OPINION
Newcastle United made it three Premier League victories on the bounce as they overcame Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor on Monday night.
Rafael Benitez’s side continued to show that they have found the winning knack, outlasting the Clarets in a scrappy affair in Lancashire. A Ben Mee own goal and a Ciaran Clark header settled the game in the Magpies’ favour, despite Sam Vokes’ long range header for the hosts.
Benitez set his side up perfectly and the entire Newcastle playing and coaching staff can reflect on a job well done, as they showed that there was no international break hangover in this team.
As usual there is plenty that can be gleaned from the game, and Nothing but Newcastle has rounded up three things than can be learned from Newcastle’s excellent win over Burnley on Monday.
Schar looking undroppable at the back
Fabian Schar has experienced a meteoric rise at Newcastle in the past few weeks. The Switzerland international has gone from a back up player to now looking undroppable for Benitez.
He continued his fine recent form in relief of injured captain Jamaal Lascelles with a sterling effort on Monday night. The 26-year-old helped negate the Clarets’ significant physical presence up front, while building up play with some terrific balls out from the back.
Benitez is blessed with several high quality centre backs at the moment, but Schar and Federico Fernandez are proving that they might just be the best partnership of the lot.
Benitez gets tactics spot on
You have to give the former Liverpool boss credit for the tactical approach he took to this game because he put on a masterclass against Sean Dyche’s side.
The Newcastle chief’s switch in formation to a five at the back with wing backs proved inspired. Burnley were never able to get to grips with the formation and, horrific close range miss aside, it brought out the best in Matt Ritchie in the left wing back role.
The Clarets are known as an extremely physical team, especially up front where Vokes and Chris Wood can bully defenders, but Benitez’s tactical tweak ensured that his defence was able to cope with whatever the hosts threw at them. Bravo Rafa!
Lascelles & Shelvey will struggle to get back in team
Before this season captain Lascelles and central midfielder Jonjo Shelvey were viewed as untouchable on Tyneside, the twin pillars of everything positive that Benitez was looking to achieve with his team.
After the last few games, do we need to reassess that thinking? Suddenly the duo are looking dispensable for the Magpies, such is the impression that Schar and midfielder Ki Sung-yueng have made in place of them in recent weeks.
The pair have been phenomenal and it has translated into victories for Benitez’s side. You have to wonder whether Lascelles and Shelvey deserve to get back into the team once they return to fitness. On the current form of everyone involved you’d have to say that, no, they don’t.
