Newcastle took a step back once again with a lackadaisical first-half performance at Turf Moor. The lads were second best in all areas, settled for hoofing the ball up the pitch far too often, and struggled to create anything in the final third. While an improvement was made after going down, the lads need to come out blazing in the second half.
Newcastle were set up in the 5-3-2 that was deployed in last weekend’s draw against Spurs. Gayle and Joelinton led the line with a midfield trio of Almiron, Longstaff, and Shelvey. Murphy and Ritchie were at wing-back with a back three of Fernandez, Clark, and Dummett.
Ten minutes in and Newcastle hadn’t created much. We had a few sporadic crosses into the box but nothing to threaten Burnely. The Clarets had the bulk of possession and had three efforts, none of which were on target.
Martin Dubravka was forced into a big save in the 14th minute from a Burnley corner. Ashley Westwood whipped in the corner into the box. Josh Brownhill’s effort was parried away by Dubravka. Paul Dummett was able to clear the ball.
In the 17th minute, Burnley took the lead through Matej Vydra after some lax defending from Newcastle. Chris Wood was played forward after a clearance from Clark. The New Zealander dribbled into the box towards the byline before pulling the ball back to Vydra, who slotted it in for the 1-0 lead.
Newcastle had their best chance in the 37th minute. Murphy drove into the box and whipped in a cross which Dwight Gayle found at the near post. Gayle’s close-range effort forced Peacock-Farrell into a reaction save. On the rebound, Sean Longstaff dove in to head the ball but James Tarkowski’s high boot was in the way. VAR upheld the referee’s questionable decision that Longstaff wasn’t fouled.
In the 44th minute, Martin Dubravka made another world-class save albeit from a lunging clearance from Paul Dummett. The Geordie whipped a foot out to block a header flicked into the box. It forced Dubravka to parry the ball away as it was headed inside the far post.
We expect to see Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin soon in the second half. While Newcastle improved slightly in the latter stages of the half, this is another inexplicable display in a match that carries such significant weight in our survival bid.
262 comments so far
Tackle from behind
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:55 PM
Comment #1Who’s watching the VAR screens – Richard Masters?
Romford mag
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:56 PM
Comment #2It’s clear as day there is an agenda against us !!
ShaytoStay
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:56 PM
Comment #3Should have been a pen.
Anyway I think we’ll win this 3-1
ShirebrookToon
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:56 PM
Comment #4Foot VAR cheating barstewards
TheTinman
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:57 PM
Comment #5Before the pen was even given you see the ref say something to Tarkowski who then nods and looks happy.
‘I know it’s probably a pen, just please done send me off’
‘Don’t worry mate, we got you’
JohnJ
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:57 PM
Comment #6That was a 100% nailed on penalty – Why was it not given eh?
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:57 PM
Comment #7Bus!
Well Joel won’t be MOM this week he’s been anonymous, swap him for AC straight off lets get some oomph on to take on their big lads.
ShirebrookToon
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:58 PM
Comment #8Get Wilson on ffs Joelinton is footin shite today. Stop hoofin it and get the ball on the ground
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:58 PM
Comment #9Don’t think that Gayle was offside either!
Toon67
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:59 PM
Comment #10Surprise surprise, all 3 ex players in the Sky studio think it was a penalty! Bloody corrupt bast@rds!
TheTinman
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:59 PM
Comment #11Every pundit just agreed penalty. Even Keane….
Adamn_92
Apr 11, 2021 at 12:59 PM
Comment #12Pretty embarrassing first half, where’s the fight and desire we saw last week? Don’t understand how VAR can watch that multiple times and not deem it as dangerous play, basically kicked him right in the face and he’s a hardly bent down to get his head to it. Another goal conceded with a pull back from the byline, seems to me like teams do their research and knows it’s a weakness of ours. Amazing how we haven’t done anything about it! All defenders get drawn to the near post and is really really basic stuff, no way we should still be making those mistakes having done it all season long.
