NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Newcastle United finally ended their season-long wait for a win, beating bottom-three rivals Burnley 1-0 at St James' Park in the Premier League on Saturday (Dec 4) thanks to a 40th-minute goal from Callum Wilson. An error by Burnley keeper Nick Pope gifted Newcastle the goal and their first victory in their 15th attempt in the campaign. Manager Eddie Howe, appointed last month after the dismissal of Steve Bruce, will also be delighted at his team's first clean sheet of the campaign. Burnley had been on top until Pope came deep to collect a cross but, under challenge from Fabian Schar, dropped the ball and Wilson reacted superbly, driving into the unguarded goal with a shot on the turn. Things got worse for Burnley when in-form forward Maxwel Cornet had to go off with an injury before the break and his replacement Matej Vydra missed a great chance to level for the Clarets. Newcastle were the better side after the break with Miguel Almiron going close twice and Jonjo Shelvey forcing a good save out of Pope. Burnley thought they had levelled through substitute Jay Rodriguez but the effort was ruled out for offside. The two clubs remain in the relegation zone, both on 10 points, with Burnley in 18th place, above 19th-placed Newcastle on goal difference but with a game in hand. Bottom club Norwich City, also on 10 points, face Tottenham on Sunday. "It has been a long time coming. Hopefully this is a catalyst for other things," said Wilson. "Against a team like Burnley it is important you score the first goal. They are hard to break down when they are set. Credit to the lads at the back too. But we can't get carried away. "There are a lot of points to play for. We knew there would be a turning point; hopefully this is it," he said. More on this topic Related Story Football: Silva shines as Man City stroll to top spot in Premier League Related Story Football: Origi tames Wolves to take Liverpool briefly top of Premier League Burnley defender James Tarkowski felt his side had been unfortunate. "If the ref gives a foul for the goal I don't think many people complain. It is what it is. For all their forward players, we dealt with it quite well," he said. "At this level it is all about fine margins. You get punished for mistakes. We need to start putting points on the board but we are pleased with how we are playing. It is an important part of the year. A good run of wins and you can get yourself out of it." More on this topic Related Story Football: Chelsea stunned as Masuaku's stroke of luck lifts West Ham Related Story On the Ball: The beginning of the end for Cristiano Ronaldo?
MANCHESTER (REUTERS) - Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne were on target as Manchester City beat Burnley 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday (Oct 16) to stay within a point of Premier League leaders Liverpool. It was lacklustre display from Pep Guardiola's side against winless opponents but after the difficulties of re-assembling his squad after the international break, the City boss was satisfied with three relatively comfortably earned points. City, with American Zack Steffen deputising for Ederson in goal given the Brazilian's late return from national team duty, gave a start to Raheem Sterling, who had said this week that he would consider a move away from the club. Sterling made little impact, however, in an unusually punchless City attack with Riyad Mahrez far from his best on the right and Phil Foden the brightest down the middle. Portuguese midfielder Silva opened the scoring in the 12th minute, tapping in after Burnley keeper Nick Pope had pushed out a well-struck low drive from Foden. Burnley caused City some problems however and Ivorian attacker Maxwel Cornet could have brought them level when he latched on to a ball over the top from Dwight McNeil but City keeper Zack Steffen did well to save with his legs. Josh Brownhill then screwed a shot wide from inside the box after some hesitant defending from City as Burnley ended the first half strongly. Riyad Mahrez went close to doubling City's lead after the break, clipping the cross-bar after a smart pull-back from Silva. City finally put the contest to bed, in the 70th minute, when Ashley Westwood failed to clear for Burnley and the ball fell to De Bruyne who smashed home with his left foot. Burnley should have pulled one back in the latter stages but a stretching Chris Wood put his shot over the bar with City's defence having allowed him space. Pep Guardiola's side are on 17 points from eight games, in second place, with Liverpool top on 18 points. Chelsea could return to the top of the table if they win at Brentford later on Saturday. "After the international break it's always a little bit difficult to come to a rhythm and I know how good Burnley are. They did really well, they have good players," Guardiola said. "We did well in the second half and played really well and could've scored more goals. Good result, after the international break we take the victory and look what's next." Burnley's last four visits to City had ended in 5-0 defeats and manager Sean Dyche was pleased to have put up a better fight this time. "We get nothing from the game but I was actually pleased with the performance against a top side," Dyche said. "They created chances, not as many as in the past but I was pleased we were creating quality chances and that's the challenge we've had all season - taking our chances." Burnley are next to bottom with three points. More on this topic Related Story Football: Sterling open to leaving Manchester City Related Story Football: Manchester City hit back to deny Salah-inspired Liverpool
LEICESTER (REUTERS) - Burnley were denied their first Premier League win of the season at Leicester City as Jamie Vardy scored an own goal before following it up with two equalisers in a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium on Saturday (Sept 25). Burnley have now gone without a win in their opening six league matches for a second consecutive season and the result leaves Sean Dyche's side in the relegation zone in 19th with two points from six games while Leicester are 12th. "It's a little frustrating in terms of the result. We were much better going forward. Burnley defended their box so well, I'm more worried about how we defended," Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said. "We showed a really good reaction but conceded too early to go 2-1 behind. You have to give credit to Burnley and some of the blocks (they made). "We didn't make the keeper work as much as we would have liked but we just failed to make the finish... They made some great blocks to stop (Vardy) from getting a hat-trick." The visitors took the lead moments after Vardy missed a header from point-blank range. The striker attempted to clear a Burnley corner at the near post, but his glancing header beat goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to find the back of the net. But Vardy redeemed himself with an equaliser when he ran into space to