The game at Turf Moor was delayed by 30 minutes due to a medical emergency in the tunnel, with Burnley confirming that the person involved was thankfully taken to hospital in a conscious state.

It was well worth the wait with the game bursting to life in the opening five minutes. It only took four for the visitors to go ahead in fortuitous circumstances.

Burnley failed to clear their lines with the ball eventually falling to Argentinian centre-back Federico Fernández. The 29-year-old ambitiously tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area, however his effort took a heavy deflection from Burnley defender Ben Mee. He threw out a leg and ended up sending the ball past Joe Hart and in to his own goal. The goal was awarded as a Ben Mee own goal, with the officials believing that it would not have gone in without Mee’s intervention.

The ‘Magpies’ reacted brilliantly to their early lead and they doubled it on the 23rd minute. A well-worked set piece routine had Benitez jumping with joy on the sideline, as it appeared to have come straight from the training ground. Matt Ritchie played a short corner to Ki Sung-Yong, who later played a return ball on the overlap for Ritchie. He provided a brilliant cross to find Clark waiting in space. The Republic of Ireland centre-back was found unmarked and nodded home past Joe Hart from the near post, far too easily for Sean Dyche’s liking. Burnley lacked their defensive resilience as Newcastle ran away with the opening half an hour.

The hosts responded well and killed Newcastle’s momentum just before half-time. Sam Vokes got the better of Clark in an aerial duel to beat him to a header. The Wales strikes managed to beat the Newcastle goalkeeper with a looping header. Questions will be asked of Dubravka, who was too far off his line and beaten easily. This set up a nervy final five minutes for the visitors, as Burnley were revitalisaed after a sloppy first-half.

Burnley have won just one of their last eight league home games, with manager Sean Dyche citing defensive fragilities as a reason. This was further highlighted at the start of the first half as Matt Ritchie missed a sitter. The ball was well worked from the wing to Ritchie, who had the simple task of putting the ball in the back of the net from three yards out. The 29-year-old inexplicably fluffed his lines and hit the side netting from close range, with the chance looking harder to miss than score.

After a nervy final thirty minutes, Benitez’ side held on for an impressive victory. The ‘Magpies’ move up to 13th place with 12 points, whereas Burnley stay in 17th.

S. Vokes

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