Optimistic prime
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:00 PM
Comment #13ROBBED, WE WAS ROBBED
BARSTEWARDS
DrGloom
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:00 PM
Comment #14I don’t but there’s a conspiracy against the toon, var has made so many poor decisions regarding pens against a lot of teams
Decent save by dubs from dummett – all in all its yet another shite display from us
martoon
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:00 PM
Comment #15Bruce needs to change it NOW but he’ll wait until 75 minutes or we’re 2 – 0 down when it’s too late!
Optimistic prime
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:00 PM
Comment #16If that had been Clark, Burnley would’ve got two pe
Tonyd3b54
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:00 PM
Comment #17Even the commentary said anywhere else on the pitch that’s a foul. I’m thinking it took so long cuz the phone rang while they’re checking it out. No need to say who was calling
Romford mag
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:00 PM
Comment #18Are the people watching V.A.R ex ref’s ?
ChicoUSA
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:00 PM
Comment #19The studio commentator over here in states also agreed….should have been a pen!
DrGloom
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:01 PM
Comment #20I doubt there’s a conspiracy even … Stupid autocorrect
Reilly
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:01 PM
Comment #21https://media.tenor.com/images/797cceaab7976d09a15eada9564a5fa2/tenor.gif
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:01 PM
Comment #22Lets get ASM on quickly as well there’s plenty of fouls in the Burnley players providing the ref puts his glasses on.
davetoon
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:02 PM
Comment #23Someone should be investigating Stuart Atwell’s bank accounts to see if he is taking money from betting syndicates.
Optimistic prime
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:02 PM
Comment #24Get Gayle Jo and Longstaff off for Wilson Asm and Wilock.
DrGloom
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:02 PM
Comment #25Need to blame the ref for not giving the pen – he referred it to var when it was an obvious pen …var is a lottery
Reilly
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:02 PM
Comment #26Mark Douglas
@MsiDouglas
· 3m
PGMOL explanation is this: “Tarkowski has played the ball first and then Longstaff has stooped and put his head into that area.”
Moonraker15
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:02 PM
Comment #27One of the greatest mysteries in premier league history. How the fk does Joelinton get in the team. He’s an absolute knacker! He wouldn’t get in Sunderland’s team!
ShirebrookToon
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:03 PM
Comment #28Even Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask
DrGloom
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:04 PM
Comment #29We can’t let the decision take away the fact we have been terrible , anonymous performances from most of the team and looks like we’ll be giving Burnley their best stats of the season
IrishRob
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:04 PM
Comment #30Gallagher didn’t disagree. You know its stonewall when he sides against his former work mates.
West Lancs Geordie
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:04 PM
Comment #31It’s alright complaining about VAR decisions but in all honesty we are second best in every department.It’s time we made our own luck . After a decent performance against Spurs our hopes we’re built up we would get another gutsy performance today. Instead, its back to the same old clueless nieve stuff of launching the ball forward for our two “big” lads up front Almiron and Gayle.
Tarkowski & Mee will win them balls every time. Furthermore we do not win any second ball never mind first. Please make changes BEFORE we go two down.
Carroll and Wilson are required up top with ASM NOW. Danger man for them O’Neil on the left against Murphy.
davetoon
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:04 PM
Comment #32@Reilly that is irrelevant. Whoever said that needs to read the rulebook
Toon67
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:04 PM
Comment #33Dangerous and wreckless play, it’s a simple as that.
Moonraker15
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:05 PM
Comment #34If that wasn’t a clear and obvious error I don’t know what is!
Romford mag
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:05 PM
Comment #35Shirebrook
Lol , love it 😀
SholaShow
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:05 PM
Comment #36Raise foot like that in the box without looking at your surroundings and you’re taking a chance. Fine if nobody is there when you swivel, but if there is it’s a clear foul.
Don’t see how any other honest interpretation can be made. Have to conclude there is skullduggery involved, which is another big reason I’m being turned off by football in general, outside of our circumstance.
The game reeks of corruption.
IrishRob
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:05 PM
Comment #37Need to see ASM come on at ht and not in the 60th or 70th min.
Jarra
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:05 PM
Comment #38Most of us would make changes at half time
West Lancs Geordie
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:05 PM
Comment #39Moonraker you’re right. £40M for Joelinton – highway robbery.
Jarra
Apr 11, 2021 at 1:05 PM
Comment #40So we were all wrong same line up