MEMORABLE MOMENTS
Dubravka solid, Dyche fuming highlights from Clarets clash
A ROUTINE Premier League victory is not what you immediately associate with Newcastle United – but they have now had two in a row and fans are rightly in positive spirits.
A thunderbolt from Fabian Schar and Academy graduate Sean Longstaff ’s first Premier League strike delivered the win over the Clarets.
However, the goals themselves were far from the only notable incidents during a night of high drama at St James’ Park ...
JOE Hart hits a fan with a ball – and then offers them a selfie and a shirt He may not have actually played a part during the match itself but England goalkeeper Hart showed he is a class act off the field ahead of the game.
Having accidentally kicked the ball into the face of an unsuspecting fan in the crowd during the warmup, Hart went across and apologised.
After posing for a selfie, he then gave her a training shirt, which he signed and added the message: ‘My bad.’
It may have been a Clarets’ training top but it is still a momento of a meeting with the England goalkeeper for her to keep.
AFORMER Newcastle backroomstaff member is back in the press box
Steve Stone worked on the Newcastle backroom staff during Alan Pardew and John Carver’s St James’ Park tenures and he is now the under-23s’ coach at Burnley.
The Gateshead-born former England international took his seat in the press box ahead of the game, too, wearing an ear-piece to pass messages down to the bench.
JAVIER MANQUILLO is coached through the game defensively by Benitez
The one change to the starting line-up from the Huddersfield Town victory was a surprise one, DeAndre Yedlin rested and Javier Manquillo elevated into the XI.
The Spaniard is suspect defensively but he was extremely solid against the Clarets – and that was largely because Benitez spent the match coaching him through it.
The United manager could be seen from the touchline shouting instructions at Manquillo throughout the game and telling the wing- back where he should be
positionally.
NO Mike Ashley once again – and his lieutenants aren’t present either
Magpies’ owner Mike Ashley was not in the stands for the victory over Huddersfield and nor was the billionaire present to witness this win over Burnley. In fact, his trusted lieutenants Justin Barnes and Keith Bishop – both of who were in the directors’ box at the weekend – were seemingly not at St James’ Park, either, with managing director Lee Charnley the only member of the United hierarchy who was there.
CROUCH and Joselu embrace on the touchline
Team-mates at Stoke City for two years, Burnley forward Peter Crouch and Newcastle striker Joselu were reunited on the touchline at St James’ Park on Tuesday.
During the first half, the two substitutes could be seen embracing as they warmed up on the side of the pitch and sharing a long conversation.
DUBRAVKA shows his confidence has not been knocked There have been questions raised about Martin Dubravka’s form in recent weeks given a few mistakes the Slovakia international has made and, while he has only had to make two saves over the past two matches, he showed his confidence has not been knocked on Tuesday night.
Burnley repeatedly sent high balls into the United area and time after time Dubravka came bravely off his line to collect them.
Benitez thought the Clarets were targeting his goalkeeper in the air and, while Dubravka received little protection, he made sure he protected his goal regardless.
THE St James’ Park crowd show just how proud they are of ‘one of our own’ – twice
It really was an emotional evening for Sean Longstaff and one made all the more memorable by the reception he received from fans.
After the midfielder ran to the corner and showed rare emotion to celebrate enthusiastically, Newcastle fans serenaded him with a chorus of: “Sean Longstaff, he’s one of our own.”
The very same song echoed around the ground when the 21-year-old was substituted in the 84th minute to a standing ovation as Magpie supporters showed Longstaff how proud they are of his rapid progress from the Academy to firstteam regular.
BURNLEY are denied a penalty – and Dyche fumes on the touchline
Although the visitors rarely threatened at St James’ Park, they can rightly feel aggrieved they were not awarded a penalty shortly after Longstaff’s goal.
As Johann Berg Gudmundsson wildly lashed an effort over the bar from just inside the area, Matt Ritchie slid in and appeared to trip the Burnley wideman - but no spotkick was given.
Sean Dyche was left fuming on the touchline and screamed his disapproval at the fourth official in the aftermath of the incident.
HEATON is almost forced to handle it outside his area by Almiron’s pace but displays great keeping skills
When Miguel Almiron broke in behind the Burnley defence in the 42nd minute, a huge roar of excitement erupted around the ground.
However, the Paraguayan was forced wide given the trajectory of the pass and goalkeeper Tom Heaton rushed off his line to try and smother the ball.
The Burnley shot-stopper had to slide forward in order to get there ahead of Almiron, who again showed blistering pace, and Heaton’s momentum almost took his out of the box.
The goalkeeper showed great skill to release the ball before he handled it outside of his area, though, and then punted it clear.
AS BENITEZ goes ballistic on the touchline, he receives a warning from the fourth official – and a smirk from Dyche
While Benitez was animated on Saturday because he was filled with nervous energy, the Spaniard was exasperated at times in his technical area on Tuesday night because of Burnley’s approach and the referee’s reluctance to penalise the visitors for what he saw as persistent fouling.
The 58-year-old repeatedly turned to fourth official Lee Mason and gestured that Burnley players were jumping on to the shoulders of Magpies and complaining about the Clarets’ physicality.
At one stage Mason reprimanded Benitez, seemingly warning the Spaniard he had taken his protests too far.
This was at a stage when Dyche appeared to be winding the United manager up by claiming the challenges were legal while smirking at the same time.
DUMMETT sports his new ‘do’ on match day for the first time
When Almiron was withdrawn to another standing ovation during the closing stages he was replaced by Paul Dummett – who came on sporting his new silver-blond barnet in a match for the first time.
The Geordie defender (below) took up his place as a left-wing-back, allowing Ritchie to push higher up the field and occupy the position vacated by Almiron’s departure, displaying the options Benitez now has to call upon throughout his side.
AMEMBER of Burnley’s backroom staff kicks the ball off Schar’s head – and Antia rushes across in anger
In a rather bizarre moment late in the game, a member of Burnley’s backroom staff kicked the ball towards Fabian Schar as the United defender was lying on the ground following a foul from Crouch.
The ball struck Schar’s head, albeit without too much force, and Newcastle’s bench took exception to the curious incident.
Assistant first-team coach Mikel Antia could be seen sprinting from the Newcastle dugout to the Burnley technical area before confronting the Clarets’ staff member and making it clear he felt such action was unacceptable.
DIAME departs St James’ Park sporting a war wound above his eye
It did not appear to be a deliberate challenge but there is no doubt Crouch was fortunate not to receive any formal punishment for his stray elbow which caught Mo Diame in the face.
Jamaal Lascelles was infuriated by the challenge and Diame sported a war wound afterwards – departing St James’ Park via the mixed zone with a sizeable white plaster and strapping above his left eye.
RAFA Benitez greets a surprisingly close friend – who waited around after commentary for him
It is one of the more curious friendships in football but Benitez and Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis are close off the field. During his formative years as a coach, Benitez visited Pulis’ training sessions as he looked to gain greater knowledge of English football – and the pair have been friends ever since.
Pulis was at St James’ Park as a pundit for Radio 5 Live and, after the game, he waited patiently for Benitez to finish his duties before the pair had a catchup.