Magpies 'in driving seat' to qualify for Europe againpublished at 12:57 7 May
12:57 7 May
Matty Renton Fan writer
Somehow, thanks to Eddie Howe, Newcastle United find themselves in the driving seat for European football. It is all in the Magpies' hands - if they win their final three games, they will seal Europa League football next season.
It is an exciting race that is heating up, with Chelsea hot on their heels and in good form.
I was at Turf Moor on Saturday to witness an impressive 4-1 away win. I went into it thinking an awkward game awaited us, with Burnley in decent form and fighting for their lives, but a makeshift Newcastle side got the job done.
Howe switched things up to a 4-4-2, starting Callum Wilson alongside Alexander Isak, and both got on the scoresheet. Credit Wilson as well, as he became Newcastle United's second-highest Premier League goalscorer. Quite a bit of catching up to do on Alan Shearer, mind!
After the game on the supporters' coach home, many of the Toon Army were looking up the table instead of fearing Chelsea and Manchester United behind them. Only four points behind Tottenham, who have tricky fixtures, we fancy catching them for fifth place.
Spurs seem to be in freefall and the Magpies are smelling blood. If Howe could overtake them and finish fifth, with the injury crisis he has dealt with this campaign, it would be a ridiculous achievement.
Strap yourselves in for a ferocious end to the season!
Your thoughts on Saturday's gamepublished at 12:20 6 May
12:20 6 May
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.
Catch up on the weekend's Premier League actionpublished at 09:06 6 May
09:06 6 May
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Friday and Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.
Gossip: Wilson faces uncertain futurepublished at 07:51 6 May
07:51 6 May
Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson's future remains uncertain with the 32-year-old Englishman strongly linked with a move away from St James' Park. (Mirror), external
'Newcastle are a dangerous team in full flow'published at 19:21 4 May
19:21 4 May
Image source, Getty Images
Newcastle United goalscorer Sean Longstaff, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "There was some really good stuff in there, they started really well. Under the cosh for first 15 minutes but the first goal settled it down and from there you saw our attacking players take over the game.
"When we're really aggressive and running forward we are a really good team. It's been there in fits and starts this season, but a really good day and something to build on."
On Newcastle's attacking players: "We've got the luxury, when everyone is fit, of some elite forward players. Alex [Isak] scored, Will [Callum Wilson] scored and Jacob [Murphy] was chipping in with assists. When we are fully fit and you bring Miggy [Almiron], Joelinton, Harvey Barnes on, it's a top squad. Unfortunately for us it hasn't been like that all season."
On his goal: "I'm happy to score. Me and Jacob and Tino [Livramento] have a good relationship off the pitch. Jacob played a lovely pass and I just had to get good contact. It was a good end to the first half and you can see when we are in full flow we are a really dangerous team."
On Newcastle's fans: "They follow us up and down the country and there's days where unfortunately for us we've not been there, so it's good to give them away day to remember - there's nothing better."
'A big step forward'published at 18:54 4 May
18:54 4 May
Image source, Getty Images
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "A really good performance, we knew Burnley would be on it, it was a big game for them. It's an intimidating place to come but when we got control of the game and started to settle, I thought we showed our we showed our quality and scored four great goals.
"Tactically we tweaked things around and I was really pleased to see we still gelled together. A really good performance. A lot of pace, a lot of quality but you need it to gel for the performance to be as strong as you want it to be."
On Alexander Isak: "I say it very week. An outstanding talent. Technically gifted, pace, took his goal well today. He'll be disappointed with his penalty but that's just one of those things. Another really good display, I thought him and Callum Wilson looked really well again today, especially in the transitions."
On poor away form: "We've been fighting that, determined to change our away form and be more consistent. Away one against Crystal Palace was poor. Today was a much better performance, a much better feel around the group. We know we've got goals, we have to defend better but it was big step forward today."
On the European places: "We're in there there fighting and scrapping. Nothing will be decided today, it puts us in a better position. We've got three big games coming up."
Burnley 1-4 Newcastle: Key statspublished at 17:44 4 May
17:44 4 May
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).
Full-time: Burnley 1-4 Newcastlepublished at 17:06 4 May
17:06 4 May
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 v Newcastle: Sutton's predictionspublished at 11:02 4 May
11:02 4 May
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.
The highs and the lows of Newcastle's 2023-24 campaignpublished at 11:00 4 May
11:00 4 May
Media caption,
On the latest episode of BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport podcast, Raul Kohli is joined by Gavin Webster and Anth Young to discuss Newcastle's season highlights, including the player of the season, unsung hero, most disappointing moment and more.