receive Youri Tielemans' pass and beat Nick Pope with a low, angled shot that found the bottom corner. Burnley reclaimed the lead three minutes later when Ivorian midfielder Maxwel Cornet volleyed home from a Matej Vydra cross, giving Schmeichel no chance but he was substituted at the stroke of halftime with an apparent hamstring injury. Leicester dominated proceedings in the second half but found it difficult to break down Burnley, who defended resolutely and resorted to the odd cynical foul to break their momentum. However, with five minutes left, Vardy made the breakthrough again when he used his pace to entice Pope into no man's land before rounding the keeper and side-footing the ball into an empty net from a narrow angle to make it 2-2. Chris Wood nearly won it for Burnley at the end with a stoppage time goal but the header was disallowed by VAR for offside but Dyche said the result was a point gained rather than two points dropped. "We've got to turn good performances into more than just a point. But there's life in these performances, it's not easy to come here, especially when you're not winning," he told BBC Radio. "I thought the mentality and quality where we needed it was right... A lot of good things, but we've got to make sure we turn them into wins and that's my biggest frustration." More on this topic Related Story Football: High-flying Brighton earn 2-1 victory over Leicester Related Story Football: Silva strike gives Man City 1-0 win over Leicester
LONDON (AFP) - Leicester had captain Kasper Schmeichel to thank just for a point in a 1-1 draw at Burnley on Wednesday (March 3) as the Foxes' bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League stumbled again at Turf Moor. Aston Villa also missed the chance to move to within two points of the top four as they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat by bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, who held on for the final half an hour with 10 men. Leicester's challenge for a return to the Champions League next season has been badly hit by a series of injuries to key players and the presence of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Jonny Evans and James Justin was badly missed. A point edges Brendan Rodgers's men level on points with second-placed Manchester United, who face Crystal Palace later on Wednesday. But Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton all have the chance to close in on Leicester - who have not won in their last three games - when they are in action on Thursday. A newly configured defence and midfield for the visitors showed as Hamza Choudhury's slack pass to Wilfred Ndidi allowed Matej Vydra to smash home his first league goal in nearly 12 months after just four minutes. Choudhury missed a great chance to quickly make amends as his looping effort was tipped over by Nick Pope. However, Kelechi Iheanacho's splendid finish drew Leicester level on 34 minutes as the Nigerian volleyed home from Ndidi's floated ball over the top. Schmeichel then produced two stunning saves to prevent Chris Wood restoring Burnley's lead early in the second half. The Dane leapt to his left to parry the New Zealander's powerful header before getting down low to his right to turn another deflected Wood shot wide. Ashley Westwood then rattled the post for Burnley, but Leicester finished the stronger and could have snatched a victory that would have taken up to second in the table. Marc Albrighton stung the palms of Pope before Youri Tielemans's shot came back off the post. A point takes Burnley six points clear of the bottom three in 15th. Sheffield United secured just their fourth win of the season as David McGoldrick scored the only goal against a Villa side desperately missing the inspiration of injured captain Jack Grealish. McGoldrick swept home George Baldock's cross off the underside of the bar. Bertrand Traore fired wide from the edge of the area and Ollie Watkins hit the post for Villa before Phil Jagielka was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity when he chopped down Anwar El Ghazi. Despite dominating possession, Villa failed to make the man advantage count to remain down in ninth. Blades boss Chris Wilder has already conceded his side are headed back to the Championship, but they close the gap to survival to 12 points.
BURNLEY, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Manchester City restored their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League after goals from Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling secured a comfortable 2-0 win at Burnley on Wednesday (Feb 3). The routine victory at Turf Moor left City on 47 points from 21 games with second-placed Manchester United, who crushed Southampton 9-0 on Tuesday, three points behind having played one more match. City have won 13 straight matches in all competitions and Pep Guardiola's side will head into Sunday's clash with Liverpool at Anfield in confident mood after another faultless display. Pep Guardiola was again without playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and striker Sergio Aguero but that hardly showed in a confident performance against a Burnley team that failed to produce a single shot on target. It was a rare error from Nick Pope that handed City a third- minute opener, the Burnley keeper parrying Bernardo Silva's shot straight out to Jesus who nodded the ball into the net. The second, seven minutes before halftime, was a classic City goal with Riyad Mahrez feeding Ilkay Gundogan whose low cross was turned in by Sterling from close range. After the break, Pope redeemed himself as he denied Sterling, who was clear on goal but could not beat the outstretched leg of the Burnley keeper. Mahrez had the ball in the net in the 57th minute after good work from Jesus but the effort was disallowed for offside. City felt they could have had a penalty when Jesus went down under a challenge from Tarkowski but Guardiola's side looked content to settle for a two-goal win over a Burnley side who threatened little. "We were lucky to score early and after the first half we struggled a bit to break the lines," said Guardiola. "The second half was much better. The start of the second half was the best and in the last 15-20 minutes we just passed the ball with no intention to attack to save energy." That energy will certainly be needed for a crucial run of games starting with a match against the champions before a home encounter with Tottenham Hotspur and a trip to Arsenal. More on this topic Related Story Football: Sergio Aguero 'a few weeks' from Man City return after Covid-19, says Guardiola Related Story Insecurity and fear of losing propel City's surge to top "It is the same points, but against a (title) contender," Guardiola said of Sunday's match. "At the end the aim is to be champion. Against teams lower in the table people can say it's guaranteed but we know how difficult it is," added the Spaniard. "Now comes another tough, tough group of games. Today, we enjoy the game, have good food and tomorrow we start to think about Liverpool."
