I’m going to put a positive spin on this Newcastle 2 Burnley 1

Newcastle 2 Burnley 1 – Saturday 6 December 2025 3pm

What a flaming inconvenience.

I am struggling to think of a more intense series of games than the week ahead.

Leverkusen presents an opportunity to determine our Champions league fate, ahead of a huge quarter-final that could put us within touching distance of defending our trophy.

In between there’s the small matter of the first league derby in a decade and the seismic impact that result could have on the season (and all our Christmases).

First though, we had Burnley to deal with.

I’m going to put a positive spin on this…because this fixture just felt awkward. There was only the potential for disaster here, nothing less than a win would be acceptable, especially after chucking two points against Spurs the other night.

The positive angle has to be that it wasn’t so long ago that this kind of game didn’t exist. Every visitor to SJP held a threat and while United were often favourites, it was rare to turn up with any sort of expectation.

The progress of recent years means these matches are now a thing and banking the three points was essential, as we continue to flirt with getting into the top half of the table.

Rotation was the watchword as Eddie Howe brought Schar, Ramsey, Willock and Elanga (as well as Bruno and Anthony Gordon) into the team, with a few big hitters kept back for the tasks ahead.

United initially proceeded to do that thing where they don’t get near the ball for the first five minutes, as an aggressive Burnley got straight on the front foot. It was a disjointed response from United as they conceded the first batch of a barrage of visiting corners. Claiming big lumped balls into the box isn’t Ramsdale’s strongest point and there was concern a “typical Burnley goal” might be in the offing.

United finally got hold of the ball after five or six minutes of this but a frustrating first half played out against the backdrop of the dreaded low block. Woltemade had a shot blocked when Ramsey picked him out unmarked in the box and Ramsey himself and Elanga both tried their luck from distance but the returning Martin Dubravka was more than comfortable. Anthony Gordon was looking a bit more like himself and seemed to have rediscovered the art of cutting inside and shooting. Dubravka looked beaten by one vicious effort but it would only clip the outside of the post.

The breakthrough came in unprecedented fashion, as I can confidently state I’ve never known Newcastle score directly from a corner in my life.

It was our first one of the game and Bruno looked to send an inswinger to the back post. It went over everyone and curled perfectly in, with a slightly delayed celebration from the crowd as everyone seemed to do a double take at the sight of the unusual phenomena that I believe one refers to as an “olimpico”. Bruno can probably claim intent given the precision of execution, although he did get a bit carried away, later attempting the same thing and making a dreadful mess of it, while similarly fudging a free kick into the side netting.

As the clock ticked towards half-time I decided it was safe to make a toilet stop as the action was surely winding down, maybe hang about in the concourse for a beer at half-time. Good job I decided to amble back up the stairs instead, as I’d have missed the most action packed part of the game. Gordon played a fantastic through ball, splitting the Burnley defence and sending Elanga in on goal. He was clipped from behind by Pires and the ref had an easy decision. Last man, straight red. Schar fired the free kick wide and that was probably it for half-time now.

Hang on, no it wasn’t. With seconds left Gordon floated a dangerous looking cross in towards Woltemade. Ugochukwu seemed to get himself in a bit of a panic and deflected the ball away with a pair of outstretched hands. The shouts from both crowd and players were vehement, but Burnley were allowed a counter attack, before the VAR stepped in to bring the ref over to the screen. Gordon stepped up once again and dispatched the pen and I could enjoy that half-time beer from the comfort of a two goal lead against ten men.

I’m not really sure what to say about the largely forgettable second half.

Bruno hit a lovely shot with the outside of his foot that sailed narrowly over and Gordon repeated the cut inside move, hitting the bar this time. Other than this the most noatbale moment from a Newcastle point of view was the long overdue debut of Yoane Wissa, emerging from the bench to replace Woltemade for the last quarter of an hour to great acclaim. He didn’t have much involvement but his presence in the squad is most welcome for the challenges ahead. Hall, Miley and Joelinton also arrived as a bit of squad management was deployed while we coasted home.

…or so we thought.

When the official put up three minutes of injury time it felt even more comfortable but United still have that capacity to panic and game management remains a concern. Ramsey’s ill-judged flick of an elbow deflected a shot away and the VAR intervened once again to award the visitors a pen this time.

Ramsdale got incredibly close to Flemming’s effort but it crept in, with what should have been about a minute left to run.

It’s baffling how the ref managed to find another three or four but this led to an horrendous moment when Dubravka’s long free-kick allowed Burnley to sling one last hopeful ball in. The marking was abysmal, with the cross narrowly evading three unmarked men in the six yard box. This would have been appalling, against ten men from a struggling side, and we can only hope the let-off wobbles a few heads for the games ahead.

There were many positives too, as Elanga and Willock both had decent performances whereas Gordon is definitely starting to look the part again after a patchy season to date. The squad usage would suggest there should be plenty in the tank for next time and the bottom line is today delivered the three points that were the absolute target.

It would have been nice to have increased the goal difference to an extent that it moved us into the top half, but eleventh feels OK when you consider it’s only a three point gap to fourth place and the Champions League spots.

This was one hurdle cleared in a crucially busy festive period, but they get bigger, scarier, thick and fast. Sort out those concentration issues and keep this winning habit please lads. I can only hope my next report is a jolly one.

Newcastle 2 Burnley 1 – Saturday 6 December 2025 3pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Bruno 31, Gordon 45+8 pen

Burnley:

Pires red card 43, Flemming 90+4 pen

Possession was Newcastle 69% Burnley 31%

Total shots were Newcastle 17 Burnley 9

Shots on target were Newcastle 7 Burnley 3

Corners were Newcastle 9 Burnley 9

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 25 Burnley 19

Newcastle team v Burnley:

Ramsdale, Livarmento, Thiaw, Schar, Burn (Hall 63), Willock (Miley 63), Bruno, Ramsey (Tonali 96), Gordon (Joelinton 74), Elanga, Woltemade (Wissa 74)

Unused subs:

Ruddy, Barnes, Alex Murphy, Jacob Murphy

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