Benitez’s tactical change pays off: Five things learned as Newscastle beat Burnley

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Newcastle continue Premier League resurgence after beating Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor on Monday night.

It took the Magpies just four minutes to break the deadlock after Federico Fernandez’s strike bounced rather fortuitously off the leg of Ben Mee, before looping over a hapless Joe Hart into the back of the net.

Newcastle would then double their advantage just 20 minutes later, a glancing Ciaran Clark header, from an inch-perfect Matt Ritchie delivery left Hart rooted to the spot and put Rafa Benitez in dreamland, though Burnley would soon respond just five minutes from half-time with a towering Sam Vokes header.

Burnley were unable to find an equaliser in the second half and have now conceded the second-most goals in the Premier League this season (27), while Newcastle make it three on the bounce.

And so with Newcastle climbing up to 13th in the league, what did we learn?

1. Newcastle heading their way up the table

Newcastle have now scored the joint-second most headed goals in the Premier League this season with over half their finishes coming aerially; Clark the beneficiary this time of an exquisite Ritchie cross in the first half.

And so after tonight, the club now sit second alongside Everton in the aerial department with six goals apiece, while Spurs top the chart with eight of their 23 goals coming from headers. Newcastle themselves have scored 11 league goals this season, meaning that only five have come from the floor.

That statistic would be all the more frightening had the Magpies kept hold of Aleksandar Mitrovic over the summer, as the Serbian marksman has currently scored the most headed goals (four) in the Premier League this season for Fulham.

2. Tactical revamp pays dividends for Benitez

Newcastle’s five-at-the-back formation certainly raised a few eyebrows, but the Magpies soon put any doubt to bed after racing into a two goal advantage, they conceded soon after but Martin Dubravka was rarely tested by the Lancashire club.

Benitez opted for a 5-4-1 system, utilising three centre-backs in an effort to stifle the aerial prowess of a Burnley side replete with towering potential; Fabian Schar, Clark and Fernandez were given the task of forming a bulwark, and they perhaps would have kept a clean sheet were it not for some questionable positioning from Dubravka.

Having said that, the system proved effective in giving DeAndre Yedlin and Richie license to surge forward and offer support in the final third, with the duo trying their best to move into ample space and wreak havoc, and had the Magpies taken their chances, this could have been a rout.

3. Gudmundsson absence massive blow for Burnley

Johann Berg Gudmundsson was suffering from a mild calf strain prior to the match but was declared fit to play by Sean Dyche, though unfortunately for Burnley fans the Iceland international failed to make the starting XI and Robbie Brady started in his place.

This certainly came as a significant blow to Dyche as the 28-year-old has been sensational this season despite the Clarets tentative start, featuring in all but two Premier League matches – his replacement, Brady, offered some verve on the wing but is clearly still getting up to speed with his previous form having spent 10 months on the sideline.

At present, no Burnley player has taken on more shots (16) than Gudmundsson, attempted more dribbles (20), created more chances (13), registered more assists (four) or delivered more accurate crosses (43) – they certainly needed his creative spark this evening.

4. Newcastle secure first away win this season

Newcastle have finally secured their first away win of the season at the sixth attempt of trying, with the victory taking them above Huddersfield Town and West Ham in the league.

It may seem strange that the Magpies have just now clinched a first away victory, as they have conceded just six goals on the road, with only Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Wolves conceding less than Benitez’s side.

In fairness to the Spanish coach, Newcastle’s defeats away from home have come at the hands of both City and Manchester United, and both with narrow one goal margins; there was only one goal in it tonight, but the Magpies could quite easily have scored four had Richie converted his open goal chance and Joselu’s shot not ricocheted off the post.

5. Newcastle score quickest away goal for six years

Ben Mee’s own goal with just three minutes and 35 seconds on the clock was the fastest away goal Newcastle have scored since Yohan Cabaye netted after just two minutes against Sunderland in the Tyne–Wear derby back in October 2012.

The strike was, in fact, the fourth time the club have netted within the opening 10 minutes across their last six appearances, with Rondon finding the back of the net on seven minutes a fortnight ago during the 2-1 win against Bournemouth, while the Magpies famously scored twice within the first 10 minutes against Manchester United at Old Trafford last month.

Prior to the match, Newcastle had lost the last 10 Premier League matches they contested on a Monday night, so the opening goal on three minutes certainly helped alleviate the frustrations of that statistic, and put Benitez’s men firmly on course to clinch three points.

The post Benitez’s tactical change pays off: Five things learned as Newscastle beat Burnley appeared first on Squawka News.



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