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It is hard to remove the managerial uncertainty from the very top of any Newcastle agenda but Burnley did their very best here.
Three times they fought back from a goal down and, on top of that, they struck the woodwork four times. If a winner was going to emerge, they would not have been wearing black and white, but then Newcastle’s fans are getting more and more used to that state of affairs.
The year may be new but old failings remain. The Newcastle side Alan Pardew has left behind (technically, at least, he was still the manager today) has long been alarmingly brittle.
They conceded three or more goals on 12 occasions last year and the start of 2015 has presented no argument to suggest that unwelcome statistic is about to change. Newcastle even tried five at the back in the closing stages. It did not matter – they still have a soft underbelly.
Newcastle caretaker manager John Carver (right) reacts
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That will be the first job for the man who succeeds Pardew, with Steve McClaren emerging as a front runner, although as of late on New Year’s Eve there had not been any contact with Derby County.
John Carver is likely to stay in charge for Newcastle’s third round FA Cup tie at Leicester on Saturday. Given Newcastle’s unashamed aversion to the competition, there is no rush. Holding on to Moussa Sissoko and Ayoze Perez will be near the top of the new man’s remit as well. The club are insisting privately that Sissoko will not be sold, no matter how pressing the needs of Arsenal. Perez’s name has yet to be mentioned greatly, but it will. From somewhere Newcastle have unearthed a real gem.
Newcastle United - the latest match picturesShow all 125 1 /125Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Manchester United 1 Johnny Evans and Papiss Cisse come together
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Manchester United 1 De Gea makes a save
Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Manchester United 1 Ashley Young scores the winner for Manchester United against Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Manchester United 1 Ashley Young celebrates the winner for Manchester United against Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester City 5 Newcastle 0 Wilfried Bony came on in the victory over Newcastle to make his Man City debut.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester City 5 Newcastle 0 A quick-fire David Silva double put City five goals to the good.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester City 5 Newcastle 0 Edin Dzeko tripled Newcastle's misery with a third goal before half-time.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester City 5 Newcastle 0 Samir Nasri doubled Manchester City's lead with an emphatic strike.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester City 5 Newcastle 0 Sergio Aguero put Manchester City ahead inside two minutes after Vernon Anita gave away an early penalty.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 1 Stoke 1 Peter Crouch scores a late equaliser
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 1 Stoke 1 Jack Colback puts Newcastle ahead with 15 minutes remaining
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Hull 0 Newcastle 3 Yoan Gouffran scores Newcastle's third against Hull
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Hull 0 Newcastle 3 Newcastle players congratulate Sammy Ameobi after his goal against Hull
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Hull 0 Newcastle 3 Sammy Ameobi scores from 30-yards out
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Hull 0 Newcastle 3 Ahmed Elmohamady reacts after he realises his goal is ruled out for a clear handball
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Hull 0 Newcastle 3 Ahmed Elmohamady punches the ball into the back of the net during the 3-0 defeat to Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Hull 0 Newcastle 3 Remy Cabella celebrates his goal against Hull
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0 Remy Cabella goes close as Newcastle dominated in the first half
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0 Petr Cech started in place of Thibaut Courtois and was fantastic for the Blues
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0 Jose Mourinho was furious with his team's performance in the opening stages
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0 Willian's quick thinking allowed Oscar to tap in the opener at the far post
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0 Oscar is mobbed by Chelsea players after scoring the opening goal
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0 Chelsea players surround the referee believing they should have had a penalty
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Leicester City 1 Newcastle 0 John Carver and Steve Stone watch the action unfold at the King Power Stadium
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Leicester City 1 Newcastle 0 Leonardo Ulloa heads in the winner - his eighth goal of the season
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Leicester City 1 Newcastle 0 Leicester players celebrate with the striker
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Leicester City 1 Newcastle 0 Jak Alnwick made a number of good saves for Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Leicester City 1 Newcastle 0 Remy Cabella tries to get the visitors on the attack
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Leicester City 1 Newcastle 0 Cheick Tiote puts in a tackle on Leicester striker Jamie Vardy
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Burnley 3 George Boyd celebrates his equaliser against Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Burnley 3 Danny Ings celebrates his goal for Burnley
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Burnley 3 Newcastle caretaker manager John Carver (right) reacts
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Everton 2 Everton's Ivorian striker Arouna Kone scores the opening goal against Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Everton 2 Cisse celebrates equalising against Everton, despite the fact he could have been sent off earlier in the match
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Everton 2 Ayoze Perez shoots to score and put Newcastle ahead
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Everton 2 Jack Colback scores Newcastle's third
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Everton 2 Evertons Belgian striker Kevin Mirallas scored a late goal but the Toffees couldn't find another
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester United 3 Newcastle 1 Papiss Cisse scores a consolation for Newcastle form the penalty spot
