Cool Callum spells double trouble as Toon down Clarets
NEWCASTLE United sent Burnley crashing into the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-1 away win in Lancashire.
On a day of sheer emotion at Turf Moor, Mike Jackson’s troops never looked like taking the points off a determined Newcastle side.
It was Callum Wilson who looked like the coolest player on the field as he slotted home a goal in each half to do the damage for the Clarets.
For months this fixture was talked about as a potential relegation playoff - but the reality is Newcastle’s safety was in the bag weeks before the last-day finale.
United were dealt an early blow when Joelinton went crashing to the turf after an aerial challenge after just eight minutes and needed to be carried off on a stretcher.
Within seconds he had been replaced by Jacob Murphy for what turned out to be an intense clash in Lancashire.
The game’s first opening came on 15 minutes when Bruno Guimaraes struck a low shot which Nick Pope parried to safety - but Newcastle grabbed the lead four minutes later.
A ridiculous handball from Nathan Collins resulted in a VAR check before referee Craig Pawson consulted the monitor and pointed to the spot.
Wilson stepped up to send England
goalkeeper Nick Pope the wrong way.
Burnley had their chances to level with Dwight Mcneil presented with the best of them but he sent a shot flying over the bar.
Saint-maximin should have doubled the Magpies’ lead in first-half stoppage time but after breaking free down the left he could only watch on as Pope palmed away the danger.
Burnley went in for the interval knowing they were staring the Championship in the face with Leeds level at Brentford.
The Clarets threw on Wout Weghorst for Connor Roberts for the second half.
With 50 minutes played a Jacob Murphy cross fizzed across the face of goal with Collins almost turning it past os own keeper - but Pope gathered after a nervous moment from the Burnley man.
Guimaraes tried his luck from 45-yards out on 57 minutes when winning the ball off an opponent but Pope read the situation well and gathered.
United should really have gone two up when Miguel Almiron skipped through but rather than square the ball across to Wilson, he opted to shoot - belting it hopelessly high and wide.
However, on the hour it was 2-0 when Saint-maximin toiled down the right before rolling it to Wilson,
who finished expertly. Turf Moor fell silent for the most part - but there was belief in the air again midway through the second period.
It was Maxwel Cornet who reduced the arrears for Burnley after initially being denied by Martin Dubravk - but there was absolutely no stopping the follow up as he lashed home to make it 2-1.
That was the cue for Eddie Howe to turn to former Burnley man Chris Wood from the bench.
In a pressure-cooker atmosphere, Collins sprinted over to Saint-maximin to order him to hurry up as he went off with Burnley fighting for their lives.
Reports of Brentford’s equaliser filtered around Turf Moor to spark crazy scenes of celebration - but the home side was not home and dry at that stage.
Jack Cork’s curling effort was headed off the line by Matt Targett with eight minutes to go.
Newcastle found a way through after a defensive error from Charlie Taylor on 85 minutes but Wilson’s pursuit of a hat-trick was dented by another Pope save. Dubravka was then called into action with time running out as Taylor crossed for Cornet but the Slovakian gathered.
Howe made his last substitution of the day when he introduced Matt Ritchie for Almiron.
Wilson went through in the 90th minute but hooked high over the bar before four minutes of added time were displayed.
Both Cornet and Ashley Barnes had chances in stoppage time but Martin Dubravka kept them out.
The full-time whistle coincided with news of a second goal for Leeds to confirm Burnley’s relegation.
United, though, had done their side of the bargain and ended a campaign in which they had looked destined for the drop in a creditable 11th place.