A season filled with too much inconsistency, frustration and false dawns hit another bump in the road on Tuesday night, as we dropped two points at the death despite largely outplaying a poor Spurs side.
It was another late sickener at St James’ Park, costing us a chance to move 7th (albeit temporarily) and spoiling what would’ve been our third straight win in the league.
Our ability to see out games when in the lead has to improve, but there are reasons to believe we are slowly turning the corner after an improved run of performances since the last international break, where we’ve beaten Man City, looked good in Marseille for 45 minutes, dominated Everton from start to finish in a 4-1 win and outplayed Spurs for much of Tuesday’s draw.
Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento’s return has been massive, Malick Thiaw continues to look immense, Bruno Guimaraes will be back in the XI, Anthony Gordon looked sharp in midweek and we’ll soon have Yoane Wissa back to ease the burden on Nick Woltemade’s shoulders.
Meanwhile, we come up against a Burnley side who have lost five in a row and six of their last seven on the road, so we simply must capitalise as we head into the weekend 12th and four points behind the top five pace.
Team news
£55m signing Yoane Wissa could be on the bench for the first time after playing two behind-closed-doors games over the past week an Sandro Tonali has “every chance” of making it after picking up a knock in midweek, but there’ll be no Sven Botman, who will be assessed again next week after injections to ease his back pain.
Nick Pope (groin) remains out along with Kieran Trippier (hamstring) and Emil Krafth (knee), with Will Osula likely to be absent again as his ankle issues persist.
For Burnley, Martin Dubravka looks set to start in goal against his former club, but defender Axel Tuanzebe has been ruled out for Scott Parker’s side.
Predicted XI
(4-3-3): Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Schar, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Willock – Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.
OUT: Burn, Joelinton, Miley, Murphy and Barnes. IN: Schar, Bruno, Willock, Elanga and Gordon.
Match prediction
Consistency has been missing and we’ll still be sore from another missed opportunity to win in midweek, but I back use to bounce back and continue what’s been a superb run of form at St James’ Park over the past few months.
We’ve won six and drawn one of our last seven home games, while Burnley have lost six and won just one (Wolves away) of their last seven on the road. Mix that with our need to bounce back, Bruno’s return and Burnley unable to rotate quite as effectively with their small squad and I can’t see past a comfortable home win.
Woltemade to get back amongst the goals in a one-sided three points at St James’ Park.
Prediction: Newcastle 3-0 Burnley
Howay the lads!
Newcastle 3-0 Spurs? ‘Must be still bothering you Ollie!’
nutmag(Quote)
Edited 😛
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Let’s hope it’s not 3-2 to Newcastle in the 96 th minute 🙈😨
Mike(Quote)
Not taking anything for granted, this is Newcastle after all.
kimtoon(Quote)
As long as we play defenders who don’t forget to defend a la Burn & Hall we should be ok. HWTL
Joseph(Quote)
Not to be dramatic or anything….(drama incoming) Today is a MUST win!
But no seriously, if we lose to Burnley then confidence going into this derby is going to be abysmal and Sunderland’s will be massive regardless of losing today (which surely still needs to be the expectation, it is City after all)
Don’tPanic!(Quote)
wow Villa
kimtoon(Quote)
Villa really want a CL spot don’t they.
Question is, how hungry are we? glad to see Wissa on the bench.
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Here we go, Wissa on the bench.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Brunooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
kimtoon(Quote)
Brunooooooooooo
Gilly Toon(Quote)
S/land 2 down
kimtoon(Quote)
Red card Burnley
kimtoon(Quote)
Pen
kimtoon(Quote)
Gordonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
kimtoon(Quote)
Goaaaaaaallllll Gordon great penalty
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Surely we can’t give this away now, must stay motivated for second half and go for more as could do with boosting our goal difference.
kimtoon(Quote)
Nevermind 😂 think this might be a high scorer now. Cheers Burnley
Don’tPanic!(Quote)
Very good first half after a shaky start. I hope we go for more goals in the second half as we need to improve our goal difference
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Great minds think alike Kim! 👍
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Doesn’t look like they heard us Gilly
kimtoon(Quote)
Here comes Wissa
kimtoon(Quote)
Jesus wept, wtf is wrong with us, so now we need to hang on here.
kimtoon(Quote)
I swear to god if we blow this I am done
kimtoon(Quote)
Hopeless at the end again, nearly lost 2 points
Ridiculous from us
kimtoon(Quote)
That second half was absolutely sh..ite!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Aye Kim, very poor in second half. Clear handball from Ramsey too, so no complaints on that penalty, but where did all that extra time come from? What was it, 8 minutes in the end rather than the 3? F’ing hell! These refs! 🙄🤷🏻♂️
But three points is 3 points… Mackems had a straight red too apparently…
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Sunderland’s red was O’Nein so that’ll make no difference to the derby. Derby’s anyone’s game regardless though, always is. Form goes out the window
Baz(Quote)
True!
Gilly Toon(Quote)