Burnley

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

A thoroughly miserable season is nearly at an end.

While my competitive nature and logical brain understand that as a professional sports entity the aim has to be playing at the very top along with the elite, my overwhelming feeling will be relief to see the back of it.

Vincent Kompany said again after Saturday's match that he could not fault the effort of the players and he felt pride that they did not give up. I personally have not seen that effort. I see a side that conceded the first goal and just let the drive and optimism seep out of them. We seemed to practically sleepwalk through another three goals.

I felt so underwhelmed when I left the ground that I was convinced we had lost 4-0 and had completely forgotten about Dara O'Shea's [albeit lovely] header.

I have seen this same comment - a perceived lack of effort - so much online this weekend that it seemed sensible to address it. Are we being unfair? I have sympathy for the mental toll that persistent losses must inflict on athletes. It cannot be easy.

Kompany knows these players and sports science far better than me, so maybe mental resilience shows itself in other forms not immediately obvious to the humble fan? If that is true, is there a way that Kompany can communicate that message better in his post-match analysis, so it does not feel like a PR piece? Fans are not stupid and can see through tricks like that.

I think everyone has reached that point now where we just need to get to the end of this horrible campaign. Reset in the summer. Rebuild a squad. Build some bridges. Win the Championship. Enjoy our football again.

Because football is a way of life for so many of us in our community - and we want the smiles back.

Natalie can be found at No Nay Never podcast, external

On the latest episode of Monday Night Club, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says the points deduction situation has been unfair on Burnley and Luton, describing it as an "absolute shambles".

Listen to the full episode here

We asked for your reaction to Saturday's match between Burnley and Newcastle.

Here are some of your answers:

Burnley fans

Mike: That's what capitulation looks like. Miserable game and miserable Bank Holiday weather. [Vincent] Kompany must be wondering how he ended up here. Championship football cannot come soon enough.

Bob: Just when there was a small ember of hope, this team finds a way to snuff it out before you get too excited. Vincent, this season is down to you. Playing youngsters who had little or no experience of first-team football, let alone in England and not playing the team that walked the Championship. The [James] Trafford v [Arijanet] Muric debate all season. Why ?

Jack: Was a really good start but we just weren’t able to hold on and Newcastle showed why they were in the Champions League earlier this season. Have to accept our fate now after Nottingham Forest won, but hopefully we can do it again in the Championship.

Steven: Don’t know where that performance came from after the first 15 minutes but remember they are a very good side! Poorest performance for a while in the biggest game of the season. Let’s get ready for next week - stranger things have happened!

Newcastle fans

Simon: Very positive team performance, We managed the game well and were quick and strong going forward. Given our injuries, particularly in defence, the back row performed well. Dan Burn is in form in his more natural centre back role. I am feeling positive about our final few games and chase for sixth place. Well done team - Eddie, staff and above all fans.

Kegs: Cracking performance. [Jacob] Murphy had probably his best game for the club. The whole team stepped up and we looked so dangerous when attacking. The goals are flowing at just the right time of the season.

Liam: Eddie Howe is more a manager of the year candidate this season than last. In contention for top five, with a threadbare squad and the most lost minutes due to injury and missing players in a season is incredible. If we get above media darling Ange's [Postecoglou] Spurs, he's pulled off one of the greatest seasons ever.

Geoff: This is what we’ve been waiting for - a rampant Newcastle team. In a mood like this they are difficult to contain but what a joy to watch. When all of our players are back, they will dominate no matter the opposition. Well done the Toon.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 presenter Alistair Bruce-Ball says Burnley "look doomed" after a demoralising 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle left Vincent Kompany's side five points from safety with two games to play.

The Clarets needed to beat the Magpies to maintain a realistic chance of survival but the limp performance coupled with Nottingham Forest's win at Sheffield United put them on the brink of an immediate return to the Championship.

"It looks like that could be that for Burnley," Bruce-Ball told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Beating the drop now feels a real long shot. They are going to have to win their last two games to have any chance - the last one of course against Nottingham Forest if it goes that far.

"First and foremost before they go to Tottenham next week they are going to have to recover after being blown away simply by Newcastle, who were in pretty irresistible form.

"Burnley started pretty well and thought they should have had an early penalty, but once Callum Wilson gave Newcastle the lead they never looked back.