LONDON • Manchester City are sitting three points clear at the top of the English Premier League (EPL) with a game in hand. However, manager Pep Guardiola believes that it is not just hard work but also the fear of losing that is driving him and his team to perfection. City are seeking to become the first EPL side since Arsenal in 2002 to win 13 straight matches in all competitions when they travel to Burnley today. Guardiola's men are going into today's game on the back of a hard-fought 1-0 win over bottom side Sheffield United over the weekend. That victory was their eighth in a row in the league, and they are now three points clear of rivals Manchester United (41). "Always I have the feeling that I can lose a game. That's what drives you. Insecurity and fear and being scared that you can lose a game," Guardiola said. "You feel better when you win. When you win it is so addictive and you want to win again and again and again. When it comes to titles you want more. It comes from there. "Six weeks ago we were not contenders for anything, six weeks later we are. But everything can change so quick. We could drop points. Only I am concerned about Burnley. That's all." City are the clear favourites today, having won 12, drawn three and lost just one of their 16 encounters with Burnley. Sean Dyche's men, however, have won four of their last six home league matches despite languishing in 16th place. But Guardiola would not be too concerned about that statistic, with the last seven meetings between the two sides all ending in victories for City with an aggregate score of 28-1. The City boss warned against complacency though. He said: "I always think before playing against Burnley that it will never be easy, especially away. They have played together for the same manager for a long time. DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS Six weeks ago we were not contenders for anything, six weeks later we are. But everything can change so quick. PEP GUARDIOLA, Manchester City manager, reminding his team of their struggles earlier this season. "We were a little bit inconsistent earlier in the season. We will see how consistent we still are." The league leaders will be without defender Nathan Ake and their star striker Sergio Aguero, who has recovered from coronavirus but has yet to return to training. Dyche could be without forward Ashley Barnes, New Zealand international Chris Wood, left-back Charlie Taylor and midfielder Josh Brownhill, who are all doubts to feature in this game. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS BURNLEY V MAN CITY Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, tomorrow, 2am
BURNLEY (REUTERS) - Burnley secured their first win of the Premier League season as Chris Wood's eighth minute goal was enough to earn a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Turf Moor on Monday (Nov 23). The result moves Burnley out of the bottom three up to 17th place, on five points from eight matches, while Palace drop to 10th on 13 after nine games. Sean Dyche's side, who had not scored a home goal in this campaign, ended the barren run when Palace defender Cheikhou Kouyate made a mess of a high cross by Johann Berg Gudmundsson, the ball falling to Jay Rodriguez who fed Wood to drive home. Palace suffered a blow before the game with the news that their influential winger Wilfried Zaha had been ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19. Roy Hodgson's visitors enjoyed plenty of possession though, with Andros Townsend and Jordan Ayew both testing Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope while Michy Batshuayi drilled the ball just wide after a run from deep. But Burnley should have added a second goal after the break when Gudmundsson was put in clear on goal but the Iceland international blasted his shot against the bar. Palace applied late pressure and Burnley had Pope to thank again in the final minute when he came out bravely to foil Christian Benteke from close range. Brilliant save "Nick made a good save in the first half but that one at the end was brilliant. But he is a top keeper," said Dyche, who was relieved at finally claiming three points. More on this topic Related Story Football: Brighton held by Burnley in dour goalless draw Related Story Football: Frank Lampard not getting carried away by Chelsea's Premier League form "We were showing signs. That's three clean sheets in the last five games and tonight we altered how we were operating in the attacking third," he added. "We created two or three golden chances, we take one and it gets a bit nervy because we hadn't found that first win so to get that one done will do us the world of good". Hodgson felt his team had the better of the contest but paid the price for a big mistake. "I thought we played well second half. An unfortunate first goal, a misplaced header, but apart from that we didn't allow them many chances to score a goal. More on this topic Related Story Football: Chelsea beat Newcastle to take provisional top spot Related Story Football: Mikel Arteta makes case for five-sub rule "In the second half they stood firm and held out for their victory," said the former England manager. "An error like that is always a possibility, you have to accept it and then you've got the rest of the game to put it right but we started a bit too late."