Half time: Clarets 0 Magpies 0

58 mins Debutant referee Tim Robinson overturned his own decision to give Burnley a corner, after Chris Wood tangled with Federico Fernandez on the byline down the home side's left flank. The ball looked to have touched Fernandez last but both he and his manager afterwards claimed that a shove by Wood meant that the defender fell on the ball, taking it over the line. 

Martin Dubravka was crowded out as he tried to reach Ashley Westwood's flag-kick and Wood headed in off the underside of the crossbar from close range at the back post - yet another set piece goal conceded this season. 0-1

Full time: Clarets 1 Magpies 0

Steve Bruce said:

"The referee has awarded them a corner after initially giving a goal kick when the ball wasn’t out. 

“He’s then listened to somebody (his assistant) who was probably 80 yards away. Looking at it again, it’s a clear and blatant foul (immediately before that).

"OK, we could have defended the corner better, but we are talking about a decision here that’s ultimately cost us the game.

"Since Tuesday we knew this referee was going to be making his debut. We’re at the elite level and, for me, the referee looked short. Every confrontation was a foul and that’s not right.

"Both teams huffed and puffed all day and we were hoping it's not going to rest on a refereeing decision and unfortunately, that's what's happened.

"There were so many decisions that were strange and the big decision that wins or loses the game, he has got wrong.

"The same referee missed a challenge that has had Matt Richie not kicking a ball all season, so I understand how difficult it is but, for me, Burnley versus Newcastle on a day like today, is it really the right occasion for him to make his debut? 

"I'm sorry but it didn't look quite right from the first whistle. Unfortunately there were far too many mistakes made and for me, he didn’t look ready to referee a Premier League game.

"(Robinson) gave foul after foul after foul for both teams. For me, a more experienced referee would have let things go. Unfortunately, he made a rod for his own back.”

“When two people are challenging for the ball you are going to have contact.

"When you jump, it’s impossible to jump with your arms down by your side. The number of times you catch people – it’s why I’ve got a face like I have – you have to take it."
 

Sean Dyche said:

"We wanted a reaction and we got it. It looks an unlucky one from their point of view with the corner, but Woody is aggressive with the header and he’s not been well for the last few days, so I’m really pleased he could get out there.

"We've had a tough week with three losses. Against two top sides we didn't perform as we can do. We've got a tight win today. Chris Wood has been ill for a few days and he stuck at it.

"We have a tight group here. I was really pleased with the mentality today. I'm pleased with the performance but I'm most pleased with the result today. It was a tight, awkward game but we've done the right things and come out on top.

“I was pleased with our reaction because we’ve had a tough week, and then when people start making noises about it that can affect players. I didn’t think it did today. I thought there was a clear-mindedness with the performance. 

"When we needed to play we did and when we tried to affect the game we did, and we were very resolute defensively. I thought it was a really good defensive performance.

“I was surprised Andy Carroll stayed on the pitch. No disrespect to him but I think if you lead with an elbow and it’s too far, you’re too high, it’s too late, then the way the modern game is you are probably going to get sent off for that, and he didn’t.

“I don’t think there was any malice, let me make that clear. I don’t think it was nasty, it’s just the way the game is. To get a loose elbow like that you normally get sent off.

”A few of us have fed back to the powers-that-be that it seems that teams like us do get these first-time referees and then you go, 'Well, why don't you put them in the big games?' because if they've got to learn, they've got to learn - because these are big games for us.

"These can decide up and down in a division so I think there's just a little bit less tolerance, not because of the referee you understand, but if you are going to blood these people into the highest division, which needs to happen, why is it only our games? "Why is it not the big games? 

"If they're deemed good enough for the Premier League then put them in the big games."
 

After a trio of week night visits here, Newcastle fans were finally afforded the dubious pleasure of visiting Turf Moor in the daylight on Saturday, although the floodlights were on well before 3pm.

Although involving a 232 mile round trip from Gallowgate, this is currently our local league game. What nobody is calling the Tyne/Calder derby though was an uninspiring encounter that drew a smaller crowd than last season's Monday night TV encounter.

The Clarets were short on confidence following three defeats - two of them on home turf - but were able to reunited worky ticket Ashley Barnes with tag team partner Chris Wood for an afternoon of sneaky shoves and snide digs more suitable for grapple fans at Burnley Mechanics Hall.

Burnley had conceded eleven goals in those games but a toothless Toon gave them every chance of a clean sheet, a lengthening injury list now including Alain Saint-Maximin, Jonjo Shelvey, Miguel Almiron, Ki and Karl Darlow in addition to crocks Matt Ritchie, Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark.

The Magpies of course had their own king of the ring in the shape of Andy Carroll, leading the side today. However Gateshead's answer to Kendo Nagasaki was forced to plough something of a lone furrow up front; Joelinton on one flank and Christian Atsu playing nowhere in particular.

Carroll's brave but wayward early header proved to be the highpoint of a first half that was as dreary as the weather, littered with stoppages and misplaced passes by both sides.

Having shown vague signs of a breakthrough via their wing backs in the opening 45, Newcastle offered even less after the interval and the game looked increasingly likely to be settled by a set piece if either side were going to score at all. 

And ultimately it was Sean Dyche's mob who managed to work one out to their advantage - while our dead ball deliveries remained woeful, unthreatening corners played tepidly to the front post. 

Premier League debutant referee Tim Robinson overturned his own decision and gave Burnley a corner that Ashley Westwood pinged across the six yard box with some velocity. Martin Dubravka was crowded out and Wood headed in off the crossbar from close range at the back post.

Carroll was booked minutes later for an elbow on Ben Mee and then Dubravka kept United in the game with a good save from Jack Cork, saving the blushes of Sean Longstaff who had criminally surrendered possession deep inside his own half.

Content to take part in this phony war at 0-0, Steve Bruce's side suddenly found themselves in the position of needing to take the initiative. However they proved as incapable of attacking with any purpose as they had done in mounting meaningful counter attacks before conceding - lacking both pace and imagination despite multiple personnel changes and tactical switches.

Despite their lack of spark and threat, it seemed inevitable that a chance would fall to the visitors and with seven minutes left it duly arrived. Joelinton set off down the United right and out-muscled Erik Pieters to the outrage of home fans, before laying a pass across the six yard box.

Substitute Dwight Gayle arrived at the near post on what seemed to be a perfectly-timed run, but rather than the net bulging in front of the away throng, the dull thwack of ball against advertising hoarding was proof that he'd put his shot wide from on more than six yards out.

With Muto also now on the field, United looked top heavy and their three game unbeaten run petered out, a failure to manage a single shot on target meaning that the hosts coasted home.

Few were taken in by Bruce's post-match criticism of the referee though; a transparent attempt at blaming someone else for his own side's shortcomings at both ends of the field.

Defeat left Newcastle in an unchanged 11th, a point ahead of Burnley and three behind fifth placed Sheffield United. That was of little comfort though after a uniformly grim encounter that deservedly ended up last on Match of the Day. Hopefully the injury situation will have eased by Saturday.

"You should have gone Christmas shopping" gloated the home fans. They may have had a point. 

Biffa