Burnley 1 Newcastle 0: Jeff Hendrick’s second-half strike lifts Sean Dyche’s side

JEFF HENDRICK made sure Sean Dyche’s anniversary party went with a bang as he stabbed in the winner that sent Burnley soaring to new heights.

Dyche celebrated exactly five years in charge at Turf Moor – and Hendrick made sure it was memorable by popping up with the late winner.

To be fair, it was drifting towards the drabbest of draws, with very little even in the way of a chance until the Clarets midfielder pounced.MAnd if it was a moment to remember for him and Dyche, it was anything but for Toon keeper Rob Elliott – ironically after he had made an impressive stop.

Elliott did marvellouysly to keep out Jack Cork’s initial strike as he carved a way into the Newcastle box. But when it broke to Johan Edmundsson on the right flank and he flashed a cross over, Elliott never got near the ball and there was Hendrick at the far post to poke it into an unguarded net. Ironicaly to that point if there was to be a winner, you’d have backed it to come from Newcastle – not that either side had done a lot to merit it.

The closest we had come to a goal came when Ayoze Perez tried to curl one in from the edge of the box and keeper Nick Pope went fdull length to palm it behind. Hendrick had drilled an early strike across the face of goal, and Elliott had put a hooked cross behind off his face.

But in the main it was as dull as ditchwater and as far from an advert fdor the beautiful game as you will see. Burnley, though, won’t be concerned about that. They are more bothered about losing their manager – the third longest serving in the Prem – to Everton as Ronald Koeman’s replacement.

If he does end up heading to Goodison, at least he has taken them level on points with Liveprool. Not too many Burnley gaffers have managed that in the past.

And for Newcastle it was a 12th successive defeat on a Monday night - they'll be screaming to get the game switched the next time they're due on.

From The Sun