Newcastle United secured a vital, if somewhat unconvincing, 2-1 Premier League victory over a dogged but ultimately ill-fated Burnley side at St James' Park on Saturday. The Magpies' key men, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon, were on the scoresheet for the second time in five days, capitalising on a first-half red card shown to Burnley's Lucas Pires.
First-Half Drama Sees Newcastle Seize Control
The match began with the struggling visitors showing impressive resolve. Burnley forced early pressure, winning corners and seeing a deflected Tino Livramento clearance ricochet dangerously towards goal, requiring a smart third-minute save from Aaron Ramsdale. Lyle Foster also fired a long-range effort over as the Clarets started brightly.
Newcastle gradually grew into the game, with Martin Dubravka making saves from Anthony Elanga and seeing a Gordon effort clip the far post. The breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute in spectacular fashion. Bruno Guimaraes delivered an in-swinging corner from the left that flew directly over a crowded six-yard box and into the net, with Dubravka failing to get a decisive touch under pressure from Gordon.
The visitors' task became monumental just before the break. Anthony Elanga's blistering pace proved too much for full-back Lucas Pires, who clipped the winger as he raced onto a Gordon through-ball. Referee Stuart Attwell showed a straight red card, reducing Burnley to ten men. Deep into first-half stoppage time, after a VAR review, Newcastle were awarded a penalty for a handball by Lesley Ugochukwu. Anthony Gordon stepped up to calmly convert the spot-kick, sending Dubravka the wrong way and doubling the lead.
Patchy Magpies Performance Sees Tense Finish
Despite their numerical and scoreline advantage, Newcastle failed to kill the game in the second half. Dubravka made several saves to keep the score down, denying Guimaraes, substitute Lewis Hall, and even his own defender Maxime Esteve. Gordon also skimmed the crossbar with a powerful effort.
Burnley's persistent efforts were rewarded in the dying moments. The referee pointed to the spot for a handball offence by Jacob Ramsey, allowing substitute Zian Flemming to step up and convert a consolation penalty, making the final minutes nervy for the home support.
Crucial Win Ahead of Pivotal Fixtures
The three points were exactly what Eddie Howe's side needed ahead of a crucial period. The victory provides a boost before Wednesday's Champions League trip to Bayer Leverkusen and next weekend's highly anticipated derby clash at Sunderland. The performance, however, was far from fluid in front of a crowd of 52,041.
The match also saw a belated debut for £55 million summer signing Yoane Wissa, who came on as a late substitute. For Burnley, the defeat compounds their struggles, with the early sending off and two conceded goals proving too large an obstacle to overcome despite a spirited display.
