Tale of two halves as Newcastle claim a point

INSIPID in the early moments, but inspired for a brief spell shortly after, Newcastle’s performance at Burnley was effectively the story of their season in microcosm. Perhaps the fact it ended in neither triumph nor disaster reflects where the Magpies are likely to finish come May.

Having been completely overrun in a one-sided first half, Alan Pardew’s side were fortunate to just be trailing to George Boyd’s fiercely-driven strike at the interval.

Papiss Cisse’s poacher’s finish hauled them level within three minutes of the restart, and for the remainder of a bitterly cold night in Lancashire, it was the visitors who pushed hardest for a winner.

Improved by the half-time introduction of Remy Cabella, Newcastle were as dominant in the second half as Burnley had been in the first, and while the home side’s goal was never really threatened in the closing stages, at least the Magpies belatedly rediscovered some of the zest and energy that had carried them through their recent winning run.

After Saturday’s subdued display at West Ham, last night’s second-half rally was a welcome reminder of Newcastle’s improvement from those difficult early weeks of the campaign.

The build-up to the game had been dominated by dire pronouncements about United’s mounting injury crisis, but in the end, the only two absentees from the side that lined up at West Ham three days earlier were suspended duo Moussa Sissoko and Jack Colback. The magic sponge had clearly been working overtime.

Rob Elliot started in goal despite his wife being about to give birth to the pair’s first child, and the long-time number two found himself called into action in the ninth minute to parry Danny Ings’ shot on the turn.

Ings, who was one of Pardew’s leading transfer fancies last summer, swivelled past Mike Williamson as he sprinted on to Scott Arfield’s through ball, but Elliot clawed away the striker’s shot with his right hand.

The incident proved a rare moment of drama in an otherwise forgettable opening spell that saw countless stoppages punctuate a succession of misplaced passes.

Pardew’s decision to deploy Ayoze Perez in the hole behind Cisse should have resulted in a series of slick passes into feet, but instead far too many of Newcastle’s attacking moves broke down when an aimless long ball was directed towards their two attackers, neither of whom is especially comfortable in the air.

It was 23 minutes before the Magpies fashioned their first shot - Sammy Ameobi’s angled low effort was easily saved by Tom Heaton – although Cisse should have done better a few moments later when he drilled wildly over the crossbar after Yoan Gouffran had nodded Ameobi’s cross into his path.

Newcastle’s best first-half chance fell to Mehdi Abeid, but the midfielder’s touch was slightly too heavy as he received the ball from Perez and Heaton had sufficient time to race from his line to block a hurried prodded shot.

Burnley had gone close again by that stage, with Ings laying the ball off for Ashley Barnes to shoot over, and when the hosts took the lead 11 minutes before the interval, it was no surprise to see the England Under-21 international heavily involved once again.

Ings’ cushioned header from Kieran Trippier’s long ball fell perfectly for Boyd, and the midfielder drilled a searing 20-yard strike past a motionless Elliot. Roy Hodgson recently mentioned Ings as a possible senior international before too long, and given the ease with which he pulled Williamson here, there and everywhere last night, it is easy to see why.

The 22-year-old should have claimed his second assist on the stroke of half-time, but while his back-heel was perfectly weighted to match David Jones’ run, the midfielder blazed over as the penalty area opened up for him.

Williamson’s half-time substitution felt like an act of kindness such was the extent of the defender’s struggles before the break, with Cabella also replacing Perez as Pardew desperately attempted to add some impetus to his side’s play.

He was rewarded within three minutes of the restart, with Cisse’s predatory instincts enabling him to claim his fifth goal of the season.

Daryl Janmaat crossed from the right after Cabella’s shot had been blocked, Gouffran flicked the ball on at the front post, and Cisse stole ahead of his marker to prod home from close range.

Suddenly, Newcastle were transformed, with Abeid and Cheick Tiote wresting control of the central area, Cabella providing a fulcrum between midfield and attack and Cisse repeatedly pulling Burnley’s defenders out of position.

Tiote drilled a long-range strike at Heaton, Steven Taylor miscued a near-post header and Ameobi, who limped off with an injury with 14 minutes left, almost broke through with a couple of mazy dribbles that underlined his capabilities if only he could establish some consistency in his game.