Newcastle got back to winning ways at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon, beating 10-man Burnley 2-1.
It wasn’t the dominant, swashbuckling display many would’ve loved to see against a newly-promoted side who arrived second bottom and in awful form, but we got the job done despite failing to really capitalise on the man advantage, starting poorly and somehow allowing them back into it at the death.
The good news, however, is that’s now seven wins and one draw (Spurs 2-2) in our last eight at home, 10 points from a possible 12, and a game that wasn’t too energy-sapping as we head into a vital week, where a Champions League trip to Bayer Leverkusen and Tyne and Wear derby at Sunderland awaits.
The result takes us up to 11th, temporarily leapfrogging Man Utd, and leaving us three points behind the top five and one off Sunderland after the Mackems were beaten 3-0 at Man City.
Anthony Gordon’s performance was a big positive as he looked sharp, grabbed another goal from the spot and hit the woodwork twice, Joe Willock outshone Jacob Ramsey in a positive display and it was great to see Yoane Wissa make his first appearance from the bench, with Bruno Guimaraes relatively quiet but playing a key role in our opener as his first half corner flew in!
Elsewhere, I thought Fabian Schar went through the motions on his return, we were typically less fluid with Dan Burn at left-back, Aaron Ramsdale’s inability to dominate his box was a big worry a week before the derby and Anthony Elanga was a mixed bag, mixing some timid wing play and poor touches with a few brilliant deliveries.
Newcastle XI: Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Schar, Burn – Ramsey, Guimaraes, Willock – Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon
Substitutes: Ruddy, Hall, Joelinton, Tonali, Wissa, Barnes, J.Murphy, A.Murphy, Miley
Burnley XI: Dubravka – Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Pires – Cullen, Florentino, Ugochukwu, – Foster, Bruun Larsen, Broja
Howe made six changes from the 2-2 draw with Spurs, seeing Schar, Willock, Ramsey, Bruno, Elanga and Gordon as Hall, Miley, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy and Barnes dropped to the bench.
To put it simply, the first half started awfully and ended comfortably, with the 2-0 scoreline at the break not telling the full story.
We came out of the traps so slowly, struggling to string passes together, losing so many 50/50s and looking nervy at the back, where Schar looked half asleep and Ramsdale highly unconvincing as he flapped at two or three corners.
We couldn’t get Woltemade into the game, Bruno was being closely marked, Elanga was sloppy in possession and Burnley will be wishing they capitalised on our poor start, even if Gordon clipped the post and Woltemade had a goal-bound shot blocked.
Then came the breakthrough, as captain Bruno found the breakthrough for the second time in a week, only this time via a stroke of luck and some iffy goalkeeping by ex-Mag Marrin Dubravka as his Leazes End corner kick flew in!
Then came arguably THE moment that settled the match. A brilliant through ball by Gordon, a lovely run by Elanga and a red card for Pires that put Burnley down to 10 as the left-back brought down the Swede.
The lead and man advantage soon told and we made it 2-0 before the break, as a handball and empathic Gordon penalty doubled our lead, making it two goals in a week for our no.10.
Starting the second half, Dubravka got a warm welcome back at the Gallowgate before a strange 45 minutes played out.
We were in control, brought Miley and Hall on with 30 minutes to play, replacing an improved Willock and leggy Burn, and we saw Dubravka pull off an impressive save as Elanga’s wicked cross almost deflected in.
Gordon clipped the bar with a lovely effort from 25 yards, we saw some nice link play between Bruno and Hall, and then saw Yoane Wissa make his first appearance as he and Joelinton came on for the final 15 minutes.
At this stage, Burnley were in damage limitation mode and sitting deep in a back five, but we’d soon make hard work of it as a comfortable day’s work suddenly turned into a nervy final five minutes.
Ramsey’s hand ball was checked by VAR in stoppage time, a penalty was awarded and Flemming fired home. 2-1 and a final 90 seconds of sheer panic followed, with Burnley swinging in a last gasp cross that only JUST avoided unmarked Claret shirts at the back post!
In the end, it’s a win and a vital three points, great to see Gordon look sharp again and a bounce back result from our midweek draw, but it was very nearly disastrous and unconvincing at times.
