SEAN ENJOYS A HEN PARTY
JEFF HENDRICK grabbed a 74th-minute winner to make it a happy fifth anniversary for Sean Dyche as Burnley boss.
The Republic of Ireland star blasted home at the far post to settle a dour match and give Dyche – and the Clarets fans – further reason to celebrate.
Dyche seems to have been linked with every Premier League job going recently, with interest from Leicester, Everton and Crystal Palace over the last few months.
But for now he remains at Burnley, who he has transformed from mid-table Championship mediocrity into a solid Premier League side.
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez certainly respects the job Dyche has done because he set up his side to try to strangle the life out of the home side last night.
Spark
But Hendrick finally came up with the breakthrough after keeper Rob Elliot had parried Jack Cork’s shot into the path of Johann Berg Gudmundsson.
That allowed the Icelander to cross for his fellow midfielder to kill the ball and score from close range.
Both sides were well organised but lacked the spark to create many clearcut openings.
Hendrick might have scored after just 34 seconds when he latched on to a James Tarkowski flick and whipped a shot across goal with his left foot.
Then birthday boy Ashley Barnes – 28 yesterday – powered a header just wide after Robbie Brady delivered a tasty outswinger from the left wing.
Barnes, in for injured leading scorer Chris Wood, did all he could to make a nuisance of himself but Newcastle’s defence was equally determined to keep him quiet.
At the other end, Christian Atsu had some bright moments cutting in from the left but saw two half-chances to score get away from him. The first came as he snatched at a shot after a goalmouth scramble at a corner but sent the ball sailing over the bar.
Then, as half-time approached, the Ghana winger saw the ball drop to him 20 yards out and lashed at goal but Matt Lowton flung himself in the way to block with his chest. In between, Atsu had Lowton rocking on his heels with a positive run in from the flank and set up Jonjo Shelvey to hit a first-time strike straight at keeper Nick Pope from the edge of the area.
Shelvey’s temper has landed him in trouble more than once but he showed the better side of his game with two