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester United 3 Newcastle 1 Robin van Persie scores the third for Manchester United with a perfectly-guided header
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester United 3 Newcastle 1 Wayne Rooney scores his and United's second of the game
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester United 3 Newcastle 1 Rooney celebrates with striker-partner Radamel Falcao after the pair combine to put United ahead
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester United 3 Newcastle 1 Wayne Rooney opens the scoring after turning in a Radamel Falcao cross
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Sunderland 1 Sunderland manager Gus Poyet celebrates Adam Johnson's goal
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Sunderland 1 Adam Johnson strikes his late winner at St James' Park
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Sunderland 1 Adam Johnson evades the challenge of Ayoze Perez
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Tottenham 4 Newcastle 0 Spurs' striker Harry Kane scores their third goal
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Tottenham 4 Newcastle 0 Newcastle United's Jak Alnwick punches the ball clear
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Tottenham 4 Newcastle 0 Nabil Bentaleb (centre) celebrates putting Tottenham ahead
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Chelsea 1 Didier Drigba scores a consolation goal to bring the score back to 2-1
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Chelsea 1 John Terry looks up as Papiss Cisse's shot hits the back of the net
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Chelsea 1 Newcastle players and fans swamp Papiss Cisee after he scored his second goal
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Chelsea 1 Papiss Cisse celebraes after scoring Newcastle's second against Chelsea
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Chelsea 1 Papiss Cisse scores the first goal for Newcastle against Chelsea
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Burnley 1 Newcastle 1 Mehdi Abeid leaves Stephen Ward chasing him down the right hand side
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Burnley 1 Newcastle 1 George Boyd fires the Clarets into a first-half lead
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Burnley 1 Newcastle 1 Boyd celebrates with the Burnley mascot Bertie Bee
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Burnley 1 Newcastle 1 Papiss Cisse turns in a cross to draw Newcastle level at Turf Moor
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Burnley 1 Newcastle 1 Newcastle players surround Cisse after his equaliser
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Burnley 1 Newcastle 1 Danny Ings attempts to get a shot on goal in the second-half
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures West Ham 1 Newcastle 0 Mauro Zarate holds off Sammy Ameobi
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures West Ham 1 Newcastle 0 Aaron Cresswell fires home the only goal of the game
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures West Ham 1 Newcastle 0 Mark Noble challenges Moussa Sissoko
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures West Ham 1 Newcastle 0 Sam Allardyce and Alan Pardew patrol the touchline
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures West Ham 1 Newcastle 0 Adrian clears his lines for West Ham
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures West Ham 1 Newcastle 0 West Ham players celebrate their victory
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures West Brom 0 Newcastle 2 Ayoze Perez flicks in a brilliant opener for Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures West Brom 0 Newcastle 2 Ayoze Perez celebrates his goal against West Brom
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures West Brom 0 Newcastle 2 Fabricio Coloccini celebrates his goal that put Newcastle 2-0 up
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0 Mario Balotelli is spoken to by Simon Mignolet
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0 Mario Balotelli reacts to the defeat to Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0 Ayoze Perez celebrates his winning goal against Liverpool
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0 Ayoze Perez celebrates his goal against Liverpool
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0 Ayoze Perez scores for Newcastle against Liverpool
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester City 0 Newcastle 2 Moussa Sissoko celebrates scoring Newcastle's second goal
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester City 0 Newcastle 2 David Silva was substituted after suffering a knee injury
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Manchester City 0 Newcastle 2 Rolando Aarons watches as his effort finds the corner of the Manchester City goal to give Newcastle the lead
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2 Ayoze Perez and his teammates celebrate with the away fans
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2 Ayoze Perez scores for Newcastle to complete the turnaround
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2 Sammy Ameobi scores with his first touch to level for Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2 Emmanuel Adebayor heads in the opening goal for Spurs
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 1 Leicester 0 Gabriel Obertan celebrates his goal with his team mates
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 1 Leicester 0 Gabriel Obertan fires in to give Newcastle the lead
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 1 Leicester 0 Papiss Cisse misses a good chance
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 1 Leicester 0 The match is delayed by an hour due to problems with a big screen coming dislodged by the wind
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Swansea 2 Newcastle 2 Courtesy of Papiss Cisse's second of the afternoon, Alan Pardew's men show they are no pushovers.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Swansea 2 Newcastle 2 Papiss Cisse celebrates pulling Newcastle level at the Liberty Stadium
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Swansea 2 Newcastle 2 Swansea show solidarity with their opponents by supporting former Magpies star Jonas Gutierrez who is battling cancer.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Swansea 2 Newcastle 2 Wilfried Bony puts the Swans ahead against lowly Newcastle.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Swansea 2 Newcastle 2 Mike Ashley, usually an absent figure, was again in attendance for Newcastle's clash away at Swansea.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Stoke 1 Newcastle 0 Peter Crouch heads home the only goal of the game between Stoke and Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Stoke 1 Newcastle 0 Mike Ashley looks on during the game between Stoke City and Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Stoke 1 Newcastle 0 Alan Pardew at the match between Newcastle and Stoke
