures, having already travelled to Chelsea, City, Spurs and Liverpool in the league; picking up three impressive draws in those four daunting away fixtures.

At home though, they haven’t been quite as strong. Aside from a 1-0 win over a Frank De Boer Crystal Palace earlier in the season, they’ve been beaten 0-1 to West Brom, drawn 0-0 with Huddersfield and scraped a 1-1 draw with a struggling West Ham side who played with 10 men for well over an hour. Their strong start across their opening nine games suggests we must not treat them lightly, but with just two wins in their last 13 home games, we should be looking to get at them tomorrow.

Dyche is doing a great job and it’s worth mentioning that they’ve only conceded two goals in four home games this season, however have clear limitations which we should be looking to exploit tomorrow night.

Some costly errors were made in our last away trip at Southampton, but it was a promising performance and one that I’m hoping we can build on at Burnley.

The Team

There’s the odd change Benitez well make for this one. Whether he does is a different matter, but here’s a few to consider.

I can’t see Lascelles or Lejeune being hoisted from the team, although I’ve been wondering if we’ll see Clark fill in at left-back. Manquillo has done a steady job in the last three, but I do wonder if Rafa will value Clark’s superior aerial ability and defensive instincts in a game where coping with their physicality, set pieces and attempts to get the ball into the box from wide areas will be key.

Merino missed out against Palace, but I’m hopeful he’ll be brought back into the fold here. He gives us something both offensively and defensively – a trait that could be crucial in a game where we’ll have to be competitive at both ends of the pitch. It wouldn’t actually surprise me if Shelvey dropped out. He and Merino are yet to start in an away game this season, with Merino and Hayden often being preferred to give us a slightly more combative combination in the middle of the pitch.

Time will tell, but Shelvey was a little erratic against Palace (both on and off the ball) and while I would like to see a player of his ability play In a bid to hurt Burnley, you can see why Rafa may prefer the other two.

Then to Perez. A player we often mention when it comes to team selection, yet one who has started every one of our nine games thus far. He had an absolute stinker against Palace and whilst I don’t expect him to be dropped, Diame made a case for a recall to the team with a decent cameo last Saturday. He didn’t set the world alight, but in 20 minutes, he offered more than Perez did for the 70 minutes prior.

Joselu has been Rafa’s go-to striker for several weeks now, but he’s been quite disappointing since what seemed like his breakthrough goal against Liverpool. He’s really struggled to get into the game in our last two against Southampton and Palace, and whilst he does put in a shift for the team (like Perez), he hasn’t shown enough on the ball (like Perez!).

Mitrovic and Gayle are players who aren’t battering down the door to dislodge the Spaniard from Rafa’s starting 11 tomorrow, but now the pair are back in contention, it makes you wonder if Benitez will give either their big chance from the off at Burnley in a bid to keep Joselu on his toes.

 

The Opposition

Top scorer Chris Wood is a big unit and their real danger man in the box, however he is rated touch and go for this one. The former Leeds striker beat Dwight Gayle to the Championship golden boot last season, scoring in their 1-1 draw at St James’ earlier this year. I’d be happy to hear he’s missed out come 7pm tomorrow!

Steven Defour is one to watch for them in midfield. A seasoned campaigner and one of their better technical players in the middle of the pitch.

Last season’s player of the season Tom Heaton is out with a long-term shoulder injury, and whilst the summer sale of Michael Keane looked set to leave a huge hole for them to fill at the back, centre-halves Ben Mee and James Tarkowski have done a superb job in his absence, with the latter earning real praise for his heroic displays so far this season.

 

For an inside look into Monday’s opposition, see this week’s edition of ‘The Opposition Opinion’ (which can be found on the home page), where we’ve gained the thoughts of Burnley fan Nick ahead of the game.

Form

Newcastle – 8th (14 pts) – Last 5 in the league – Won: 2 / Drawn: 2 / Lost: 1

Burnley – 10th – 13pts) – Last 5 in the league /  Won: 1 / Drawn: 3 / Lost: 1

Team News

Dwight Gayle is available once again after missing the home win over Crystal Palace.

Benitez has confirmed that Paul Dummett is the only absentee through injury, with forgotten left-back Massaido Haidara still lacking match fitness after a long spell on the sidelines.

