Anthony Gordon left Turf Moor with mixed emotions after Newcastle United’s 3-1 win over Burnley, a result that briefly lifted the Magpies into 10th place in the Premier League. The victory itself mattered far more than individual moments, especially for a team that has struggled away from home this season, but Gordon still found himself questioning how the game was officially recorded.
What should have been a positive night ended with a small dose of frustration for the winger, even as Newcastle secured only their second league win on the road.
Newcastle started the match in explosive fashion. Within the opening seven minutes, they had already taken control thanks to goals from Joelinton and Yoane Wissa. The early pressure paid off immediately and stunned Burnley, who were still settling into the game when they found themselves two goals behind.
Gordon played a key role in that fast start, driving at his marker with confidence and purpose. His direct running set the tone and forced Burnley onto the back foot.
Burnley eventually found a way back into the contest midway through the first half. Josh Laurent pulled one back in the 32nd minute after Newcastle failed to deal with a dangerous moment in the box. That goal shifted the momentum and gave the home side belief going into the break.
In the second half, Burnley pushed hard for an equaliser, applying pressure and asking serious questions of Newcastle’s defence. The Magpies were forced to dig deep and show resilience, something they have lacked at times this season.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Newcastle finally sealed the win. Bruno Guimarães took full advantage of a costly mistake from goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka, capitalising calmly to make it 3-1 and end Burnley’s hopes of a comeback. It was a moment of relief for everyone in black and white, as the three points were far from comfortable.
Despite the win, Gordon’s name quickly became a talking point after the match. The England international believed he had earned an assist for Joelinton’s opening goal. He had beaten Kyle Walker convincingly down the right flank before delivering a cross into the box.
Joelinton met it perfectly and volleyed it home. However, because the ball took a slight deflection off Walker before reaching Joelinton, the Premier League did not officially credit Gordon with the assist.
Gordon’s reaction was light-hearted but clearly pointed. On social media, he wished Newcastle fans a happy new year and tagged the Premier League with a question mark, along with emojis suggesting confusion about the assist decision.
It was a small moment, but it summed up how players often feel when fine margins decide how performances are recorded. For Gordon, it was not about chasing statistics but about recognition for the work he put into creating the goal.
His overall performance on the night divided opinion among Newcastle supporters. Some felt he was one of the main attacking threats, while others pointed to moments where he could have done better.
Defensively, Gordon switched off for Burnley’s goal, allowing Laurent to drift into space and score. There were also times when he gave the ball away unnecessarily, adding pressure to his own team. In the second half, he missed a clear chance to restore Newcastle’s two-goal lead earlier, which only added to the mixed views.
Eddie Howe, however, had no doubts about Gordon’s contribution. The Newcastle manager praised the winger’s impact and energy, highlighting how dangerous he looked throughout the game.
Howe felt Gordon’s presence was obvious, describing him as dynamic and direct, and pointed out that he delivered several good balls into the box that deserved better outcomes. From the touchline, Howe also believed Gordon was fouled on a few occasions without getting the decisions, something that added to the player’s frustration.
This match was not an isolated case when it comes to opinions on Gordon’s form. His performance in the Boxing Day defeat to Manchester United also split fans, even though Howe felt he was Newcastle’s best player on the night. More recently, Gordon’s display in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea reminded everyone of his quality.
He played a crucial role in both goals, pressing aggressively, driving into the box, and creating chances with purpose and intelligence.
Against Chelsea, Gordon first forced an error from Wesley Fofana, raced into the area, and saw his shot saved, allowing Nick Woltemade to score the rebound. Later, his in-swinging cross was perfectly placed for Woltemade to score again.
The pair nearly combined for a third just before half-time, showing clear chemistry and understanding. Those moments highlighted exactly what Gordon can offer when he is confident and focused.
In Europe, Gordon has been even more consistent. His Champions League record this season stands at five goals and two assists in six matches, a return that underlines his ability to deliver on the big stage.
Until the Chelsea game, though, he had gone a long stretch without a Premier League assist, which shows how fine the margins can be between strong performances and tangible numbers.
Howe has made it clear that the challenge for Gordon is consistency. The Newcastle boss wants that high level to become the standard, not the exception.
He believes Gordon’s performances have improved steadily over the last few games and sees real progress in his overall game. Now, the task is to maintain that level week after week, home and away.
For Gordon, the night at Burnley was about more than an assist. It was about contributing to a rare away win, showing his threat, and continuing an upward trend in form.
The assist may not appear next to his name in the official records, but his influence on the match was clear. If he can keep delivering performances like this, the numbers will eventually take care of themselves.