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Stoke 1 Newcastle 0 Fans call for the head of Alan Pardew at the match between Newcastle and Stoke
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle 3 Emmanuel Riviere of Newcastle scores one of his two goals against Crystal Palace as the Magpies advanced in this Capital One Cup tie after extra-time
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle 3 Paul Dummett celebrates scoring the winner at Selhurst Park in extra-time
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Hull 2 Papiss Cisse gets his second and equalises for Newcastle
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Hull 2 Alan Pardew and Papiss Cisse celebrate the goal
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Hull 2 Under-fire boss Alan Pardew looks away after his team go behind
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Hull 2 Nikica Jelavic celebrates after opening the scoring
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Hull 2 Newcastle fans hold up protest banners against their manager Alan Pardew
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Hull 2 Stephen Quinn is tackled by Paul Dummett
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Hull 2 Moussa Sissoko goes past the challenge from Jake Livermore
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 2 Hull 2 Nikica Jelavic holds off Paul Dummett
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Southampton 4 Newcastle 0 After Jack Cork had made it 3-0, Newcastle fans turned up the volume on their protests against Alan Pardew.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Southampton 4 Newcastle 0 Jack Cork celebrates after scoring the Saints' third.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Southampton 4 Newcastle 0 Alan Pardew's afternoon could only get worse after Graziano Pelle doubled his side's lead after just 19 minutes.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Southampton 4 Newcastle 0 Graziano Pelle gave the Saints the best possible start, tucking his effort past Tim Krul in the first half.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Southampton 4 Newcastle 0 Alan Pardew returned to his former club with his job looking increasingly under threat.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Crystal Palace 3 Neil Warnock celebrates after Wilfried Zaha's late goal
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Crystal Palace 3 Wilfried Zaha celebrates his late equaliser
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Crystal Palace 3 Mike Williamson celebrates his goal
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Crystal Palace 3 Rolando Aarons celebrates his goal
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Crystal Palace 3 Massadio Haidara and Jason Puncheon battle for the ball
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Crystal Palace 3 Dwight Gayle scores the opening goal
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle Daryl Janmaat prevails in a tussle with Aston Villa left-back Aly Cissokho. The summer signing from Feyenoord has impressed Newcastle United supporters so far.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle Paul Lambert and Aston Villa assistant manager Roy Keane look on during the match. Keane was characteristically active on the sidelines
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle New Aston Villa signing Carlos Sanchez was named on the bench and replaced Charles N'Zogbia in the 62nd minute.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle The Villa Park faithful were enthusiastic about the first use of the 'vanishing spray' during the match with Newcastle United. It produced possibly the loudest cheer of the match.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle Roy Keane exchanges words with Daryl Janmaat during the goalless draw between Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson saw red in the second half in a fiery affair at Villa Park.
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Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Manchester City 2 Sergio Aguero makes it 2-0 in stoppage time
Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Manchester City 2 Edin Dzeko wins the ball back from Fabricio Coloccini
Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Manchester City 2 David Silva celebrates his goal for Manchester City
Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Manchester City 2 Joe Hart punches the ball away
Newcastle United - the latest match pictures Newcastle 0 Manchester City 2 A minute's silence is observed for the Newcastle fans who died on flight MH17
For 26 minutes, however, it was more about those from the North-east: Carver sat alongside Steve Stone and Peter Beardsley in the home dugout and the three goalscorers were all produced in the region.
No one can say that Pardew was not prepared to pick local talent. His first act as manager was to give Steven Taylor a new contract. In the 15th minute, Taylor directed a Jack Colback corner into the bottom corner of Tom Heaton’s goal.
Injury ended his afternoon and probably his whole season on the hour, however, and he hobbled out of St James’ with his foot in a moon boot. “It looks like he has ruptured his Achilles tendon,” Carver said, “so I think that’s the end of him now for the season.”
Danny Ings celebrates his goal for Burnley
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The lead lasted just four minutes, until Paul Dummett, whose lot has risen considerably this season, placed a header over his own goalkeeper, Jak Alnwick, into the home goal. It was a horrible, tragicomic error by the young defender.
Another goal was just around the corner, again from a local player. This time Colback cracked a fine, left-footed strike into the bottom corner of Heaton’s goal. For the rest of the half, Newcastle were in control. Thereafter, they most certainly were not.
You could not deny Burnley’s spirit and the home side could not long deny them a goal. Danny Ings has long been linked with a move to Newcastle and he did not disappoint his admirers, despite picking up a needless booking for simulation. It did not affect him, and within two minutes he glanced Michael Kightly’s inswinging free-kick into the corner of the Newcastle goal.
Trickery from Perez set up Sissoko for Newcastle’s third with 12 minutes to go but Burnley refused to be beaten. Ings turned creator, teeing up George Boyd– who had been excellent – to drive a left-footed shot past Alnwick.
“They reacted to the managerial uncertainty but we had an outstanding mentality,” said Burnley manager Sean Dyche. He was not wrong there.
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