NEWCASTLE BEAT 10-MAN BURNLEY: BRUNO GUIMARAES SCORES DIRECT CORNER
Lucas Pires' red card was costly as Newcastle beat Burnley 2-1. Guimaraes and Gordon delivered again, securing three points before the highly anticipated Sunderland derby next weekend.
Newcastle defeated 10-man Burnley 2-1 at St. James’ Park, with Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon both scoring for the second time in five days.
Guimaraes scored directly from a corner, and Gordon converted a penalty late in the first half. This happened shortly after Lucas Pires was sent off for a foul on Anthony Elanga. It was a tough day for Burnley, though Zian Flemming did score a penalty late in the game.
This win was needed for Newcastle before their Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday and the Sunderland derby next weekend. The game in front of 52,041 fans wasn't always smooth.
Burnley started strong, earning two early corners that Nick Woltemade cleared. Aaron Ramsdale had to make a save in the third minute after Tino Livramento’s clearance bounced off Jacob Bruun Larsen and headed toward the goal.
Lyle Foster sent a long shot over the bar as Burnley kept the pressure on, but Newcastle began to find their rhythm.
Maxime Esteve blocked Woltemade’s shot after a setup by Joe Willock, Guimaraes, and Jacob Ramsey. Elanga then forced Martin Dubravka to make a save in the 16th minute.
Ramsdale looked shaky dealing with set pieces, and Dubravka was relieved when Gordon’s shot hit the post in the 28th minute.
However, Dubravka was beaten three minutes later. He came out but didn't get to Guimaraes’ corner, and the ball sailed into the net.
Guimaraes missed a free kick in the 36th minute after Kyle Walker fouled Gordon, but Malick Thiaw blocked a shot from Bruun Larsen shortly after.
Dubravka then saved Elanga’s shot in the 41st minute after a quick counterattack by Ramsey and Gordon. Elanga’s speed then caused Pires to foul him, resulting in a red card.
Just before halftime, referee Stuart Attwell reviewed a handball and awarded Newcastle a penalty, which Gordon easily converted.
Dubravka later tipped over Guimaraes’ shot, blocked Lewis Hall’s attempt, and saved from his own defender Esteve. Gordon also hit the bar in the 73rd minute.
Burnley got a late goal when Ramsey was called for a handball, and Flemming scored the penalty.
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
