DOOM AND GLOOM AT THE TOON Benitez blow as Darlow’s gaffe gifts Burnley a draw
NEWCASTLE Lascelles 65 1 BURNLEY Darlow 85 (og) 1
IT IS just as well Newcastle United are bringing in a new striker and goalkeeper, for it was players in those positions who cost them two points here.
Spanish forward Joselu missed a first-half penalty and a second-half chance at 1-0 which was equally as inviting as a spot-kick, while keeper Karl Darlow turned into his own net late on to surrender what would have been a first home victory in eight matches.
That pair could well have each other for company on the bench in the coming weeks with loan deals for Leicester striker Islam Slimani and Sparta Prague goalkeeper Martin Dubravka set to be confirmed late last night.
Rafa Benitez had made an 11th-hour plea to Mike Ashley for reinforcements and the owner duly sanctioned those two arrivals, adding to last week’s loan signing of Chelsea winger Kenedy, who at least showed plenty of promise on his debut.
Sadly, for Benitez, the last-minute nature of yesterday’s business meant that it came too late to impact against Burnley.
The Spaniard said: ‘It’s not a question of me complaining or moaning because that will not change anything. So it’s just to be sure we maximise what we have and win games. That’s it.’
It is usually the case that transfer deadline day marks the onset of fresh fan protests on Tyneside — there was an anti-Ashley banner before kick-off — but much like the super blue moon which illuminated the skies above St James’ Park, this was a rare occurrence.
There was pre-match optimism at news of impending signings and a start for Kenedy. In the end, however, it proved the same, sorry story on the pitch.
It was fitting that an own goal by Darlow proved their undoing, for this was self-inflicted. But most of the blame lay with Joselu.
‘We have seen many games we deserve to win but could not do it,’ added Benitez. ‘We created enough chances.’ Benitez has spent the entire month making his case for signings, so he wasn’t about to name his sole addition on the bench. It did not take long for Kenedy to get the home crowd on their feet, cracking a post with a curler from 20 yards.
And it was the Brazilian who won Newcastle’s 34th-minute penalty when he was brought down by a sliding Phil Bardsley. Joselu’s effort, however, was weak and telegraphed, with goalkeeper Nick Pope simply dropping to his left to save with ease.
It was no surprise when Kenedy laid on the opening goal for Jamaal Lascelles on 65 minutes, the captain heading home from a whipped corner.
Then came Joselu’s chance to make sure of victory but, having been sent clear by Jacob Murphy, he dragged his shot across the face of goal.
And a day which promised so much for Newcastle was to end in heartache as a header from Burnley substitute Sam Vokes was pushed on to the bar by Darlow only for the dropping ball to bounce off his head and roll over the line five minutes from time. NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Darlow 5; Yedlin 6, Lascelles 6, Clark 6, Dummett 7; Merino 5.5, Diame 7; Atsu 6 (Murphy 64min, 6.5), Perez 6 (Gayle 85), KENEDY 7.5 (Ritchie 72, 6); Joselu 4.5. Subs not used: Shelvey, Hayden, Manquillo, Woodman. Scorer: Lascelles 65. Booked: Yedlin. Manager: Rafa Benitez 7. BURNLEY (4-2-3-1): Pope 7; Bardsley 5.5, Mee 6, Long 6, Taylor 6; Cork 6, Westwood 6 (Vokes 70, 5); Gudmundsson 6 (N’Koudou 83), Hendrick 6, Arfield 5 (Lennon 60, 5); Barnes 7. Subs not used: Lowton, Ulvestad, Wells, Lindegaard. Scorer: Darlow 85 (og). Booked: Vokes, Barnes. Manager: Sean Dyche 5. Referee: Simon Hooper 5. Attendance: 50,174.