Sports
ALLAN Saint-Maximin inspired a brilliant turnaround as he came off the bench to earn Newcastle a vital win at Burnley with a goal and assist in the space of seven minutes.
Steve Bruce’s side were second best to a well-drilled Burnley, who took a first-half lead through Matej Vydra following excellent work by Chris Wood.
But after the visitors had a penalty appeal for James Tarkowski’s high foot on Sean Longstaff rejected via the video assistant referee, the game turned their way with Saint-Maximin’s second-half introduction.
Burnley were threatening to add to their lead when the French winger and forward Callum Wilson came off the bench after 57 minutes.
But Saint-Maximin set up Jacob Murphy for the equaliser following a twisting run, and then scored a brilliant second goal with his left foot to earn a much-needed victory, which lifts Newcastle six points clear of the relegation zone.
There were further chances for Burnley, who pressed aggressively for an equaliser, and are now just a point above their opponents as their own relegation concerns increased.
But Bruce’s side held on, earning a first win in eight games to their evident relief at the final whistle.
Turning point in Newcastle’s season?
The significance of a third win in 20 Premier League games for Bruce and his team cannot be overstated.
Having drawn against Tottenham last Sunday and watched Fulham suffer an injury-time defeat by Wolves on Friday that left the Cottagers three points behind Newcastle, there was a huge opportunity to take advantage against a Burnley side who have slipped into danger after a run of five successive home draws.
For much of the first half, the visitors, who were without the injured Jamaal Lascelles, struggled to deal with Burnley’s direct approach. Wood and Vydra caused all sorts of bother with Dwight McNeil also dangerous.
Their problems were exemplified by the opening goal as Ciaran Clark failed to stop Wood’s run and Vydra was left alone to slot in.
Steve Bruce praises the impact of Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin
But there was hope for Bruce’s side from the flanks, especially through Miguel Almiron on the right. Dwight Gayle, making his 100th Premier League appearance for Newcastle, had the ball in the net after Joelinton’s effort fell to him but was flagged offside.
Gayle should then have scored from point-blank range but Burnley goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who replaced the injured Nick Hope, somehow kept his effort out.
That led directly to the VAR controversy, Longstaff trying to head in the rebound only for Tarkowski’s high foot to catch the Newcastle midfielder’s head.
Referee Anthony Taylor stopped the game while a review took place, ultimately deciding not to award the foul.
Fortunately for the visitors, any injustice was rendered moot when Saint-Maximin came off the bench to turn the game their way.
His impact was felt after just two minutes as he turned Erik Pieters twice and laid the ball back to Murphy, who fired into the far corner.
The Frenchman then proved his undoubted value five minutes later by storming through the Burnley defence to give Newcastle the lead with his third goal of a season badly affected by injury and illness.
Saint-Maximin almost set up Almiron for a third late on but the Paraguayan’s shot was cleared off the line.
Overall, though, the victory was a massive moment in Newcastle’s season and backed up Bruce’s claim that when his key players returned from injury they would be safe.
There is still a difficult run-in for the Magpies, but after losing only one of their past six games, with four draws in that run, this felt like a turning point.
Burnley dragged into danger
The Clarets started this game with clear intent to improve on their unimpressive recent home form, and their speed at getting into the Newcastle box caused immediate problems for the visitors.
Key to that was the partnership of Wood and Vydra, who make a classic combination up front. Newcastle’s five-man defence struggled with the Kiwi international’s aerial threat and the pace of his Czech team-mate.
But it was Wood’s dexterity on the ground that led to the opener. Having twisted Clark inside out, he then made it to the byeline before pulling a smart cross back for Vydra to score his sixth goal of the season.
Sean Dyche’s side continued to cause problems through the excellent McNeil. His forward passing and dangerous corners were a concern for Magpies keeper Martin Dubravka, who was also forced into a brilliant stop to prevent a Paul Dummett own goal after the defender almost sliced into his own net.
Matt Lowton also tested Dubravka with a rising effort and once Saint-Maximin turned the game Newcastle’s way, Burnley were almost camped in the visitors’ half.
But they could not find a way through and one win in eight Premier League games means they are not out of danger yet, even if they are seven points above 18th-placed Fulham with a game in hand.
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Bruce ends eight-year record – the stats
- This was the first time Newcastle boss Steve Bruce had seen his team win a Premier League game in which they trailed at half-time since September 2013, when his Hull side beat Newcastle 3-2, ending a run of 44 winless such matches since (D5 L39).
- Saint-Maximin was only the fifth player to both score and assist a goal as a substitute in a Premier League match for Newcastle, and the first since Rolando Aarons against Tottenham in May 2016.
- Jacob Murphy ended a run of 16 Premier League appearances without a goal for Newcastle; all three of his goals in the competition have come away from home.
- Burnley have lost back-to-back Premier League games despite scoring the first goal in both of them; it’s the first time the Clarets have lost consecutive Premier League matches in which they opened the scoring since October 2009, when they lost to Blackburn and Wigan.
- Each of Burnley’s past seven Premier League goals have come in the first half of games, with Chris Wood scoring (three) or assisting (two) five of those.
- Burnley have lost as many Premier League games this season as they did in the entirety of last term (14), while their points tally of 33 this season is nine fewer than they had from their opening 31 league matches of 2019-20 (42).
- Burnley’s Matej Vydra has scored three goals in his past five Premier League games, as many as he had across his previous 53 appearances in the competition beforehand. Vydra has scored in back-to-back Premier League appearances for the first time since February 2020.
What next?
Burnley travel to Manchester United for their next Premier League game on Sunday 18 April (16:00 BST). Newcastle host West Ham on Saturday 17 April (12:30 BST).
BBC Sport
– April 11, 2021 @ 15:30 GMT |
Tags: Allan Saint-Maximin inspired a brilliant turnaround as he came off the bench to earn Newcastle a vital win at Burnley
