Newcastle’s allergy to being in front remains an irritation for Eddie Howe entering a new year, but at least his team signed off from 2025 with only a second Premier League away win of the season – even if only just.
This should have been far easier after two goals inside seven minutes, especially against opponents likely headed back to the Championship and who had taken just one point from 15 at home.
Come the end, Burnley boss Scott Parker was left to rue not one point dropped, but a possible three.
His side sensed a vulnerability and recovered to halve the visiting lead before pressing for what would have been deserved parity. It was not until Bruno Guimaraes made it 3-1 in the 93rd minute that the outcome ever felt certain.
It spoke volumes – and voluble it was – when Newcastle’s supporters bellowed, ‘How s*** must you be, we’re winning away!’.
A win it was, but the nervy nature of it does not suggest the improvement needed to return them to the top five.
Howe prickled in a pre-match interview when the energy of his team was questioned.
He duly returned to the dressing-room and sent them out fizzed up with instruction to attack with verve from the off. What followed were two quick-fire goals, the first after 65 seconds when Joelinton hooked in from Anthony Gordon’s deflected cross.
Yoane Wissa stabbed a second from close range – his first Premier League goal on his first start – and the visitors, according to the scoreboard, were in control. Except, this version of Newcastle are rarely in control.
No top-flight team had lost more than their 13 points from winning positions this season. Rather than chess, it became a game of basketball, just like it did when forgoing a 2-0 lead against Chelsea before Christmas.
Newcastle were soon coughing up possession and chances – the choke was on, again.
Burnley defender Josh Laurent volleyed a brilliant response in the 23rd minute and only a goal-line clearance by Fabian Schar, denying Marcus Edwards, preserved the Newcastle lead entering half-time.
It was Nick Pope who picked up the baton of resistance after the break and come the hour he had saved from Loum Tchaouna, Edwards and Lucas Pires.
By now, their midfield was being played around and through with ease and the front three of Gordon, Wissa ands Harvey Barnes had ceased to impact. Gordon skied one effort when a calmer finish for 3-1 would have surely killed the home spirit.
Burnley’s belief was aided by the post-Christmas generosity of their opponents, for whom the ball was the hottest of potatoes on the coldest of Lancashire nights.
Only in stoppage-time, after a mix-up between Burnley keeper Martin Dubravka and Hjalmar Ekdal, did Guimaraes show some belated cool and lobbed into an empty net from 25 yards.
A remedy of sorts, but you suspect that many of Newcastle’s ills remain.