Solano appointed Blyth Spartans managerpublished at 14:36 3 May
14:36 3 May
Image source, Blyth Spartans
Former Newcastle midfielder Nolberto Solano has been appointed manager at Northern Premier League Blyth Spartans, the club has announced.
The 49-year-old spent seven-and-a-half years at St James' Park across two spells and also played for Aston Villa, West Ham and Leicester where he was a team-mate of Spartans' sporting director Steve Howard.
He replaces Jon Shaw, who parted company with the club in the wake of their relegation from National League North and has signed an initial 12-month contract.
"It's a wonderful challenge - I'm really pleased," said Solano. "One of the reasons I accepted is the way my ex-team-mate Steve Howard showed me the ambition of the club, which is something I love.
"It will be a great opportunity to work with the local lads. I know Blyth very well. It's a very popular team in the North East.
"I'm very excited. With these wonderful players and the new owner, we need to work hard, work together and get back up into National League North."
As a result of that relegation, Blyth will play the 2024-25 season in the seventh tier of English football.
Solano's coaching career has seen him drag Universitario de Deportes of his native Peru out of a relegation fight to a top-half finish as manager, and help his native country reach the 2018 World Cup finals as assistant.
This is not the first time Blyth have appointed an ex-Magpie to manage the team with former captain Lee Clark and ex-striker Graham Fenton having been in charge over the past five seasons.
'I think we'd regret it if we went'published at 12:00 3 May
12:00 3 May
Media caption,
On the latest episode of BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport podcast, Raul Kohli is joined by Gavin Webster and Anth Young to discuss the club's stadium plans, saying "there's no other place quite like" St James' Park in English football, and the club might regret a move away from the stadium.
Howe on Tonali, Schar's fitness and race for Europepublished at 10:10 3 May
10:10 3 May
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's trip to Burnley in the Premier League.
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Howe confirmed Fabian Schar is sidelined with a "minor hamstring problem" and is unlikely to return this season. Miguel Almiron, Joelinton and Nick Pope have all returned to training this week and will be assessed before Saturday.
On Sandro Tonali being given a further suspended two-month ban for breaching FA betting rules: "I think it’s the right decision the FA have arrived at, that his ban isn’t extended. We’re still supporting him and helping him through this time. He’s conducted himself in a really positive way. I’ve seen the hunger [to return] there all through the time."
More on the way Tonali owned up to his gambling problems: "It was instant. When the whole thing started, he was very keen to hold his hands up and help uncover the extent of the problem. He was sorry for what he had done, he admitted he had issues and needed help and I think he deserves credit for that."
Howe offered an update on Kieran Trippier: "Kieran hasn’t trained with the group this week. He’s been away training by himself with our physiotherapist. We anticipate he’ll be back next week to train, hopefully. He could be involved before the end of the season."
On Emil Krafth and issues in central defence: "In the centre-back position we're lighter than we'd like to be with Jamaal [Lascelles], Sven [Botman] and now Fabian [Schar] missing but Emil came on and played really, really well last week. Emil has played well in that central position well for us this year. I have no doubts over his qualities."
On their final four games and the race for Europe: "We know we're going to have to win games to qualify for Europe and we know it's going to be tight. We're up against top quality teams and Chelsea are in a good vein of form too so I think it will go right to the wire."
'If we are not winning then the fans can be flat'published at 15:09 2 May
15:09 2 May
Image source, Getty Images
What has happened to the atmosphere at St James' Park?
Newcastle United fans Gavin Webster and Anth Young discuss the stadium being "flat" at times this season on the latest episode of BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport podcast.
"When we used to go a goal down you would hear 'Toon, Toon,'" said Young. "People were getting behind the lads to raise them back up.
"Now it is audible groans when we concede and they are not trying to pick the team up. It can be miserable."
It has been a difficult campaign for Eddie Howe's Magpies.
Champions League football returned to the North East, but was short-lived following a group stage exit, and an ever-growing injury list stalled their hopes of a consecutive top-four finish in the Premier League.
And the disappointment on the pitch has transferred to the stands, with not even a 5-1 win over Sheffield United last weekend being enough to lift the St James' Park crowd.
"It did not feel like a big win because the atmosphere was so low," Webster added. "It was, dare I say it, a toxic atmosphere in the first half.
"But even at 4-0 it never picked up. Is that the signs of modern Newcastle, or the modern game?
"The game against Paris St-Germain in the Champions League was electric, like an out of body experience and old school. Was that just a one-off?"
