BURNLEY 0
NEWCASTLE 0
STEVE BRUCE has admitted he “can’t defend” Newcastle’s lack of goals – as they clocked up six hours without scoring in the Premier League.
These were grim times again at St James’ Park, but actually not as bad as other recent performances.
This was the fourth PL game in a row firing blanks – all of February’s league fixtures – and boos rang out as the final whistle sounded.
The last time they went through a goal drought this bad, four years ago, Newcastle were relegated.
Burnley, on the other hand, have already kept a remarkable 11 clean sheets this season.
“Goals? It is our Achilles heel,” Bruce said. “I can’t sit here and defend it. That is what we are.”
A run of grinding, and slightly fortunate, wins before Christmas should mean Newcastle have enough in the tank to survive this time.
But nothing is yet guaranteed, and Bruce knows one win in the last 10 PL games is not good enough.
Among their last six outings in all competitions, Newcastle have failed to score in five, with only a last-gasp 3-2 victory at League One Oxford providing relief in the FA Cup.
Bruce added: “The Premier League is so, so difficult. I am still quietly confident we will get to safety.
“Ten games left, five here. The fans are on board with the Cup too, let’s have a crack at West Brom on Tuesday.”
There was a strange context to this valuable point against resilient, tough Burnley, who are enjoying another impressive season.
Bruce’s men, refreshed by Dwight Gayle recalled up front, and Miguel Almiron busting a gut in the No.10 role, fired in 21 attempts on goal.
But just four were on target, without Nick Pope having to make a single proper save. Neither did Martin Dubravka at the other end, mind.
Bruce said: “I was pleased with some aspects. The clean sheet, defensive stability after changing formation.
We have had far more attempts than in past games.
“Bits of it were pleasing, but there is room for improvement.
“We changed shape, we were more of a threat and looked more like scoring.
“We had 21 attempts. We have to take one. There lies our problem. We have to keep bashing away at it and hope it improves.
“Joelinton looked comfortable in that position. Being to one side suits him, and I was pleased with Dwight too. He gave us a threat.
“Almiron’s best position is off the front and he did OK as well.”
Crowd favourite Allan Saint-Maximin was kept back until the last 12 minutes after he had suffered a sore hamstring in training.
Toon fans chanted for his early introduction – but Bruce said his omission was an “easy decision”, and he will be fit for the FA Cup fifth-round trip to the Hawthorns.
Burnley have kept four clean sheets in five games in the League, and Dyche felt a “healthy frustration”.
He said: “We didn’t get to grips with the game offensively, we could not find a way to win.
“But that is 11 clean sheets for the season and that always gives you something to build on. It’s a really strong marker.
“Newcastle have only lost here three times this season. We thought we could win it, but it is not that easy.
“It is a healthy frustration, 38 points with 10 games to go. It makes you greedy for more from the players.
“There was no real zip to it. We couldn’t find the energy, the passing was bobbly. We never really found the quality, but we did defend well.”
Bruce executed a comprehensive shake-up of his starting XI. Gayle livened up the front line and had a host of chances. There were also chants of “attack, attack, attack” but the ball just won’t go into the net for the home side. That needs to change soon or Bruce (below) is in for a nail-biting finale
to the season.