Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe hailed a 'massive win' as his side finally overcame their travel sickness to secure a vital 3-1 Premier League victory at Turf Moor against struggling Burnley on Tuesday night.
A Dream Start for the Magpies
The visitors exploded out of the blocks, silencing the home crowd with a goal after just 65 seconds from Joelinton. The dream start became a potential rout when January signing Yoane Wissa, making his first league start since a £50million move from Brentford, netted his maiden goal for the club. With only seven minutes on the clock, Newcastle led 2-0 against a Burnley side chronically short of goals.
Burnley Battle Back Before Late Blow
To their credit, Scott Parker's Clarets refused to collapse. Josh Laurent gave them a lifeline in the 23rd minute, and the home side dominated much of the second half as they pushed for an equaliser. However, their efforts were undone in stoppage time when Bruno Guimaraes capitalised on a defensive error to seal the three points for Newcastle.
Reaction and Relegation Ramifications
The result, Newcastle's first away triumph since a 4-1 win at Everton on 29 November, lifts them into the Premier League's top half. Howe praised his players' resilience, stating the manner of the victory was secondary to the result itself. He also highlighted the different threat posed by Wissa compared to fellow forward Nick Woltemade.
For Burnley, it was a night of familiar frustration. Their winless run extended to 10 games, leaving them six points from safety. Parker spoke of 'fine margins' and a sense of deja vu, but insisted his team's commitment remained 'elite'. In a further devastating blow for the club, it was confirmed after the match that captain Josh Cullen suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in their previous game and is expected to be sidelined for nine months.
