Newcastle United may not have delivered a perfect performance at Turf Moor, but what mattered most was the result. A 3-1 win away from home does not come easily for this side, and despite long spells of worry, loose moments, and a few players clearly struggling, Eddie Howe’s team dug deep to take three vital points back to Tyneside.
It was the kind of night where resilience mattered more than style, and while some individuals shone brightly, others will know they need to do much better.
The starting lineup saw Nick Pope return in goal behind a back four of Lewis Miley, Malick Thiaw, Fabian Schar, and Lewis Hall. In midfield, Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali were joined by Joelinton, while Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon supported Yoane Wissa up front.
Nick Pope put in a steady performance and looked sharp when it counted. He made several important saves in the second half, using both his hands and feet to deny Burnley any route back into the match. His distribution was not great and invited pressure at times, but after time away, he did what was needed and earned a solid 7 out of 10.
Lewis Miley once again showed maturity beyond his years. Playing at right-back, he stayed calm during some frantic moments and made plenty of defensive contributions.
He lost one header at the far post, but thankfully it did not lead to a goal. Overall, his discipline and awareness stood out in a chaotic game, and he deserved a 7.
Malick Thiaw was decent without being dominant. He won most of his battles and did not panic under pressure, but there were moments when Burnley’s runners caught him slightly out of position. It was a respectable showing, though not his very best, and he takes a 6.5.
Fabian Schar had one of those mixed nights that seem to follow him around. There were loose clearances and an unnecessary foul that gave Burnley a cheap free kick, but he also made a vital goal-line clearance and played a key pass that helped start the move for Joelinton’s opener. He balanced out in the end, finishing with a 6.
Lewis Hall was one of Newcastle’s brighter players. He drove forward with energy, showed real quality on the ball, and looked brave even after twisting his ankle. He nearly set up a goal and kept pushing when others faded. Defensively, he could have had more help, but his overall impact earned him a strong 7.5.
Bruno Guimarães had a game of ups and downs. At times he looked tired and gave the ball away in dangerous areas, but he still managed to create two big chances and scored a crucial third goal that killed the game. His calm finish from distance showed his class, and despite some sloppy moments, he did enough for a 7.
Sandro Tonali struggled badly and looked far from his best. Burnley ran past him too easily, and he failed to control the midfield or show his usual quality in possession. He was fortunate not to pick up a booking and never really got into the rhythm of the game. This was one of his weakest performances in a Newcastle shirt, and he gets a disappointing 4.
Joelinton was the standout performer on the night. Making his first start since returning, he wasted no time by scoring after just over a minute with a brilliant finish. Beyond the goal, he protected the ball well, passed sharply, and worked hard defensively. His presence lifted the team, and he fully deserved an excellent 8 out of 10.
Harvey Barnes looked uncomfortable playing on the right side. While he did get a shot away that eventually led to Newcastle’s second goal, he missed a clear one-on-one and drifted out of the game for long periods. It was not a disaster, but it was far from convincing, earning him a 5.
Yoane Wissa made the most of his opportunity with another striker’s goal, reacting quickly to finish from close range. He competed well in the air and offered an outlet when Newcastle needed relief. Service was limited, but his movement and instincts were clear. He finished with a deserved 7.
Anthony Gordon summed up frustration. He started well with an assist for Joelinton and caused problems early on, but his performance faded badly. He spent too much time looking for fouls, failed to track back properly, and became ineffective. A poor second half sees him rated at 4.5.
From the bench, Jacob Murphy made little impact. He was slow to react, missed a big chance, and failed to inject energy into the side. He takes a 4. Nick Woltemade had a short cameo and showed some decent hold-up play, but a poor pass ruined a promising break.
He earns a 5. Jacob Ramsey tried to push the team forward late on but struggled to make things happen and also finishes with a 5. Joe Willock only played a few minutes and cannot really be judged.
Overall, this was not a performance Newcastle will remember fondly, but it was an important win built on moments of quality and resilience. The points matter, the table will reflect it, and while several players need to improve, nights like this can still shape a season.
