Point for Bruce not to be sneezed at

IN ISOLATION this was no more than a decent display from Newcastle. In the context of what has gone recently it was champagne football, even if a fourth straight game without a goal equals an unwanted club record in the Premier League.

The last time they did that, in 2015-16 under Steve McClaren, they were relegated. The cushion to safety is down to five points and, after one win in 10, there are a few nerves on Tyneside, evidenced by the boos at full time.

That felt a little harsh on Steve Bruce’s side, who had 21 efforts on goal and enjoyed more than 50 per cent possession for the first time this season at St James’ Park.

But for all their improvement here they never truly looked like scoring and just four of those shots found the target.

The last time they scored a league goal, in mid January, coronavirus was yet to be mentioned in the western world. Since then Newcastle have banned their players from shaking hands amid fear of the global epidemic. But there is little danger of them congratulating one another on their current form in the penalty area. Goals have been placed in quarantine in these parts and the lack of composure is proving contagious.

‘We were certainly more of a threat,’ said Bruce, ‘but we have to take one of those chances, and therein lies our problem. It’s our achilles heel, that’s what we are.

‘But we had 21 attempts, which is far more than we’ve had before. You have to say well done to Burnley for getting so many blocks in.’

Bruce, as promised, ditched the five-man defence he inherited from Rafa Benitez so this was finally Brucie-ball, a 4-2-3-1 formation with £40million striker Joelinton, seven months without a goal, shifted to the left wing.

The manager believes that is his best position and, even though the bar is low when it comes to marking the Brazilian’s contribution, this was his best for some time.

Burnley were forced to call on some last-ditch defending to deny Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie in the first half and at the other end offered little, even if Martin Dubravka did make the best save of the half when Jeff Hendrick’s cross-shot sailed towards the top corner.

Burnley were on top entering the final 25 minutes of the match and, with the game stretched, a winning goal looked likely. Ritchie came within inches of providing it when his 25-yard drive shaved a post. He should have done better when Newcastle broke with a man advantage in stoppage-time but he fired straight at a defender.

Clarets boss Sean Dyche admitted: ‘We thought we could come here and win but never really got to grips with the game offensively.’