CHRIS-SIE PRESENT
Wood winner the perfect gift for Dyche as ref does u-turn
SEAN DYCHE will be able to enjoy any late Christmas shopping in peace this week thanks to a change of mind from rookie ref Tim Robinson.
Last weekend the last person the Burnley boss wanted to bump into less than 24 hours after a 5-0 hammering at Tottenham as he and his family sampled some retail therapy in London was Spurs manager Jose Mourinho.
No such worries this time even if Santa Claus himself turns up after Chris Wood’s 58th-minute header ended a run of three straight defeats.
In charge of his first Premier League game, Robinson originally awarded a goal-kick after a tussle between New Zealander Wood and Toon defender Federico Fernandez.
But a quick signal from the assistant referee saw the official point towards the corner flag for Ashley Westwood to supply the cross for Wood to outmuscle Fabian Schar to head in off the underside of the bar.
Dyche said: “I was most pleased with the reaction. We’ve had a tough week and people have started making noises about us.
“I know what bad runs are and this wasn’t one of them.
“All of a sudden with 21 points it all looks a lot different. You always have to find a way of winning games like these and we’re good at it.” But Newcastle boss Steve Bruce slammed the decision and believed the stage was too big for the debut-making official.
He said: “We feel aggrieved. The referee awarded them a corner after initially giving a goal-kick. But it should have been a free-kick because it was a blatant foul on our player.
“There were too many mistakes and for me he is not ready for a Premier League game.”
Bruce is still fuming about Robinson failing to send off Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury in a Carabao Cup clash on August 29.
The Toon chief added: “Matt Ritchie has still not recovered from that tackle. The same referee missed a red card that day.”
Two minutes after the goal, Andy Carroll – captaining Newcastle for the first time – gave Robinson another big decision following an elbow-led challenge on Ben Mee.
The bustling forward was sent off here two seasons ago while playing for West Ham after another aerial collision with Mee.
This time it was yellow although Dyche said: “I was surprised Carroll remained on the pitch. If you lean an elbow and it’s too high and late you probably get sent off in the modern game.” But Bruce said: “I don’t think it was an elbow. Sometimes you get caught. That’s why I have the face I have.”
Newcastle, whose inventive heart was ripped out of the side through injuries to Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almiron and Jonjo Shelvey, went close to an equaliser as sub Dwight Gayle sliced wide from close range.
Joelinton, shifted out to the left flank in Saint-Maximin’s absence, also fired narrowly wide from outside the area.
Before that Jack Cork should have made the game safe for the Clarets after robbing Sean Longstaff but Martin Dubravka saved with his legs.
The opening half had been devoid of any real edge-of-the-seat entertainment as the winter elements took their hold.
Back in the warmth of Stockley Park, Paul Dummett was reprieved via VAR which decided the Newcastle defender’s handling of a Dwight McNeil cross as he attempted to block its route to Wood inside the six-yard box was accidental.
Dubravka then pushed out a long-range effort from McNeil who at least with his silky runs attempted to raise the temperature on the pitch on what was an afternoon to forget for the purists.