MIGGY’S MAGIC
Almiron turns in another spell-binding display
MIGUEL ALMIRON is on the goals trail again – and defences should be quaking in their boots.
Because it was on the corresponding weekend 12 months ago that Newcastle’s Paraguayan flyer scored twice at Fulham and subsequently found the net in five of the next six games.
And with the leaves falling and nights drawing in, Almiron is in the mood again with two goals inside six days.
Following up his season opener in the 8-0 rout of Sheffield United, he smashed home a 14th-minute thunderbolt from 25 yards after Kieran Trippier had robbed a dawdling Aaron Ramsey.
And Alexander Isak (right) warmed up for the Champions League visit of Paris Saint-germain on Wednesday with a 76thminute penalty following Ameen Aldakhil’s foul on Anthony Gordon.
Burnley remain winless but had some encouraging moments.
They almost reduced the deficit two minutes later when Nick Pope produced a flying save to tip away Al-dakhil’s nearpost header.
And before Almiron struck, it was the Clarets who looked like the home side with their players bombing forward and their fans in the St James’ Park gods drowning out the Toon Army.
They should have been ahead on 11 minutes but for a superlative save from former Turf Moor favourite Pope.
Luca Koleosho sped past Dan Burn to set up Zeki Amdouni who looked certain to score only for Pope to foil him.
Newcastle improved after taking the lead and could have been out of sight by half-time.
Sent clear by Bruno Guimaraes, Isak was initially denied by James Trafford and was
then unable to guide the bouncing ball into an empty net from close range. And twice before the break, the Clarets keeper prevented Elliot Anderson scoring his first Magpies’ goal, pushing away his 35th-minute diving header. Newcastle continued to press on the restart with Trippier’s drive deflected just wide. Burnley never looked like capitulating but rarely threatened to cancel out Almiron’s stunner either. And every Geordie will be praying this is the start of another hot streak for their talisman. NEWCASTLE: Pope 7; Trippier 8, Lascelles 6, Schar 7, Burn 6; Longstaff 7, Guimaraes 7, Anderson 6 (Joelinton (62) 5), Tonali (68) 5); Gordon 6, Isak 7 (Livramento (90) 5), Almiron 8 (Murphy (90) 5) BURNLEY: Trafford 6; Roberts 6 (Vitinho (88) 5), Al-dakhil 5, Beyer 7, Taylor 7; Cullen 6, Ramsey 5 (Odobert (67) 7); Koleosho 7 (Bruun Larsen (58) 6), Brownhill 6, Berge 6 (Zaroury (88) 5); Amdouni 5 (Rodriquez (58) 6) STAR MAN: Miguel Almiron – He’s got those shooting boots on again. REF: Thomas Bramall 6