For the hosts, Chris Wood looks set to face a late fitness test and is rated ‘touch and go’ to make this one after pulling out of their recent 3-0 defeat at Manchester City with a hamstring injury. Fellow striker Sam Vokes looks like he’ll be ok to fill in if Wood does miss out.

Tom Heaton (shoulder), Jonathan Walters (Knee) and Dean Marney (knee) are all ruled out.

Predicted Line-ups

Newcastle United XI – (4-2-3-1) – Elliot – Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Clark – Hayden, Merino – Ritchie, Perez , Atsu – Joselu

Burnley XI – (4-2-3-1) – Pope – Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward – Brady, Cork, Defour, Arfield – Hendrick – Wood.

 

Head-to-Heads

As you can see, we’ve not played Burnley much in the 21st century, and when we have it’s been a draw.

It wouldn’t surprise me if this one ended in a draw again tomorrow!

Match Prediction

This one could be a pretty low scoring and tight affair, with neither side being prolific so far this season, but both sides conceding less than a goal per game on average.

After seeing his name linked with the vacant Everton job all week, Sean Dyche and his side may have endured a slightly unsettling build up to the game, and although this may not prove significant in the slightest, I think we’ll edge this one.

We looked much improved at Southampton in our last away outing and on the flip side, Burnley’s home form has been pretty poor of late.

If we can stand up to their physical presence, stop them getting crosses into our box and hurt them on the counter, then I am quite confident we’ll come away with a win in this one.

Like us, they’re a dogged and defiant side who’ll fight for every ball, but with Benitez’s tactical nouse on our side and another display of real discipline and desire, we can nick another win here if we showed quality in the right moments.

Prediction: Burnley 0-1 Newcastle

Howay the lads!

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

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82 thoughts on “Burnley vs Newcastle: pre-match thoughts, team news & predicted line-ups”

  2. Sharpy: I watched the game. Rooney was ****, no question, end of story. Taken off by the new manager on 73 minutes. Just unbelievably ****.

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  5. It is Halloween!!!

    There will be tons of kids with Paul Merson’s giant balloon head masks wanting candy.

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  6. Sharpy, mate. Rooney is the stytest. He drops back to midfield and disrupts the team. He did it for Man U and England. And he bossed Mr Roy, He is a stupid scouse c@nt.

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  7. Playing with Rooney is worse than playing with ten men,everything breaks down when he “try’s” to play the ball,far better play with ten men at least everybody works

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  8. I feel pretty confident about tomorrow which probably means we’ll lose. I will take the same performance as our last away game and see where it takes us.

    I would play Mitro instead of Joselu all though I know Rafa will keep faith with Joselu which is fair enough. But I’d play Merino and Shelvey in midfield. I’d also start with Murphy in for Atsu.

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  9. Eric Sykes:
    Sharpy: I watched the game. Rooney was ****, no question, end of story. Taken off by the new manager on 73 minutes. Just unbelievably ****.

    Eric – never questioned mate, I was merely pointing out that he wasn’t alone. The amount of money they spent in the summer and they are pinning their hopes on an academy lads. Around £100m spent on Gylfi, Pickford and Keane in the summer, yet the likes of Kenny, Davies and Calvert-Lewin are having to play a huge part already – very poor investment imo.
    Ironically, their best player so far this season is the same player no manager there seems to want!! – in Niasse.

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  10. Burnley are very solid defensively, despite loosing Keane to Everton.
    I don’t see Joselu getting much joy out of the 2 CBs and Perez running round like a headless chicken.

    I suspect he will go with Joselu, but I’d go with Mitrovic personally. I’d also go with Manquillo over Clark.
    But for me Merino has to play and he’d be in for Perez for me.

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  11. Well Olly, if woods is out, I for one will be happy as he’s a massive threat and unlike Gayle has continued his sparkling form of last season. I too would be starting Mitro but then maybe Joselu would be more mobile and able to break that defence. They are excellent defensively it has to be said, but then again we’ve been pretty good in that department ourselves of late . It could be a very boring game in view of both teams defences , maybe one goal will decide it, hopefully ours.

