Newcastle finally eased their travel sickness with a 3-1 victory at Turf Moor, claiming only their second Premier League win on the road in 13 attempts and delivering another blow to Burnley’s survival hopes.
Eddie Howe’s side made the perfect start, racing into a commanding position inside the opening seven minutes. Joelinton broke the deadlock with an inventive flick that caught Burnley cold before Yoane Wissa, handed his first league start for the club, added a second moments later.
Wissa’s goal was anything but straightforward. After Harvey Barnes saw an initial effort blocked, the forward reacted quickest to stab home at the second attempt. Burnley protested furiously, believing Bruno Guimaraes had illegally nudged Josh Laurent in the build-up, but a lengthy VAR review upheld the goal.
The hosts responded with spirit and urgency, refusing to let the game drift away. Their persistence was rewarded when Laurent struck back with a crisp volley to halve the deficit and inject belief into the contest.
Burnley carried that momentum into the second half and came close to drawing level. Laurent clipped the crossbar with a looping effort, while Loum Tchaouna wasted two promising chances as Newcastle began to creak under pressure.
Just as the game threatened to swing decisively in Burnley’s favour, a defensive mix-up proved costly. Guimaraes seized on hesitation at the back and produced a stunning chipped finish from around 30 yards, restoring Newcastle’s two-goal cushion and effectively settling the contest.
The result leaves Scott Parker’s side without a league win in 10 matches and six points adrift of safety, while Newcastle can finally reflect on a rare away success — their first since a 4-1 win at Everton at the end of November — even if the performance was far from flawless.
After the match, Howe admitted the importance of the result outweighed any concerns about style. He praised his players’ resilience, highlighting the character shown during a difficult second half and stressing that confidence, rather than quality, has been the key issue during their recent struggles. He also pointed to previous performances where results had not matched their level, insisting that persistence would eventually be rewarded.
Wissa’s inclusion added a different attacking dimension for Newcastle. Where Nick Woltemade offers physical presence and link-up play, Wissa brings direct running, unpredictability and a willingness to stretch defences. That contrast was immediately evident at Turf Moor, with Newcastle’s early aggression setting the tone for their fast start.
For Burnley, there were at least signs of encouragement despite another defeat. Armando Broja led the line with authority, occupying defenders, driving into channels and offering a focal point that has often been missing. With the gap to safety still manageable, his display provided Parker’s side with something tangible to build on as the relegation battle continues.
