A huge win for Eddie Howe on his 100th Premier League game in charge, as Newcastle United blew away Burnley in an empathci 4-0 victory at Turf Moor.
The hosts actually made a fast start, but were soon punished by a flurry of first half strikes from Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes, sending us into the break with a comfortable 3-0 lead. It got even better in the second 45, as Alexander Isak recovered from a rare penalty miss to score his 20th of the season to make it four.
A rare clean sheet on the road was ruined in the 86th as Dara O’Shea’s looping header gave Burnley a late goal, but it was nothing more than a consolation strike in a game we dominated after surviving some early pressure.
The result sees us move up to 6th, two clear of Man Utd – who travel to Crystal Palace on Monday – five in front of Chelsea – who take on West Ham tomorrow – and four behind a Spurs side who have two games in hand and Liverpool away on Sunday. It also leaves Burnley on the brink of relegation, as fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest moved five points clear of the Clarets with two games to play after their 3-1 win at Sheffield United.
Eddie Howe brought Wilson back into the side for his first start since February, seeing us move to a 4-4-2 formation as he partnered Isak up top. As expected, Fabian Schar missed out, seeing Emil Krafth partner Dan Burn, but we were boosted by the return of Joelinton, Nick Pope and Miguel Almiron to the bench.
Much like last weekend’s 5-1 win over Sheffield United, we had two Mags to thank in the opening five minutes, as Dubravka’s early save was followed by a brilliant saving challenge from Burn.
We didn’t settle in the opening exchanges, were losing the ball too cheaply and had very little control of game Burnley dominated in the early stages, yet it was the Toon who took the lead just before the 20-minute mark. Longstaff’s pass found Murphy on the overlap and his low cross was almost turned home by Isak. Muric could only parry the Swede’s effort and Wilson was on hand to tap in the rebound, scoring once again against the Clarets to hand us a 1-0 lead against the run of play.
Harsh on the home side but exactly what we needed after a slow start, yet it could’ve got even better moments later as Livramento lashed a big chance straight at Muric after Wilson slipped him in down the right. Burnley had lost 17 of 20 Premier League games when conceding first, drawing three and winning zero.
A good sign for Howe’s Mags, who missed another chance to make it two as Gordon’s shot was deflected wide, but we made no mistake moments later through Sean Longstaff. Wilson won his wrestling match in the box after breaking through, Murphy picked up possession and cut the ball back for Longstaff, who fired a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0. After a few early scares, we were suddenly in dreamland and dominating a deflated Burnley side who suddenly couldn’t get out.
Burnley heads had dropped and we were ruthless, making it three before the break thanks to Gordon’s 10th assist of the season and another goal for Bruno Guimaraes. After Assignon was robbed of possession, Gordon burst into the box and teed up Bruno, who slid a controlled right foot effort into the bottom corner. 3-0 Newcastle and it was almost four in first half stoppage time, as Longstaff fluffed his lines from another Murphy cut back.
The second half started with Foster blazing over a big chance for Burnley before Gordon won his seventh spot kick of the season. Brownhill brought him down and was booked in the process, but Isak’s penalty was poor and saved by Muric. Did it matter? No really, as the Swede soon made up for it by slamming home Murphy’s low cross that only just evaded Wilson. 4-0 Newcastle and Isak’s 20th Premier League strike of the season, making him the first to reach that landmark since Alan Shearer 20 years ago.
He hadn’t got himself on the scoresheet and was one of several who started slowly, but Murphy deserved huge praise for his impact down the right. Two assists and it could’ve been more, justifying his selection ahead of Harvey Barnes. Lewis Hall was also impressive at left-back, showing his quality on the ball and improvement defensively.
Howe made a double change with just over 20 minutes remaining, where Wilson and Murphy were replaced by Barnes and Anderson. Joelinton then came on along with Miguel Almiron for his first appearance since January, allowing Isak and Longstaff to come off.
Even Matt Ritchie got a run out, replacing a knackered Gordon with a few minutes left to play, although his first touch was an overhit back pass that led to Burnley’s late goal, as O’Shea headed the resultant corner into the far corner. Ritchie was then involved at the other end and very nearly grabbed his 100th goal in club football, only for Muric to stop his back-post effort before five minutes of added time.
Burnley gave us far too much space, but Bruno ran the show in another influential display from our £100m man. Livramento was a constant outball own our right, Longstaff deserves praise for another vital goal and Wilson was a handful all afternoon as he came through his comeback unscathed and with another goal.
The away end never stopped singing in a soaking second half at Turf Moor and we coasted to an emphatic win, which will feel all the more precious if any of Spurs (5th), Man Utd (7th) or Chelsea (8th) slip up over the next 48 hours.
A vital victory, great to see some key players back involved and a much-needed boost away from home with two of our remaining three games away from St James’ Park.
