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Danny Mills sees problems for Burnley AND Newcastle fans after Burnley 1 Newcastle 2

5 years ago
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Danny Mills had some interesting views after watching Burnley 1 Newcastle 2.

Working for Radio 5 Live he sees problems ahead for both Burnley fans AND Newcastle supporters.

When it comes to the home side, the BBC pundit thinks they have to change the way they play.

Danny Mills saying that Sean Dyche can’t keep to a plan of ‘Lumping long balls up to two big lads up front’ and expect them to climb the table.

As for Newcastle fans, he sees a very different problem.

Mills declaring: ‘The trouble for Newcastle fans is it looks like Rafael Benitez is going to do it again and will get Newcastle out of trouble. But that means Mike Ashley will stay. That’s the issue for them.’

It is a conundrum because with Ashley’s plan throughout his 11+ year rule being for Premier League survival with the cheapest outlay, why would he change his stance?

Last season, Rafa Benitez achieved 10th with minimal support in the transfer market.

Mike Ashley’s reaction to that was rather than helping Rafa to build from there, he instead insisted on a £20m+ profit on transfer deals this past summer.

Now Rafa has plucked three wins in a row, what will the NUFC owner be thinking if the manager can find another 10 points or more from these next seven matches before the transfer window opens, only one of these seven games being against a ‘big six’ club.

Of course, the difference this time is that Rafa Benitez only has months left on his contract and has repeatedly said he won’t decide on any extended stay until he sees what support he gets in this January window.

There is only one thing any normal Premier League club owner would do, but as we know to our cost by now, Mike Ashley doesn’t do normal.

As Danny Mills points out, the more Ashley thinks he can get by season by season in the Premier League, how will we ever see the back of him?

Danny Mills talking on Radio 5 Live:

During the match:

“How on earth have they missed that? Matt Ritchie has missed an open goal from two yards out.

“That is unbelievable!

“The game has a very lacklustre tempo, especially from Burnley. At home, you expect them to come out and have a real go at Newcastle but, just as in the first half, they’ve sat back.

“There’s a real lack of quality at times and you can understand why both of these teams are down at the bottom of the table.

“A goal could come from anywhere. Both sides lacking inventiveness in the final third.

“Newcastle look like they’re trying to play on the counter attack and protect their lead a little bit.

“They have only had two shots on target and scored two goals. I think you’d call that clinical.

“It seems like neither of these teams has done any work at all on defending crosses. Some of the clearances in this game have been dreadful!

“How hard did Joselu hit that ball?! It was a fabulous jinking run by Ayoze Perez and you just thought Joselu was going to place it. He absolutely leathered it and it smashed into the post.

“Keep the ball or go to the corner flag – that’s what Newcastle have to do.

“Run down the clock, because when Burnley get it you know exactly what they’re going to do. The ball is going straight in the box.”

Post-match:

“You have to start to think Burnley are in trouble. That’s why I posed the question to Burnley fans.

“At what point, if ever, does Sean Dyche come under pressure? I feel they have to find a different way to play.

“The trouble for Newcastle fans is it looks like Rafael Benitez is going to do it again and will get Newcastle out of trouble. But that means Mike Ashley will stay. That’s the issue for them.”

“I’m a massive fan of Sean Dyche. He’s worked wonders at this club and they’ve punched above their weight for so long.

“But you can’t keep playing like that – pumping long balls up to two big lads up front. They need something different.

“They’ll score the odd goal like that but not two or three and then you’re not going to dominate sides, so you’ll always be under pressure. They need to change the way they play.”

Stats from BBC Sport:

Burnley 1 Newcastle 2

Goal:

Newcastle: Fernandez (Mee own goal?) 4, Clark 23

Burnley: Vokes 40

Possession was Burnley 56% Newcastle 44%

Total shots were  Burnley 14 Newcastle 17

Shots on target were Burnley 4 Newcastle 3

Corners were  Burnley 5 Newcastle 5

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Newcastle United:

Dubravka, Yedlin, Schar, Fernandez, Clark, Ritchie, Diame, Ki, Kenedy (Hayden 90), Rondon (Joselu 71), Perez

Unused Subs:

Woodman, Manquillo, Shelvey, Murphy, Atsu

Crowd: 20,628 (Newcastle 2,400)

(The instant NUFC fan/writer reaction to the win HERE)

(Read the match report HERE)

(Sean Dyche puts defeat down to ‘lucky’ and ‘poor’ goals – Read HERE)

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