Newcastle United take on Burnley tonight in their final game of the calendar year, and it could end up being a pretty big deal if the Magpies win.
After the bitterly disappointing defeat to Man United on Boxing Day, it’s safe to say the Newcastle players and Eddie Howe have some making up to do to the fans.
Our predicted XI vs Burnley! What changes would you make?
We’d all love to see Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa start together but that doesn’t feel very Eddie Howe…
A win over Burnley would be a good start and would help to end the year on a high despite a difficult December. It would also be a great platform for an important period for Newcastle, with four very winnable games on the horizon.
While the three points are all that matter at Turf Moor tonight, there are also a couple of longstanding Newcastle records Howe and co. may well be eyeing up. Here’s what’s on offer.
Unbeaten run vs Burnley could become record-breaking
We looked at the recent head-to-head record of Newcastle and Burnley already, and noticed that the Magpies have been pretty dominant.
But, it’s interesting to know that the seven-game winning run Newcastle have enjoyed over Burnley in the league is actually the joint longest they have ever held over one team.
You have to go way back to 1906, when Newcastle had won seven in a row against Bury, to match that feat.
It goes without saying, then, that if Newcastle can triumph at Turf Moor tonight, Eddie Howe will have secured a new record on Tyneside that has stood for 124 years.
- READ MORE: Newcastle United insider sends firm message over Eddie Howe’s future after internal discussions
How many points will Newcastle get here?
Surely anything less than 12 points would be unacceptable… 👀
End of year record also up for grabs for Newcastle
At the same time as that, Newcastle could also end the year with another record. This one has only stood for 50 years, so it’s not quite as impressive as the previous one we mentioned, but it’s still a great goal to have in mind.
After beating Man United in the final game of 2024, Newcastle could now record back-to-back final day wins if they defeat Burnley, which would be the first time the club has done that since 1974.
It will be intriguing to see what the Newcastle United starting XI looks like for this away day, with Howe expected to go as strong as possible to make amends for last week’s defeat.
Perhaps Howe and the players don’t know, or even care, about these records. Naturally, the win should be all that matters, but it would be nice for these bonus achievements to be unlocked tonight.
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