Next up, Brighton in our final home game of 2023/24 before we end with away trips to Man Utd and Brentford. HWTL!
NUFC XI: Dubravka – Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Hal – Murphy, Bruno, Longstaff, Gordon – Isak, Wilson.
SUBS: Pope, Dummett, Joelinton, Ritchie, Barnes, Almiron, Anderson, White, A Murphy
🎵 EI EI EI EI O….
A happy away end at FT 👏 #NUFC #BURNEW pic.twitter.com/uP7YQ9LDgV
— Jordan Cronin (@jordancronin_) May 4, 2024
So we win the remaining games and we finish on 65 points – 6 points behind our tally last season that got us 4th.
I think it’s entirely possible to win all 3 – but I think maybe we lose or draw one – just based on how up and down our season has been.
But if we can manage 62 points or more – that’s an outstanding season when you consider we will have a record number of goals scored as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Not to mention the unprecedented amount of injuries we’ve had too mate.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – yeah that’s what I meant mate.
To think we only brought Barnes in as offensive improvement & he has missed most of the season – yet our goals tally has been through the roof.
The injuries have obviously been an issues, but when I look back over the games we lost, a lot of them we just got it very wrong & were well beaten.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Thanks West Ham. 😂😂😂. I was hoping they’d give Chelsea a game and get a draw at least … oh well.
So only Chelsea and Man united can possibly go above us now, so guaranteed 8th at least. I’d settle for 6th 💪🤞
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – Brighton were well deserved winners against Villa as well today mate – our next opponents.
When you think of how much money Man Utd & Chelsea have spent versus us – it would be another minor miracle if we can finish above them both.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I know Sharpy, quite staggering really. I really hope we finish above them both. Spurs are imploding now too and have City still to play. I cannot see us getting 5th but who knows. 😊🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Just want us to beat man utd
kimtoon(Quote)
Three scenarios
We win all three and 65pts in which case Spurs need 6 points to beat us and we finish 5th if they don’t, 6th if they do.
Win 2 draw one and 63pts finish ahead of Chelsea, but Man U could still get 64
Win 2 Lose 1 and 62 pts and probably finish 8th
Who knows
PremAndUp(Quote)
Palace are tearing Man united apart. 4-0 so far. 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Gilly Toon(Quote)
LOL🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Man utd
kimtoon(Quote)
And a -3 gd
kimtoon(Quote)
Wow Man Utd are really bad 😂
They have Arsenal, us & Brighton left – I don’t see them winning another point … I don’t see them scoring another goal!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Talk of us going for Dougie Freeman to replace Ashworth – if he was behind recruiting the likes of Wharton, Olise & Eze – for less than £50m for all 3 by the way!! Yeah I’d be happy seeing Dougie come in 👍🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
Those 3 players cost less than Mason Mount 😂 god Man Utd have wasted some money!!.
How FFP haven’t taken pity on them & just stopped their spending 😂
Sharpy17(Quote)
🤣🤣
kimtoon(Quote)
We still have to go there and get something, hopefully they continue to be ****.
kimtoon(Quote)
How do you solve a problem like Callum Wilson??
When he’s out injured I’m 100% replace him, then he comes back and reminds me just how good a goal scorer he is & im torn again.
I think the fact he’s 32 with 1 year left on his contract keeps me in the sell camp – especially if we could get around £20m for him.
The trouble is you don’t get a back up forward as prolific as that – and a forward with his stats wants first team football. Unless we continue with 2 up top that isn’t guaranteed at NUFC.
I guess it’s win/win really coz if we keep him I would understand & won’t mind at all – but if they sell him for around £20m then I understand that too – anything less though and I think we’d be stupid to let him go.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I believe that we want competition back-up for Isak but they cost £50m +.
I also believe the CF is along with GK a position where you need three players. I injured I playing and one on the bench.
So looking at cheaper strikers two spring to mind
Marmoush from Frankfurt with 11g 6a from 27 he is 25 and £22m
Better I think is
Banza from Braga 21g 4a from 26 he is 27 and £16m and is a perfect replacement for Wilson. We can focus on £60m for Sisko or whoever next summer when we can offer CL football.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Writing off the manc mackems .. hmm.
They may well be playing poorly but one team they’ll be up for beating especially if it p155es on our euro hopes is the toon, so i wouldn’t be gloating too much yet.
Need to beat BHA and hope the goons do a job to help at the weekend
getreal(Quote)
We can lose all three games, we would finish 8th and that would still represent a decent season given the injuries and suspensions
We could win all three and even overtake spurs which would be amazing
HWTL
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – totally agree mate
Sharpy17(Quote)
Seen the links with Tammy Abraham today – I only see that one if we lose Isak. I’d rather keep Isak please – if not, there’s others ahead of Abraham for me
Sharpy17(Quote)