Burnley 1 Newcastle 3 and match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players

We asked Davey Hat-Trick to give us his match ratings and player comments after Burnley 1 Newcastle 3.

Phew. For the umpteenth time in a lifetime watching Newcastle United, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I’ll just breathe a sigh of relief if that’s OK.

When we went 2-0 up within 10 minutes, I figured this would be a repeat of the Everton game, and we’d enjoy a comfortable win. Instead, it was a repeat of the reverse fixture against Burnley. We made a poor team look good, and it was only when we scored our third, that I thought we’d come away with three points.

Call it controlling a contest, call it game management, but Newcastle are bad at it.

I’m not going to grumble at three goals and three points but we made heavy weather of this game.

I thought we played better than this against Chelsea and manure for a solitary point, so I’ll say three points from an underwhelming display was deserved.

The good news is that Pope and Joelinton slotted straight back into the side, and Wissa managed 80 minutes – and a goal – on his full debut.

The bad news is that Lewis Hall picked up an injury that we can only hope isn’t serious. With Tino, BDB and Tripps out injured, and Matt Targett plying his trade elsewhere, we aren’t exactly overstuffed with left-backs.

Oh – for what it’s worth, I thought the ref had a good game. Didn’t fall for any nonsense but kept the game going. We’ve had some godawful officiating this season, so a bit of competence was refreshing.

Nick Pope 8

Most Geordies would have been pleased to see Pope back in goal and he didn’t let us down.

A couple of very important stops, and no errors. Blameless for the goal.

Lewis Miley 7

Miley has played well during his unexpected stint at RB and he was good again tonight.

He is nerveless, sticks to the basics, doesn’t do anything daft, and looks comfortable in the role.

Malick Thiaw 7

Had to deal with a lot of Burnley pressure and did it well.

No real highlights but no ricks either.

Fabian Schar 7

I thought he had a decent game.

Partially at fault for Burnley’s goal but redeemed himself with a vital goal-line clearance. Some nice passes out of defence eased the pressure.

Lewis Hall 9

Lewis Hall is a fine footballer.

Looks like a choirboy but is as tough as old boots.

Played much of this game with a twisted ankle but kept going for 90 minutes and didn’t miss a beat.

Tenacious in defence and some serious skills on the ball.

Bruno Guimaraes 7

I wouldn’t have started Bruno – he looked exhausted against manure, and he’s been grafting hard in every game.

In truth, he didn’t have a great match, losing possession too much for my liking.

But when we needed a goal to settle the nerves, up he stepped with an improvised finish over a hapless Dubravka.

Sandro Tonali 7

Didn’t do enough to control the midfield, and given the opposition, I think he should have.

He didn’t play badly, and certainly worked hard, but he wasn’t at his imperious best.

Joelinton 9

The pick of our players for me.

I’d make him Player of the Match by a whisker over Lewis Hall.

Scored a goal and was everywhere he needed to be.

Arguably our most effective defender in the second half.

Combative without going over the top.

A welcome return and a welcome return to form.

Harvey Barnes 5

Barnes wouldn’t have been my choice on the right – he just never looks comfortable there to me.

I’m not sure I saw much in this game to change that view.

Lost possession too often for my liking

Yoane Wissa 7

Scored a poacher’s goal, missed a sitter, but looked quite lively overall.

He’ll get better with game time and could well prove to be invaluable in the second half of the season

Anthony Gordon 6

An assist for our first goal and started the game like he was going to have a major impact.

But he faded badly, went down looking for fouls he was never going to get, and missed a great opportunity to score a third.

SUBS

Jacob Murphy 5

Missed a sitter (which wouldn’t have counted).

Some neat touches but no real impact.

Nick Woltemade 6

Not on for long, but showed his skills, and his lack of pace!

Jacob Ramsey 6

Played OK.

Starting to look like a player. I’d be happy to see him start more often

Joe Willock N/A

Not on long enough to judge

Burnley 1 Newcastle 3 – 30 December 2025 7.30pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Joelinton 2, Wissa 7, Bruno 90+3

Burnley:

Laurent 23

Possession was Newcastle 51% Burnley 49%

Total shots were Newcastle 20 Burnley 15

Shots on target were Newcastle 9 Burnley 4

Corners were Newcastle 4 Burnley 3

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 23 Burnley 28

Newcastle team v Burnley:

Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall, Tonali, Joelinton (Willock 94), Bruno, Barnes (Murphy 72), Gordon (Ramsey 80), Wissa (Woltemade 80)

Unused subs:

Ramsdale, Alex Murphy, Alabi, Shahar, Neave