Newcastle v Burnley

Saturday 7th December, KO 3 pm - Match Preview

The Toon come into this game after the frustration and disappointment of the Spurs game when another 2pts were lost to a late equaliser - making it 11pts lost from winning positions already this season.

Some of that disappointment is offset by the fact that most fans would have settled for 7pts from an unbeaten run of three games against Man City, Everton and Spurs.

It's a must win game as gaps start to open up the league...

A win against Spurs would have put us only 3pts behind 4th place but as it is we are now 5pts behind Chelsea, 8pts, behind Aston Villa and 9pts behind 2nd placed Man City.

If we don't get 3pts tomorrow the door on what has been a very open season up until now could start to close - we would need to start winning at least three games more compared to the top 4 to get into a CL place. No easy task.

With Burnley having lost their last five games with only three goals scored and a GD of -13, the second worst in the league, on paper this should be a guaranteed win for the Toon.

But as we all know, the game isn't played on paper, it will be played on the pitch at SJP and our inconsistency won't fill many fans with outright confidence of getting the 3pts we so desperately need.

Closing games out is a training ground priority...

We've conceded too many late goals this season for it to be a considered unlucky.

Going to five at the back against Spurs in added time was an invitation to attack us and the rushed tackles, attempted clearances and poor possession play made it all too easy for Spurs to control the closing minutes of the game.

The team have shown time and again this season that we can dominate early and get the first goal but - other than away to Everton - we haven't gone on to control the game and add the goals needed to kill off the opposition.

That has to change and given that there are rarely easy games in the Prem we are just as likely to be only a goal ahead of Burnley going into the last ten minutes as being two or more ahead.

So, what I want to see tomorrow is not only a good start to the game but a good middle and end. Game management has to improve.

I want to see evidence that lessons have been learned on the training pitch to control the game late on and, especially, not to defend deep or give possession and dead ball opportunities away cheaply.

A win tomorrow could see us overtake Sunderland in the derby

3pts tomorrow and a defeat for Sunderland at Man City would set us up for what is sure to be one of the spiciest and most crucially important derbies in years.

How good would it be to knock the Mackem's and their gloating fans off their perch in their own backyard. It would instantly propel our spirits, joy. confidence and CL prospects sky high. Our season would be transformed in 90 odd minutes.

But first, we have to beat Burnley. No excuses accepted for a draw or defeat.

My usual fiver is going on a 2-0 win but I hope I'm a few goals to the good out.

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