Newcastle United 1-0 Burnley: Callum Wilson earns Magpies first win of the season
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Callum Wilson's sixth goal of the season earned Eddie Howe his first win as Newcastle manager
Eddie Howe is convinced his Newcastle side can avoid relegation from the Premier League after claiming their first victory of the season at home to Burnley on Saturday.
Callum Wilson scored the only goal at St James' Park, steering the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the area after Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope fumbled Joe Willock's cross under pressure from Fabian Schar.
The win lifts the Magpies, who also earned their first clean sheet of the campaign, up to 19th in the table, level on 10 points with bottom club Norwich and 18th-placed Burnley.
"For sure we can stay up," said Howe. "We've come from a difficult position and there is a long road ahead, but I believe in what we are doing.
"We have tried to bring our philosophy to the team, to be front-foot and more aggressive. Confidence is key in any sport and we have lacked that, but today goes a long way to rebuilding that."
Newcastle's victory over Burnley will be followed by a daunting run of fixtures this month, with games against Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United all to come before the turn of the year.
"Historically we have said you need to take points off the top teams and that will be the task in December," added Howe, who admitted prior to Tuesday's draw with Norwich that the Magpies may struggle to attract players in January if they remain cut adrift near the bottom of the table.
"[The transfer window] will be important, but the players we have here we like and we need to maximise them first," Howe said.
"The market changes so much and quickly. People are planning for that, but my sole focus is coaching the team. I love working with this group. They are hungry and want to achieve."
Burnley started brightly and created the better openings before Wilson struck, Maxwel Cornet twice going close and Johann Berg Gudmundsson striking the outside of the post via a deflection off Javier Manquillo.
Matej Vydra also missed a superb opportunity to equalise on the stroke of half-time, shooting tamely over the crossbar from Matt Lowton's right-wing delivery.
Miguel Almiron was played through by Wilson in the second half but was denied a first goal in 26 league games by Pope.
The visitors thought they had equalised with seven minutes remaining but Jay Rodriguez was ruled to be in an offside position from Ashley Westwood's pass.
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It was far from pretty, but Howe will hope Saturday's nervy victory can kick-start Newcastle's campaign - nearly eight weeks after their £305m Saudi Arabia-backed takeover.
The Magpies had failed to beat four of the eight teams directly above them in the Premier League before the visit of Sean Dyche's side, and they were perhaps fortunate not to fall behind early on as Burnley made the brighter start.
But Newcastle improved following Wilson's opener - Joelinton and Jonjo Shelvey had efforts blocked before Willock blazed over the crossbar from Allan Saint-Maximin's cut-back.
A second goal would have eased some of the palpable tension around St James' Park, but Almiron was denied by a magnificent one-handed Pope save before shooting straight at Nathan Collins after cutting on to his left foot on the edge of the area.
Rodriguez beat Martin Dubravka late on with a confident finish but was denied a 100th career league goal by the assistant referee's flag.
Howe, who punched the air in delight at full-time, will be thrilled with Newcastle's resolute defensive showing, although - the opening 20 minutes aside - they were rarely troubled by a toothless Burnley.
The visitors registered 10 attempts at goal but their only legitimate shot on target came through Cornet in the first half.
Dyche's team are without an away win in the Premier League since beating Fulham back in May.
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