Newcastle United’s win over Burnley was about more than just getting the three points, it was a point proven to Eddie Howe that one tactic of his simply doesn’t work.
It was Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon who produced the goals for Newcastle United again this weekend, after their efforts in midweek.
Who was your MOTM vs Burnley?!
Hard to pick one!
However, while the two goals were not enough on Tuesday night against Spurs, the Magpies were able to get over the line at St. James’ Park and claim all three points.
It’s further progress for Newcastle in the Premier League, but Guimaraes has spoken about complacency in the camp. That was still evident on Saturday, but there’s clear improvement.
- READ MORE: Eddie Howe makes big Anthony Gordon claim despite seeing Bruno Guimaraes make history for Newcastle
Park the bus tactic doesn’t work for Newcastle
Eddie Howe has seen his side throw away points this season. There’s no getting away from that fact. Stoppage time goals are a problem for Newcastle, and the Magpies did it again against Burnley.
However, thankfully, we didn’t see Newcastle drop more points from winning positions. Indeed, they’ve dropped ten points this season when they’ve been leading, which is simply not good enough.
It’s a big part of the reason the draw against Spurs felt like a defeat. The cause at the heart of this problem is largely down to mentality, but it cannot be denied that Howe adapting to a back-five when Newcastle are winning doesn’t help matters.
He did it against Spurs, bringing Fabian Schar on for Lewis Miley, and moments later, Newcastle had blown another lead.
The Newcastle United manager didn’t make that same mistake against Burnley, and despite a wave of pressure from the Clarets, the Magpies were able to hold on and get the win.
There’s clearly a detrimental mentality switch when Newcastle go more conservative with five at the back. It’s too cautious to park the bus, and it’s simply not the Newcastle way.
Howe has learned his lesson, it seems, and the proof is in the pudding.
- READ MORE: Malick Thiaw sums it all up about Bruno Guimaraes with Newcastle star on course for best season yet
Newcastle can still have a brilliant season
Just think, if Newcastle had held on to those four leads they’ve thrown away, they’d have ten more points and be up there challenging for the title right now.
Football is and always has been a game of fine margins. Newcastle have found themselves on the wrong end of those margins a few times this season, but there’s still a long way to go.
What did you make of the atmosphere against Burnley?🤷‍♀️
I was at St James’ Park and it was very flat! To be honest, it was always going to be for a game like this, will all due respect to Burnley.
The Premier League is incredibly tight and competitive this year and Newcastle are now only two points off the top five. That would be enough for Champions League qualification come the end of the season, we suspect, and is the ultimate goal for the Magpies.
This tough run of fixtures for Newcastle has been navigated really well so far and has given the team great momentum heading into Christmas. Now, if they can beat Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby, you’d have to think the Magpies would become almost unstoppable.
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