Burnley round-up as door opens in striker chase following Newcastle United defeat
The latest headlines from around Turf Moor following Burnley's defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday.
Burnley are once again licking their wounds after a sixth straight Premier League defeat, but their performance away at Newcastle United left plenty of reasons for optimism.
The Clarets showed plenty of threat in the opening stages before succumbing to Bruno Guimaraes’ 31st-minute strike and an Anthony Gordon penalty right before half-time, either side of Lucas Pires’ red card. But Burnley put in a spirited second-half performance, even grabbing a late goal with Zian Flemming’s penalty despite playing a man down. Three of Burnley’s next four league games are at Turf Moor, where they’ve picked up 70% of their points this season, so if they can replicate this sort of performance, the picture could look much more palatable by the time we ring in the new year.
How has the reaction been to Saturday’s narrow loss at St. James’ Park, and what are the latest Burnley headlines?
Burnley offer plenty of reasons for optimism in Newcastle defeat
BBC commentator Tom Gayle was in attendance on Tyneside, providing the soundtrack for Match of the Day. He, like many others, was impressed by the grit and determination shown by Scott Parker’s men against a side packed with quality. The performance of striker Armando Broja - who won a match-high eight duels, including six in the air - particularly caught his eye.
“I wasn't the only one in the media room to do a double take when discovering the Burnley team news included Armando Broja being selected ahead of Zian Flemming,” Gayle wrote. “After a series of unsuccessful loans, where he has clocked up more injuries and time on the bench than playing minutes and goals, the striker has garnered an unwanted reputation of not being cut out for English top-flight football.
“While pessimists will be quick to point out Saturday's display means Broja has now made 36 Premier League appearances since his last goal, optimists will have seen there is quite clearly a player there. “For me, the Albania international epitomised the visitors' performance. The 24-year-old was the constant out ball, someone who was able to hold up and subsequently link play while the game was still 11v11.
“When down to 10 men, he never hid, he worked tirelessly and, in the rare moments of possession, he remained positive and tried to bring the ball forward despite being swarmed upon by black and white shirts. “In perhaps their toughest moment of the season so far, Broja and his Burnley team-mates stuck their chests out, stood up to be counted and, as Scott Parker told me after the match, delivered their "best performance of the season".
“At no point during the near 100 minutes of game time did Burnley look like a team who had lost their previous five Premier League matches. “For the opening half an hour, and perhaps up until Lucas Pires' red card, they were unquestionably the better side. “Ultimately, Burnley headed back to Lancashire empty-handed and we shouldn't lose sight of the fact it appears to be an extremely big ask for them to remain in the division.
“However, for those away supporters who made the journey to the North East, there should be plenty of solace in how a much-changed team clearly showed they are up for the fight and remain fully committed to both the badge and their manager.”
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Alan Shearer admits Newcastle ‘got away with it’ against Burnley
If Burnley supporters took hope from the performance on Saturday, Newcastle fans may be slightly worried by how their own team conducted themselves, especially with a Tyne-Wear derby on the horizon this week.
Indeed, legendary striker Alan Shearer believes the Magpies ‘got away with it’, paying credit to Burnley for staying in the game and nearly finding an equaliser at the death when neither Flemming or Josh Laurent could convert Marcus Edwards’ cross.
“They go 2-0 up with the Anthony Gordon penalty. It was a red card and it was a penalty. And then it was, I don’t know, it was all, I guess, a bit easy,” Shearer said on The Rest is Football.
He continued: “And then, to be fair to Burnley, they did come back. They got a penalty themselves. Right at the death [they nearly equalised]. It was the last touch of the game. Goodness me, Newcastle got away with it.
“They deserved to win the game, Newcastle, but they were very, very nearly punished towards the end of the game. But a win is a win. Sets them nicely up for the Champions League in midweek and then Sunderland next week away.”
Door open for Burnley in US international striker hunt
Positive performance or not, Burnley will surely be casting a very keen eye toward the upcoming January transfer window, given their current predicament in the Premier League table. The Clarets simply don’t score enough goals or create sufficient quality chances, and one man regularly linked with Turf Moor to help remedy that is Norwich City striker Josh Sargent.
Norwich are embroiled in a relegation battle of their own in the Championship, but despite the Canaries’ struggles, Sargent has still managed six goals and three assists - most recently netting in a 3-2 defeat against Watford on Saturday. The US international’s form, coupled with Norwich’s struggles, should open the door for Burnley or another Premier League side to make a swoop, according to ex-Aston Villa and England midfielder Lee Hendrie.
"Yeah, I think with the situation at Norwich, obviously they've got a new manager coming, you know, it's a little bit different, but I think any Premier League club comes calling, you do have to consider that move,” Hendrie told Football League World.
"I don't know, it hasn't been a great season for Norwich, and that will obviously reflect on Josh Sargent, who's been such a key figure for them for quite some time now. "I think if that was the case, that there was an opportunity of him leaving, obviously turning his head to go to a club that's in the Premier League, I think that it'd be hard to keep hold of him, to be quite honest.
"Whether that happens is down to the January window and the teams that are related and maybe linked with him. "He's shown what he can do in that centre-forward role. Obviously, the step up to the Premier League is a big step up; that would be the only consideration. "But then you look at maybe the likes of Leeds and Burnley, who are trying to survive the Premier League, and in the worst cases, if it doesn't work this season for them, then they've got someone they know that could certainly cause problems in the Championship.
"So yeah, if the opportunity is there for him, I'd be very surprised if he didn't take that and accept it, and maybe head to one of them teams."
FA Cup third round draw details
The draw for the third round of this season’s FA Cup will take place on Monday evening at 6:40pm, shortly before the final second round match between Brackley Town and Burton Albion kicks off. Ex-England internationals Peter Crouch (formerly of Burnley) and Joe Cole will conduct the draw - the full details of which can be found here - with Burnley coming out as ball number 9.