"By half-time Burnley fans were already headed for the exit. Not a good day. They look doomed."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Friday and Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games on Match of the Day 2 here.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full:

• Burnley v Newcastle United

• Manchester City v Wolves

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany to BBC Match of the Day: "We came up against a better side, the team gave it everything. A very good start to the game. I don't think we lacked opportunities to be dangerous ourselves, we just couldn't match Newcastle in most areas of the pitch.

"They have lot of good players. We can't let ourselves get beaten down, it is what it is. We have to pick ourselves up and go again."

On how he will pick up the players: "It won't be difficult. We go again. Anyone that is looking at the season at the end of everything or the start of everything is a fool in this game. You have to continue, to keep going. You don't always get the reward for the hard work you put in but eventually you have to believe you will get the reward."

On their final match against Nottingham Forest: "I'm not going to focus on that. The fact of the matter is we play the last game against Forest. We can't control what they do, we can't control what Luton does. We have one game to play in between and that one game we need something special."

On the Burnley fans: "It's special town, a special club. It's the heartbeat of this community. It's every household that has a vested interest in Burnley. They were there in the Championship as well and we just have to work hard everyday for them because they deserve it."

• Newcastle United have won five of their last seven Premier League games (D1 L1), scoring at least four goals in four of those victories. They have scored at least four goals in nine different league games this season for the first time since 1951-52 (also 9).

• Burnley’s defeat was their 22nd in the Premier League this season (W5 D9), only in 2009-10 (24) and 1975-76 (23) have the Clarets lost more times in a Football League campaign.

• Eddie Howe took charge of his 100th Premier League game for Newcastle United, recording his 49th win in the process. Only Kevin Keegan (55) has more wins for the Magpies as a manager in their first 100 top-flight games.

• Burnley have now lost each of their last six league meetings with Newcastle. Only against Wolves (10 games in August 2002), Manchester City (10 games in January 2024) and Arsenal (10 games in August 2019 and 7 games in April 1971) have they endured longer such runs in the Football League.

• Anthony Gordon now has 10 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League this season, becoming just the third Newcastle player to hit double figures for both goals and assists in a single campaign after Andrew Cole in 1993-94 (34 goals, 13 assists) and Ruel Fox in 1994-95 (10 goals, 11 assists).

• Callum Wilson is now Newcastle United’s outright second-highest scorer in the Premier League with 47 goals. Only against West Ham (12) and Everton (8) does he have more goals in the competition than against Burnley (6).

Burnley are staring at a second Premier League relegation in three seasons after being humbled at Turf Moor by a rampant Newcastle United.

The visitors took the lead with their first attack of the game as Callum Wilson reacted quickest to slot in after Arijanet Muric parried Alexander Isak's effort back into the danger area.

Eddie Howe's men looked devastating each time they poured forward and took total control by netting twice more before half-time courtesy of first-time finishes by Sean Longstaff and Guimaraes.

Josh Brownhill tugged Anthony Gordon's shirt in the box in the second half and though Isak's penalty was saved by Muric, the Swede lashed in soon after for his 20th league goal of the campaign.

Dara O'Shea's header gave Burnley a late consolation goal but Newcastle's emphatic victory moves them up a place to sixth, two points ahead of Manchester United who travel to Crystal Palace on Monday (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Burnley fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Newcastle fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's matches, he takes on Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill.

Sutton's prediction: 3-3

I am at this game for Radio 5 Live, and I am really looking forward to it because both teams have hit a bit of form.

I used to play for Blackburn so I always get a nice reception when I go to Turf Moor, but I have to say I admire how Burnley have kept going this season.

Vincent Kompany's side should have beaten Manchester United last week, but they have still given themselves a chance of staying up with three games to go.

They will throw everything at this game, while Newcastle are in the mix for sixth place and will be right up for it too.

I love what Alexander Isak is doing for the Magpies but, like his team-mate Anthony Gordon, his numbers do drop off when they are on the road.

Both players should have a chance to improve their away stats on Saturday, but I don't think Newcastle will have things all their own way.

Nathan's prediction: 0-3

Read all of the predictions here

There are five Premier League matches taking place today and we will keep you updated on all of them.

Full commentary:

• Burnley v Newcastle, 15:00 - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Man City v Wolves, 17:30 - BBC Radio 5 Live

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

Vincent Kompany has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League match at home to Newcastle.

