As at various points in the final months of the season, Burnley had hope of beating the drop throughout these 90 minutes. Newcastle’s goal was besieged in the final stages in search of survival after Maxwel Cornet’s strike. An equaliser might have been the cruellest event considering Leeds’s late winner at Brentford. It did not come, however, and Burnley’s six-year stay in the Premier League petered out. They face a bleak financial picture.
Burnley had survival in their hands but a panicked side, lacking anything close to a cutting edge, will have to start next season in the Championship after Callum Wilson scored twice to leave the Clarets in the red, a position Newcastle will have feared before their takeover.
Mike Jackson, the caretaker manager, is another who brought hope to Burnley after securing 10 points in his first four matches. Relegation left him clearly dejected. “Suffer,” Jackson said of his immediate plans. “That won’t go away for a long, long time. It will always be there. It is something I will have to live with. It won’t go away.”
Nathan Collins set the tone, testing the hearts of the home fans early on by dribbling around his own box rather than clearing. The inevitable happened when he was dispossessed, allowing Newcastle to fashion a chance with Bruno Guimarães on the edge of the box. His shot was palmed out by Nick Pope and Collins redeemed himself by whacking the ball behind for a corner.
Collins had his head in his hands moments later after Pope pushed a Kieran Trippier corner to what he thought was safety but Collins raised his arm for reasons unknown. The ball struck it and the penalty was belatedly awarded after the referee, Craig Pawson, checked the pitchside monitor. Wilson sent Pope the wrong way.
“Nathan has been brilliant,” Jackson said. “He’s devastated but I am not going to criticise a young lad; he’s done great for me. I am sure I will see him in the future going from strength to strength. It’ll be a learning curve. There’s no blame on him.”
There were nerves throughout the Burnley side, as the penalty proved. “I think the pen has changed the mood of the group and around the ground,” Jackson said.
In defence Burnley looked uncharacteristically jittery and they lacked ideas in the final third, mainly hoping for a corner or long throw-in to get near the opposition net.
Collins caused further concern for Burnley fans after the interval. A deep cross from Jacob Murphy looked simple for him to deal with but when trying to knock behind for a corner, he instead aimed for the bottom corner and only his poor connection allowed Pope to spare his blushes.
Wilson had no problem finding the bottom corner on the hour. Allan Saint-Maximin dribbled into the box and passed into the unmarked striker’s path, allowing Wilson to slot into a gaping net.
Cornet provided hope after the makeshift right-back Collins pulled the ball back for the Ivorian. He needed two chances but, after Martin Dubravka saved his first shot, Cornet’s follow-up volley kissed the net to allow Turf Moor to find its voice with the clock ticking.
Everyone in claret and blue was fired up. The ball was repeatedly sent into the box for Wout Weghorst and Ashley Barnes to attack. Barnes drove a cross into the area but Weghorst’s outstretched leg could only get the slightest of touches and the ball went wide from five yards.
Crosses were flying in from all angles in search of a goal that never came, to leave Burnley with one certainty: they are relegated. A lack of squad depth has cost them: five players without a Premier League appearance this season were on the bench and others played out of position. Burnley go into the summer without a permanent manager and a number of key players out of contract.
“There will have to be a reflection with what’s gone on,” Jackson said. “With things like this you have to take small steps, find your way back and get yourself going again, and I am sure that’s what the club will do.
“I am not really bothered about myself, I know how I feel and I am going to go suffer. I am more gutted for the group and the fans. When you work with a group like that and see what they’ve put into it and you see them after, it hurts you. It stays with you – it’s not nice.”
