Newcastle United returned to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday, seeing off Burnley at St James’ Park and climbing to ninth in the early-season table.
Summer signing Callum Wilson continued his impressive start, netting twice in the second half after Allan Saint-Maximin had given the hosts an early lead.
Burnley got one back through Ashley Westwood, but it was nothing more than a consolation for the Clarets, who have yet to claim a point this term.
Here's how the national press reacted to Newcastle’s first home win of the 2020/21 top-flight campaign.
BBC Sport’s Steve Sutcliffe wrote: “Newcastle had won just one of their past eight home league games prior to Burnley's arrival at St James' Park.
“And apart from a 20-minute spell after the break there was enough in what was an otherwise commanding performance to cheer manager Steve Bruce.
“Wilson has now scored four goals in his four Premier League appearances for the club and appears worth every penny of the £20m the Magpies paid for him.
“Jonjo Shelvey's scheming was a feature of their play, with the midfielder making more passes than any other Newcastle player and driving his side forward at every opportunity.
“And in Saint-Maximin, Bruce had arguably the game's outstanding player at his disposal.”
For the Guardian, Louise Taylor noted: “Steve Bruce has complained of feeling “insulted” by suggestions he is a “lucky” manager destined to soon be “found out”.
"In private Newcastle’s manager must surely acknowledge his team have been fortunate at times this season but there was nothing remotely flukey about this ultimately comfortable deconstruction of Burnley.
“Indeed, on a night when Allan Saint-Maximin shone in a much‑improved home performance, the only caveat was that Sean Dyche’s team were generally so poor it was easy to see why they are still without a point.”
Elsewhere, the Mail’s Craig Hope wrote: “The bruised and brilliant Allan Saint-Maximin was back in the dressing-room by the time Callum Wilson made sure of victory with his second of the night, but there was no doubting the inspiration behind Newcastle’s elevation into the top six of the Premier League.
“The French winger was unplayable. He scored the opener and laid on Wilson’s first after Burnley equalised through Ashley Westwood just after the hour.
“Saint-Maximin’s superiority - complimented by Wilson, who was a steal at £20million - has brought calm after a stormy few days on Tyneside.”
And the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards observed: “If this is a crisis for Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce it is a funny looking one as this win over Burnley moved his team up to sixth in the same week they reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
“That will certainly be how people with only a passing interest view events on Tyneside. How can supporters show so much animosity towards a manager and team which has lost one game in seven and sits level on points with Chelsea and Marcelo Bielsa’s thrilling Leeds United side?
“But this is Newcastle, things are never so black and white. Bruce continues to cause friction and when his critics cannot complain about results, they pick fault in performance and style.
“With that in mind, this was an important victory and Bruce had the returning Allan Saint-Maximin to thank for dousing the rising flames of discontent.”
