SOMETIMES, you just know when your luck is out. This has been a testing, traumatic month for Newcastle United, but having secured the loan signing of Islam Slimani, things finally seemed to be looking up when Rafael Benitez’s side headed into the final five minutes of their game with Burnley protecting a cherished one-goal lead.

Cue the most unfortunate of own goals, and a return to that sinking feeling that tends to be the overriding emotion at St James’ Park. Karl Darlow did superbly to save Sam Vokes’ header as the Burnley striker rose to flick on Ashley Barnes’ effort from a corner, but in diverting the ball onto the crossbar, the Newcastle goalkeeper merely proved the master of his own downfall.

The deflection rebounded into him, and while he tried to keep the ball out for a second time, he could not prevent it trundling into the net. Two points dropped, still no home win since the middle of October. It never rains, but it pours.

The late concession was harsh on the Magpies, who had battled away gamely to gain a crucial advantage. For all the talk of new strikers arriving this month, Newcastle’s Premier League survival prospects will almost certainly stand or fall on the qualities that have kept them out of the bottom three so far. Spirit, unity, determination and effort. All were evident last night; all will be crucial in the remaining 13 games.

A smattering of extra quality always helps though, and just as Benitez will be hoping Slimani has a positive impact in the remainder of the campaign, so he will be urging Kenedy to maintain the standards he set last night.

Bright, industrious and adventurous down the left-hand side, Newcastle’s newly-arrived South American provided the kind of direct attacking threat that has been lacking on a number of occasions this season. He hit the post, won a penalty and set up the Magpies’ 65th-minute opener by winning the corner that Jamaal Lascelles powered home. Perhaps Mike Ashley should listen to Benitez’s opinion about potential transfer targets more often.

There were times in the build-up to last night’s game when it was easy to forget that a football match was about to take place such was the frenzy of transfer talk, but the mood within St James’ changed when the ‘Wor Flags’ group unveiled their latest display on the Gallowgate End prior to kick-off.

A series of banners depicted a lengthy quote from Kevin Keegan that included the phrase, “Newcastle United is bigger than anyone. It hurts I know, but just keep going. He is only one man.” No prizes for guessing who that man is.

Mike Ashley wasn’t at St James’ Park to see the comments aimed in his direction, and Lee Charnley was absent from the directors’ box too as he tied up Newcastle’s deadline-day business. The one player the pair had managed to sign prior to the final day of the transfer window was on the pitch though, and Kenedy impressed from the off.

He was involved in his side’s best two moments of the first half, and while neither resulted in a goal, his input could not be faulted.

Despite his limited involvement at Stamford Bridge, Kenedy has developed a reputation as a skilled ball-player, adept at beating opponents in the final third, and he showcased his talents in the early stages as he rattled the woodwork.

Picking up the ball in the centre of the Burnley half, he deftly dropped his shoulder to ghost past two opposition defenders before drilling in a low shot that Nick Pope finger-tipped onto the upright. It was an excellent strike, and an even better save.

Sixteen minutes later, and Kenedy was unsettling the Burnley defence again. This time he raced on to Paul Dummett’s through ball and bamboozled Phil Bardsley as he turned back from the byline. Bardsley dived in, chopping Kenedy to the floor, and referee Simon Hooper immediately awarded Newcastle their first penalty of the season.

Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle took their spot-kicks last term, but with neither on the field, Joselu put himself forward. The Spaniard has hardly been a natural goalscorer throughout his career, and sure enough, his weak side-footed effort was saved by Pope. You suspect he won’t find himself taking many more penalties this season.

Pope also tipped a Ciaran Clark header over the crossbar as Newcastle continued to create chances before the interval, but with Burnley also displaying plenty of attacking intent, the game was anything but one-sided.

The visitors threatened on a number of occasions, with one chaotic 60-second spell midway through the first half almost handing them an advantage.

Jack Cork was adamant he should have had a penalty when Dummett challenged him close to the edge of the area, but as the ball broke clear, Scott Arfield played Barnes back into the box.

Barnes rifled a crisp finish past Darlow, but was adjudged to have pushed Lascelles in order to win possession. There was unquestionably contact between the Burnley striker and the Newcastle centre-half, but some officials might not have looked on it so unfavourably. Sean Dyche, going apoplectic on the sidelines, certainly felt his side had been hard done by.

Barnes was involved in a running battle with both Lascelles and Clark for the majority of the evening, and while the former Brighton’s physical style might not be to everyone’s liking, he is clearly integral to the way Dyche wants his side to play.

If he was able to display a little more composure, he would be quite some player, but when a decent opportunity presented itself four minutes into the second half, he was found wanting.

Galloping on to Jeff Hendrick’s flick from a throw in, Barnes forged a path towards goal that enabled him to curl a left-footed effort towards the far corner. It was an inviting opening, but his shot sailed miles over the crossbar without testing Darlow.

It was a crucial miss, as a quarter-of-an-hour later, Newcastle were taking the lead. Kenedy’s set-piece deliveries troubled the Burnley defence all evening, and from the right-hand side, the Brazilian whipped over a corner that fizzed towards the corner of the six-yard box.

Lascelles had broken clear of his marker, and surging towards the front post, he planted a powerful downward header past Pope. It was the skipper’s third goal of the season, and surely the most important.

Joselu almost doubled Newcastle’s lead as he whistled a low left-footed shot inches past the far post, but there was to be a sting in the tail as Burnley struck back with five minutes left.

The visitors hadn’t really looked like clawing their way back into the game, but just as Newcastle profited from a set-piece, so Burnley also scored via a corner.

Barnes got up to win the first header, enabling substitute Vokes to flick the ball towards goal. Darlow did excellently to tip the ball onto the crossbar, but was extremely unfortunate to divert the rebound into the net. The goal will down as an own goal, but Darlow could hardly have done any more to try to keep it out.