Newcastle United like to indulge in the dark arts.
Under Eddie Howe, Newcastle have established something of a reputation for their willingness to do so.
They are not there to be popular. Such is the level of expectation at the club these days, winning football matches is much more important than that.
Indeed, doing whatever is necessary to edge fine margins is, as a supporter, fantastic to see.
Which is exactly what Bruno Guimaraes did against Burnley on Saturday.
What Bruno Guimaraes did before Alexander Isak’s penalty against Burnley
After Anthony Gordon was fouled in the box in the second-half, Newcastle were awarded a penalty at St James’ Park.
As per The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder Guimaraes, not the usual penalty taker, duly stepped up and juggled the ball in front of goalkeeper James Trafford, presumably to try and put him off.
Alexander Isak then stepped and scored and sealed the game for Newcastle on an afternoon where they proved rather wasteful.
A ploy Newcastle have used before
Whether or not Isak would have scored before Bruno’s brief intervention is immaterial.
It is the team’s willingness to try and find those extra advantages, not afraid to risk the wrath of offending pursuits that is far more noteworthy. It is a case of us against world and, so far, it’s clearly working.
This is a ploy Newcastle have used before. Way back in March during a clash with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, Kieran Trippier took the ball to try and get into goalkeeper Keylor Navas’ head.
Again, on that occasion, Isak stepped up to score.
Clearly, this is a policy Newcastle believe is worth it. With that in mind, it would be difficult to argue they should give it up.
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