Premier League — 6 December 2025 | St James’ Park
Final Score & Goals
- Newcastle United: 2
- Burnley FC: 1
Goals: Bruno Guimarães (31′, direct from corner), Anthony Gordon (45′+8′, penalty); Zian Flemming (90′+4′, penalty for Burnley).
Key Events & Discipline
- 31′ — Goal: Guimarães scores directly from a corner — first ever for Newcastle in Premier League history.
- 43′ — Red card: Burnley’s Lucas Pires shown straight red for denying clear goal-scoring opportunity.
- 45′+8′ — Penalty & Goal: Handball in Burnley’s box → Gordon converts.
- 90′+4′ — Late penalty for Burnley: After a foul/handball, Flemming reduces deficit.
- Caution: Kyle Walker yellow (35′) for Burnley; additional cards: Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Jacob Ramsey (Newcastle), Josh Laurent (Burnley) later in match.
Match Statistics
- Possession: Newcastle ~ 69% — Burnley ~ 31%
- Total shots: Newcastle 17 — Burnley 8
- Shots on target: Newcastle 7 — Burnley 3
- Corners: Newcastle 9 — Burnley 9
- Fouls: Newcastle 9 — Burnley 11
- Pass accuracy (Newcastle): ~ 91%; Pass accuracy (Burnley): ~ 73%
- Defensive stats: Newcastle made ~ 19 clearances; aerial duels won approx 6 (Newcastle) vs 8 (Burnley)
Tactical Analysis & Match Flow
From kickoff, Newcastle looked the more composed — but it was a set‑piece brilliance that settled the game: Guimarães’s audacious corner‑directed goal changed the tone entirely. That moment not only put them ahead, but also seemed to sap Burnley’s confidence.
The red card (43′) drastically altered the dynamic — Burnley were forced to reshuffle and defend deeper. Newcastle used the extra man to dominate possession (almost 70%) and territory, ramping up pressure with frequency and control.
Despite being down to ten, Burnley tried to stay compact, attempt counters and set‑pieces of their own (as suggested by the equal corners tally — 9 each).
Newcastle’s midfield and passing rhythm (high pass accuracy) allowed them to control tempo. Burnley, meanwhile, struggled to build meaningful attacks and were vulnerable to transitions and set‑piece pressure. However, their late penalty showed resilience — they never stopped fighting, even under pressure.
Standout Performers
- Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle) — historic goal (first corner‑direct strike for Newcastle in Premier League), dominant midfield control, high pass accuracy and key recoveries.
- Anthony Gordon (Newcastle) — dangerous on flank, earned the penalty and converted it under pressure just before half‑time.
- Zian Flemming (Burnley) — despite the loss, earned a late penalty and showed fighting spirit until the final whistle.
- Burnley defence & aerial efforts — although down to ten men, they won more aerial duels (8 vs 6) and defended many Newcastle attacks, limiting even total dominance to only two goals.
Context & What This Means Going Forward
This result extends Newcastle’s dominance over Burnley: with this win, their record against the Clarets remains formidable. The victory gives Newcastle a morale boost — not just for the three points, but also for the manner they controlled the game despite a chaotic scenario.
For Burnley, the red card and defensive lapses, combined with poor control after going down a man, highlight structural and discipline issues. The fact they managed a late penalty shows character — but it might not be enough if such handicaps repeat.
From a tactical standpoint, Newcastle’s set‑piece threat and midfield dominance could be key assets going forward, while Burnley must rethink their defensive organisation, discipline, and how to handle pressure when reduced to ten men.