This deserved home win made it ten goals, six points and two clean sheets in the Premier League since Sunday, also advancing to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup. We've had worse weeks....

Given the form of the two sides and Newcastle's recent dominance in the fixture, a third successive league win looked odds-on before kick-off. And despite lacking both Sven Botman and Callum Wilson, United were set on their way after 14 minutes thanks to Miguel Almiron's fine strike.

The architect of the opening goal was ex-Claret Kieran Trippier, who bullied Aaron Ramsey into losing possession just outside his own area, allowing Miggy to stride infield before stylishly letting fly.

A Burnley side winless on Tyneside since 1976 and with just a single point after six games back in the top flight reached half time just one behind, but scarcely crossed the halfway line in achieving that.

Alexander Isak came close to doubling the lead when played in by Bruno on 27 minutes, but couldn't wrap his foot round the loose ball after visiting goalkeeper James Trafford blocked the initial effort.  

And only Elliot Anderson will know how he didn't get off the mark for United eight minutes later, most of the ground already celebrating his diving header from Sean Longstaff's centre before it hit Trafford on the knee, deflected off his hand and was smuggled clear of the goal line by Connor Roberts. 

Having lost the services of Anthony Gordon at West Ham next week following a fifth PL booking of the season, Newcastle's injury list then lengthened when Joelinton limped off within five minutes of his 64th minute arrival from the bench to replace Anderson. 

With neither Joe Willock nor Harvey Barnes back in harness any time soon, our midfield options are further reduced although Gordon can at least line up against PSG before his enforced break. The influence of Sean Longstaff continues to grow, his unrelenting output a component in the recent upturn in Bruno's contributions - the latter also seemingly in better fettle after his new deal was negotiated, social media photos today showing that his agent was in attendance. 

Any hopes that Vincent Kompany's side harboured of sneaking a point disappeared with the 76th minute when Ameen Al Dakhil downed Gordon in the area - Isak efficiently dispatching the resultant penalty kick into the Gallowgate net in the absence of Wilson.

That came at a vital time with Burnley showing signs of threatening to punish United's profligacy; Josh Cullen's goalbound attempt from the edge of the area blocked. Nick Pope then tipped over an Ameen Al Dakhill header at 0-2 but the game gradually petered out in seven added minutes.

The win saw Eddie Howe's side stay eighth in the table as Aston Villa and West Ham also won but the gap to the top five narrowed to just three points. As we wrote following the defeat at Brighton that began this memorable month, "our bread and butter remains the 38 game domestic campaign....it's games against Brentford, Sheffield United and Burnley that will really shape our season."

Nine points out of nine,11 goals scored and none conceded is a pretty emphatic response to those who voiced their discontent on the way back from Sussex.  

Biffa