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  12. kimtoon:
    Well Olly, if woods is out, I for one will be happy as he’s a massive threat and unlike Gayle has continued his sparkling form of last season. I too would be starting Mitro but then maybe Joselu would be more mobile and able to break that defence. They are excellent defensively it has to be said, but then again we’ve been pretty good in that department ourselves of late . It could be a very boring game in view of both teams defences , maybe one goal will decide it, hopefully ours.

    Kim – I agree. Both good defences and neither with any real threat up top with their main strikers out (Wood/Gayle). It’s could well be a Shelvey, Hayden or Merino break from midfield that is the best threat we have tomorrow. I think crosses into the box could be a waste of time & set pieces might not be too fruitful either.

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  13. Icedog: I was showing off that I can do better than the 3 stooges in picking games.

    Only 9 though.

    If you put NUFC in I will go for a win 90% of the time and a draw the other 10%.

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  14. it is difficult to predict the exact results. There will always be an outlier. It was Stoke this week. Home teams win 45-50 per cent of the time but it is not always the same home teams Spurs didn’t have Harry Kane., so that game was hard to predict.

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  15. Eric Sykes:
    it is difficult to predict the exact results. There will always be an outlier. It was Stoke this week. Home teams win 45-50 per cent of the time but it is not always the same home teams Spurs didn’t have Harry Kane., so that game was hard to predict.

    Eric – I believe it’s Sunderland that account for that 50-55% of home sides that don’t win ?

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  16. Sharpy17: Eric – I believe it’s Sunderland that account for that 50-55% of home sides that don’t win

    That made me laugh, mate 🙂

    They have Bolton on Tuesday.

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  19. And sea horses don’t have hooves because they evolved in the sea where hooves are not necessary.

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  23. I was pointing out that the NUFC badge had sea horses with hooves. It is totally incongruous that we have sea horses on the badge anyway, let alone with hooves!

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  33. Anyone see how Deeney floored Shawcross with one hand, without even looking at him – at the same time as schooling Joe Allen in the art of intimidation via firm eye contact and a good grip? Brilliant. Shawcross came bounding over like the big I am and got put on his **** by a guy that did not even respect all his bluster enough to even acknowledge his presence with a word or a look. Just sent him packing back where he came from with no effort at all. Tickled me that.

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  34. And Joe Allen started it by squaring up to the wrong guy. Dont square up to a nut case twice your size. I am not a tall man and have rarely lost a fight in my life, including against big blokes – but sometime you just have to be realistic and pick your fights wisely. Lesson learnt for Allen and Shawcross getting put on his **** was just comedy gold.

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  36. Hmmm, surprised with the line up today… Diame starting… he needs to prove something as he has not done much yet. He a bit deeper, maybe that’s his place. Mitro must be a goner. I think a tough one today.. a hard fought 1-0 to us I think today. ?

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  37. Lee Ryder‏Verified account
    @lee_ryder

    Follow Follow @lee_ryder

     More

    Back injury for Mikel Merino #nufc

    🙁

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  40. Guy across the road from me went up to watch city v scum on Saturday, said it’s such a run down dump and felt sorry for them.

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  45. I think it’s a bit strange that Rafa seems to be picking Perez because of the defensive things he brings. For a number 10 I would imagine the attacking options would be more important. He offers so little in the final third at the moment. But having said that, Rafa doesn’t have too many options and is clearly setting the style of play up based on the limitations he has in terms of players ability.

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  48. Sorry but I just can’t believe Joselu is better than Mitro. In fact I can’t beleive he’s better than me!

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  50. ???? just woke back up and realised there’s still another half to endure ??‍♂️.
    Painful watch this like. Atsu looks our best threat – which kinda says it all really. Adding Diame has just added a third passenger alongside Joselu & Perez.

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  51. For what Joselu is offering at the moment we might as well put Gayle on. At least he has movement and can take a chance. This game is going to be won by one chance

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  53. Stuart79:
    For what Joselu is offering at the moment we might as well put Gayle on. At least he has movement and can take a chance. This game is going to be won by one chance

    For Joselu is offering we may as well stick the Geordie dancer on mate!!. At least we’d get a laugh.

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  74. Well I’m sorry but I have to say I’m pissed right off with Rafa tonight like. His team selection to start with was **** & it took going behind for him to change things.
    This has been a **** game!!

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