Newcastle 1-0 Burnley: Eddie delivers early Xmas present as tireless Toon finally win!!
WE DID IT. Newcastle United have finally won a game of Premier League football this season!
It took 15 attempts, but in a game we simply HAD to win, a first half strike from who else but Callum Wilson was enough to beat relegation rivals Burnley.
The result, which also delivered our first clean sheet of the season, takes us up to 10 points for the season, meaning we could end the weekend just three points from safety if Watford and Norwich lose to Man City and Spurs, respectively.
Eddie Howe made two changes from Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Norwich, seeing Jamaal Lascelles and Miguel Almiron replace the suspended Ciaran Clark and absent Ryan Fraser – who was missing from the squad entirely because of a 'minor' hamstring problem.
It was good to see Miggy back in the side, however it was a real surprise and slightly baffling to see Fernandez remain on the bench when the team sheets were released at 2pm.
The visitors were on top early on, looking quicker to second balls and more confident in possession. We looked slow to react and nervy on the ball, leaving the atmosphere at St James' Park on a knife edge.
Thankfully, Maxwell Cornet limped off just after the half hour mark - a welcome sign given his bright start - and Wilson gave us the lead just 10 minutes later, pouncing on Pope's inability to hold a high ball and finishing brilliantly.
It wasn't the first time we'd taken the lead in a league game at St James' Park. We did so against Norwich, Brentford, Spurs, Southampton and West Ham, yet on every occasion we came away without a win, drawing three and losing two of those.
It had to end differently this time, and thankfully it did!
We came out in the second half much better and had several waves of attacks at the Gallowgate End, keeping Burnley pinned back at times with a string of successive corners.
Nothing came of our spells of pressure in the end, with Almiron having a goal-bound shot blocked and a low effort trickle just narrowly past Nick Pope's far post.
So, it would rely on grit, hard work and a dogged defensive effort to see this one out as Burnley began to throw high balls into the box.
After a shaky first half display on his return to the side, it must be said that Jamaal Lascelles was a man mountain in the final 45. He won just about every high ball hoisted towards him and dealt with the dangerous Chris Wood brilliantly to justify his selection today.
Jamal Lewis also grew into the game with an outstanding display at left-back. He was quick to stop crosses, got stuck in, seemed more positive in possession and showed his athleticism and energy by offering us an out ball on the overlap in the second half.
Joelinton was key once again and never stopped running, as he continues to look like a man possessed - for all the right reasons - under Eddie Howe!
The atmosphere when the full-time whistle went was one of sheer relief and elation. After a long wait for a win and some miserable results since we've been allowed back inside stadiums following the COVID pandemic, this was much needed in more ways than one.
Let's hope Man City (currently 1-0 up at the time of writing) do a job on Watford in the 5.30pm kick off tonight, with fellow relegation rivals Norwich travelling to Tottenham tomorrow.
Up next for us, a tough trip to Leicester City next Sunday - followed by Liverpool away and Man City at home!
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