Here are the key lines from the Burnley manager:

• The Clarets have lost one of their past eight games and Kompany said they need "more of the same" in terms of energy and how they have approached games: "There are nine points still to play for. That’s what it is going to come down to."

• On frustrations that results might have come too late in the season: "I keep frustration out of this place. I don’t live with that but it does feel like we will be happy for the league to continue but that is not the case. It is still a mission with the hope and belief that we can win a game in the toughest league in the world."

• On the uncertainty of Nottingham Forest's points deduction: “Let’s hope common sense prevails. The last game of the season is Forest v Burnley, I haven’t worried about it all season so I am not going to start now. It doesn’t play any part for our next game."

• On how he gets his inspiration: “The easiest one is if managers talk bad about my team, I hope Eddie [Howe] criticises my team rather than praising them - that will get them going. Anything should feel your motivation."

• He did however have praise for ex-Burnley boss Howe's career achievements: "He has been in this position for many years. What he achieved with Bournemouth will always command the respect of his peers. When you take a job like Newcastle, he has done something by taking them to the Champions League. A good coach, very talented and he has shown more with a better team."

• He anticipates a difficult challenge against Newcastle: "They don't have a lot of weaknesses and they have a lot of strengths [but] anything is possible at Turf Moor. We played them before we started the Championship and they beat us 7-0. In that first pre-season, I already felt we were not ready to play these teams. Newcastle was our first view of what a Premier League team looks for us."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences

Listen to live commentary of Burnley v Newcastle from 15:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Image source, PA Media

It is difficult for Burnley at this point as we are waiting for the outcome of Nottingham Forest's points deduction appeal and the Clarets will likely be believing that Forest will get some points back.

Burnley had a tough start to life back in the Premier League. They brought in a lot of players and had to face big teams in the beginning so that cost them a bit of time. They were competitive in a lot of games but have a really young squad and found it hard to see off teams. At times where they have done well in a match, they have just ran out steam and mistakes have crept in.

They have had to buy young players with the level of money they could spend and they still have got some gems. Looking at the likes of 19-year-old Wilson Odobert, he has been some signing and going to attract a lot of interest.

Whether Vincent Kompany has been too rigid in his principles and style is difficult to say. When you have brought players to suit your system, you have to then stick with it best you can. If you have got players to then change that system and you are not too stubborn, then you can do it. But if you don't feel like you can or you're not equipped to do it, then you stick with your style.

With three games to go, can they stay up? Yes. Is it going to be a step too far? I think it actually depends on Nottingham Forest's performance and whether they get any points back.

The two home games for Burnley are going to be critical against Newcastle and then Forest on the final day. If someone offered you the chance to play someone at home on the last day to stay up, you would snap their hand off.

If you look at their points return overall, at this moment 30 points could be enough for one of the teams to stay in the Premier League. When the average is around 35-38 and the lowest ever is 34, doing so with 30 would be incredible.

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Burnley and Newcastle United in the Premier League.

• Burnley have won just two of their 13 Premier League matches against Newcastle United, losing the past five in a row. They have never lost six in a row against the Magpies in their league history.

• Following their five consecutive Premier League wins over Burnley, Newcastle United will be looking to win six in a row against an opponent for just a second time. They also registered six wins against Spurs between 2006 and 2008.

• Burnley have lost just one of their past eight Premier League games (W2 D5), going down 1-0 at Everton last month. Before the first game in this run, the Clarets were bottom of the table and 10 points from safety. Going into this weekend's games, they are just two points behind 17th.

• Just 14 of Newcastle's 53 Premier League points this season have come in away games, the lowest percentage of any side this term (26%). However, Burnley have won the lowest share of their points so far in home games (42% - 10/24).

• Jacob Bruun Larsen, Zeki Amdouni and Lyle Foster are Burnley's top scorers in the Premier League this season with five goals each. The Clarets have the lowest-scoring top scorers of any side in the competition this term.

• Alexander Isak has scored 19 Premier League goals this season including nine in his past eight appearances. He could become only the fifth different Newcastle player to score 20 or more goals in a Premier League season, after Alan Shearer (four times), Andrew Cole (1993-94), Peter Beardsley (1993-94) and Les Ferdinand (1995-96).

