Newcastle United got goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon and survived a sudden nervy ending to beat 10-man Burnley 2-1 at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
WATCH — Newcastle v Burnley full match replay
The Magpies led 1-0 when Lucas Pires was sent off for a last man back foul, and Gordon’s penalty made it 2-0 before Zian Flemming converted a stoppage-time penalty for the visitors.
That opened up some dramatic late long balls for Burnley, but the Magpies held on for the win ahead of a huge week that sees them off to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League before a derby at Sunderland.
Their slow start and Sunderland’s hot start sees the Magpies surprisingly behind the newly-promoted Black Cats on the table, but Newcastle can leapfrog Sunderland with a win next Sunday (December 14).
Newcastle’s 22 points are good for 10th on the table, while Burnley’s 10 points have them four points back of the safe places in 19th.
Magpies start big week in near-perfect way
With two huge matches in the next eight days, the only thing better than an early lead and near-cruise through a 10-man opponent would’ve been a goal-differential cushioning finish display at home to Burnley. That didn’t materialize for Newcastle and also allowed Burnley to make stoppage-time surprisingly uncomfortable after a penalty, but for most of the game the vibes were near-perfect as Newcastle delighted in 69% of the ball and a two-goal lead until the fourth minute of second-half stoppage. Eddie Howe has been rotating his team more often and better this go-round through the Champions League gauntlet, and he only deployed Lewis Hall and Joelinton off the bench while seeing Yoane Wissa make a cameo. Sandro Tonali only played a few minutes while Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy got the day off. That’s what could help the Magpies to a positive result in Germany and fresh legs for Sunderland on Sunday. It’s a notable change from Howe as he’s gained the wisdom of prior European campaigns.
What’s next?
The Magpies go to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday and then to Sunderland on 9am ET Sunday, December 14.
Burnley host Fulham at 12;30pm Saturday.
Newcastle vs Burnley final score: 2-1
Bruno Guimaraes 31', Anthony Gordon pen 45+8', Zian Flemming pen 90+4'
Newcastle vs Burnley live updates
Zian Flemming goal — Newcastle 2-1 Burnley
Aaron Ramsdale goes the right way but Flemming loves a low penalty and slams it under the diving keeper.
Burnley penalty
VAR takes a look at a clear handball on Jacob Ramsey and Burnley will go to the spot in stoppage time and Ramsey gets a yellow card.
Luke O’Nien red card
The returning Sunderland hero’s rust will cost him the derby, as VAR has a look at his sliding, studs-up challenge into the calf of Matheus Nunes.
Double Lewis subs
Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley are into the game for Joe Willock and Dan Burn as the lead and man advantage give Newcastle a chance to further rotate ahead of next week’s Champions League action.
Halftime — Newcastle 2-0 Burnley
Done and dusted, should be.
Anthony Gordon penalty goal — Newcastle 2-0 Burnley
Subplot here, as Gordon and Woltemade both look over the spot.
Dubravka is Gordon’s former teammate but goes the wrong way and it wouldn’t have mattered as the Newcastle forward buries his low effort just inside the post.
Burnley VAR review for penalty
This one’s going to be a penalty to Newcastle.
Lesley Ugochukwu is charing back into the box and knows he’s going to collide with Nick Woltemade.
He extends his arms and the Magpies’ cross lands on one of them.
The referee goes to the pitchside monitor and sees what he missed on first look.
Burnley red card
Gordon sends Elanga through to goal and Lucas Pires’ first Burnley start ends with a red card.
Pires chops at the ball and gets enough of Elanga’s ankle that it’s a last man back foul, which means automatic expulsion. VAR confirms the call.
Bruno Guimaraes goal with Olimpico flair! Newcastle 1-0 Burnley
Guimaraes spins a corner and old pal Martin Dubravka is put off by Anthony Gordon as an Olimpico spins inside the far upper 90!
Anthony Gordon’s near beauty
Really good team play from Newcastle leads to Anthony Gordon trying his luck from just outside the 18.
His well-struck left-footed blast clips the outside of the post and veers toward the right corner.
Close but it remains 0-0 into the 29th minute.
Should be 1-0 to the hosts
Livramento’s chipped cross from the left is nodded back to Jacob Ramsey by Anthony Gordon, but the midfielder tries a thigh trap rather than a volley and it drifts off his leg and right to Dubravka.
Clarets start bright
Burnley look good at the start, pressing Newcastle well and making the threat of an awkward goal as Valentino Livramento’s blocked clearance is rescued by Aaron Ramsdale.
Newcastle lineup
Ramsdale, Burn, Thiaw, Schar, Livramento, Guimaraes, Ramsey, Willock, Elanga, Gordon, Woltemade
Burnley lineup
Dubravka, Walker, Esteve, Pires, Florentino, Ugochukwu, Cullen, Ekdal, Bruun Larsen, Foster, Ekdal
Newcastle vs Burnley preview
The Magpies gave away two leads to Spurs in a 2-2 home draw on Tuesday but had won their previous three Premier League home matches there by a combined 6-2 score line.
Eddie Howe’s men enter the game with 19 points, five points shy of the top four. That’s off their standard but also well clear of his former club Burnley.
The visiting Clarets have lost five-straight matches — three home and two away — since winning two consecutive league matches in October.
Scott Parker’s men are now four points back of the safe places through 14 matches and are the only newly-promoted team in the bottom three.
Newcastle team news, focus
OUT: Kieran Trippier (hamstring), William Osula (ankle), Harrison Ashby (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Yoane Wissa (knee), Emil Krafth (knee), Sven Botman (back), Nick Pope (knock)
Burnley team news, focus
OUT: Zeki Amdouni (knee), Jordan Beyer (knee), Connor Roberts (knee), Bashir Humphreys (muscular)
Newcastle vs Burnley prediction
Eddie Howe has been rotating his players better lately and will expect to get the better of the Clarets, who are missing the midfield pieces to hang with Newcastle when they are at their best. However, the Magpies also have to maneuver through a Champions League trip to Bayer Leverkusen next week. This may end up tighter than many expect en route to an expected result, but Nick Woltemade is proving a star and will make the difference. Newcastle 2-0 Burnley.
How to watch Newcastle vs Burnley live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: St. James’ Park — Newcastle upon Tyne
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