Next up, a European trip to Bayer Leverkusen next Wednesday before we travel to Sunderland a week tomorrow!
Keep the faith.
Taking a group photo after serving up drivel and near-disaster like that is embarrassing. Just stop it! Save it for big and important wins (not that today’s wasn’t, but you know what I mean).
The Panther(Quote)
A fluke of a win, we have a lot of “runners” with very little class.
Jacob Ramsey is no better or not as good as Shaun Longstaff and has been an awful acquisition for the money.
Elanga is Almiron mark 2, and Ramsdale was a lucky boy flapping at crosses.
However needs to sort this lot out sharpish or we will get turned over by the Mackems!
We have full backs and midfielders getting into shooting positions and seemed frightened and lack the confidence to have a go.
Pathetic display with no cohesion.
Joseph(Quote)
Some of those comments sound really entitled. We won comfortably. The implication being it’s only Burnley so we should have stuffed them.
We won the game and rested players, brought on a player we haven’t had for 5 months and rested hall.
It’s not always going to be pretty and if we had won at Everton with the same performance people would have been happy. There are no easy games at this level. We got a 2-0 lead and didn’t let it go with naive let’s get 4-5. Watched Burnley a few times and they aren’t mugs.
You sometimes have to win ugly. Ask the winners they don’t care.
The little birdy(Quote)
It was not pretty, but we secured the 3 points and won the match. As usual we attempted to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at the end by going home 10 minutes before the final whistle. 🤷🏻♂️. Burnley were always going to shut up shop and try to hit us on the break to minimise damage and maybe sneak a point. We handled it marginally better than we did with Spurs.
We now have to focus on the very difficult match on Wednesday and the even more difficult match on Sunday.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Nice touch by Bruno holding Paul Dummett’s shirt in the photo, worth taking the photo for that reason alone.
As for the game. Joseph you make an interesting point, the jury is still out on Elanga and Ramsey, time will tell if there is class there or not. I don’t believe it was a flukey win though, we were dominant after a shaky opening to the game with 17 chances created and hitting the woodwork and good saves by Dubs.
What is concerning is this mentality where we are letting teams back in so late in the game and it’s a concentration/confidence issue not a class issue in my opinion.
It will be that same issue that kills us v Sunderland, simply because they are full of it due to a great start, yesterday aside. They also are not fighting on as many fronts as us.
Pound for pound we have a better side than a fair few in the PL but that counts for nothing , just ask the reigning league champions how much class counts for.
kimtoon(Quote)
I was delighted when we signed Elanga, I have to be honest, and there’s a good player in there. He was outstanding at Forest. I don’t know why it hasn’t clicked for him yet with us, and your comments are right, he’s been no better than Miggy so far, but I think he will come good.
Same with Ramsey, he was excellent at Villa. I’m hopeful on him too. Let’s see.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I noticed too that Elanga’s partner has just given birth. Perhaps that has also been a big distraction for him? 🤷🏻♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Good point
kimtoon(Quote)
I think it shows how far we’ve come in the last 4 years that we can be critical of how we win – as if we are just entitled to do so.
It was far from pretty and that’s been the case for a large part of the season – but it was affective and we put another 3 points on the board.”
I think Willock, Ramsey and Elanga were all below par yesterday but ultimately Howe used the squad to rest some players & give others minutes as Dec is a really heavy schedule for us.
We dominated large parts of the game yesterday but were sloppy in the final third – lacked composure and too many stray passes.
But we won the game and that’s all that matters 🤷🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gilly/Kim – it absolutely will be. Coupled with the fact they are a young couple that has just moved to a new area – so that family/friends support network is likely not there either.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Throughout the whole of the summer and with the eventual sale of Isak – so many people thought that would bring Newcastle to its knees – they can’t survive without him.
The fact he’s gone to Liverpool & they have fallen from grace in such a poisonous way is payback really.
They conducted themselves in an appalling way in that transfer window and ended up with self absorbed CF who did not fit their system at all.
Now Salah is causing unrest – but let’s be right, if he goes Isak is there to take his place.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy but they are replacing one arrogant toad for another. I also don’t see Isak reaching Salah peak level either.
I knew and said when they bought Isak that he wouldn’t get service like he did with us, too many selfish individuals in that team.
kimtoon(Quote)