Image source, Getty Images

Referees' chief Howard Webb says it was a "clear error" to not initially award a penalty for Andre Onana's foul on Zeki Amdouni in Manchester United's draw with Burnley on Saturday.

Onana came out to attempt to punch the ball clear, but caught the Burnley forward instead. Initially no penalty was awarded, before the video assistant referee (VAR) intervened and recommended referee John Brooks review the incident again.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Mic'd Up programme, Webb said: "We acknowledge that, that situation in week number one at Old Trafford [against Wolves] should have led to a VAR intervention and didn't.

"This is very similar - Onana coming out and not making contact with the ball, making heavy contact with his opponent, not seen by the referee on the field.

"It's a clear error not to award the penalty kick [on the field], and therefore [VAR] recommends that the referee looks at it at the screen for himself and sees that heavy contact."

Onana was not given a card at the time and, asked whether he should have been sent off, Webb did not believe so.

"I think there's a recklessness to it," he said. "On the day he wasn't cautioned. I think that would have been the right outcome to show a yellow card as well, for a reckless action.

"I don't think it's serious foul play. I don't think there's excessive force or brutality in that challenge, but there's an element of recklessness. And that would normally lead to a yellow card."

Joe Redmond
Fan writer

Whisper it quietly, but Burnley have a chance of Premier League survival. It is a small one admittedly, but there is definitely a chance.

Burnley's best form of the season has seen them come within two points of safety for the first time since 2 December, which is a fantastic turnaround to say they were 11 points adrift at one stage.

The Clarets have only lost one of their past eight games and finally look like a Premier League team.

Let's not beat around the bush though - the form and many of the performances earlier in the season were abysmal and it is a sign of how bad the teams are down at the bottom that we are even in with a chance.

But now we have that chance, we have to do everything we can to get over the line.

We are the team down at the bottom in the best form going into these final three games, but we are also the team down at the bottom with the hardest fixtures. At the very minimum, we need to win two out of the last three.

The majority of you reading this will be Burnley fans so I will not bore you with all the permutations as you would have worked them out yourself, but the basics of it is we need to be within two points of Nottingham Forest, and above Luton, on the final day.

If we are in this position on the final day, then I genuinely think we will do it. I just personally feel like the run of form has come too late and we may just fall short.

I hope I am wrong. Let's beat Newcastle and see if anyone does us a favour first.

Joe can be found on The Turfcast Podcast, external

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

So of course I have gone and got my hopes up.

Of course I am now plotting every fixture, and every possible result, and what the table will look like at the end of each of the remaining game weeks.

Which is a bit of an inconvenience given I was fully expecting us to be long gone by now and enjoying a nice summer without the awfulness of this season. Now I have to get all excited again.

I say this with jest, obviously, as it is a brilliant thing to still be in with a chance this late in the day. A valuable and (as it turns out) hard fought point at Old Trafford meant that Nottingham Forest losing at home to Manchester City would put survival in Burnley's own hands for the first time since December.

The fixtures don't look too favourably for us, and I do keep forgetting about Luton, but as I said last week we have nothing to lose now. We might as well get excited.

But the main thing for me is to ensure that credit is given to the manager and his players for this turnaround. They have taken a lot of criticism from us this year, much of it deservedly so, but fans have a responsibility to recognise and acknowledge hard work and good performances.

It does not even matter to me that they may have left it too late because fans can handle relegation so long as their team go down with a fight. That is all we ask for.

Watching Amdoundi and Odebert on Saturday, running until they had nothing left, finally connected me to this young Premier League team. You have my support until the bitter end. You have earned it.

Natalie Bromley can be found at No Nay Never podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

Premier League clubs have voted in favour of adopting an anchoring economic model, which will be linked to the earnings of the bottom club (tv and prize money).

The proposed system would operate like a spending cap.

The next stage is final analysis and drafting of rules, which will potentially be put to clubs at an AGM in June.

The model will be presented to clubs and - should clubs vote in favour then - it will replace the Profit and Sustainability Rules currently in place, from the 2025-26 season onwards.

Any new element of the financial system would come in shadow next season, to fully replace PSR in 2025-26.

“We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages," said the PFA

“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”

Aston Villa, Manchester City and Manchester United opposed the vote, with Chelsea abstaining.