Matt Ritchie relieved to see Newcastle hang on to vital win against Burnley after gilt-edged miss

The Scotland international somehow found the side-netting when presented with an empty goal in the six-yard box

Matt Ritchie was the most relieved man in Turf Moor after Newcastle withstood pressure from Burnley to grind out a third successive Premier League victory.

The Magpies led through early goals from Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark, with Sam Vokes pulling one back for Burnley just before half-time, when Ritchie was presented with an open goal just two yards out.

Somehow the winger put the ball wide but it did not cost his side as they held on for a 2-1 victory that lifted them further away from the bottom of the table.

“I thought I'd scored to be honest,” Ritchie told Sky Sports. “Hopefully it doesn't make the worst Premier League misses. I was delighted at the end there to see that ball [Vokes' last-gasp header] go over the bar and the whistle go. It was a huge relief.”

Benitez sought out Ritchie at the final whistle, and after the match the Newcastle boss said: “I have to see the replay. We were laughing at the end because he cannot understand. But in the end we won and he did a great job so even missing this chance, it's not his position, so I have to congratulate everyone.

Matt Ritchie missed the best chance of the night (Action Images via Reuters)

“It was a difficult game. We knew it could be tough, they are a strong team, very physical with the two strikers, wingers with pace. The three centre-backs did a great job.

“The team was pushing quite hard, we started well. It was a pity for us not to score the third goal but in the end to get three points I think is something we have to be really pleased with.”

A run of six games without a win has seen Burnley slide back to within a point of the foot of the table, but boss Sean Dyche insisted he was happy with his team’s response even though it was undermined by frustration at more sloppy goals conceded.

“A lot of the aspects of the game I was very pleased with,” he said. “Certainly the amount of quality chances we created was pleasing because that's not easy to do in the Premier League. Obviously the frustration is you don't get a result.

“We need to get on the right side of margins but we also need a scratch of luck. Their first goal gets a hell of a deflection, and the second goal's a poor goal.

“We've given too many soft goals away this year, we know that, but that is getting tighter. The mentality of the game I'm very pleased with. The character of the side is coming back.”