Dan Burn was a standout performer for Newcastle United as they claimed a much-needed win over Crystal Palace to lift the pressure on manager Matthias Jaissle, underlining his importance to the cause despite a radical new approach for the team this season.

Burn returned and made his first start of the season as Newcastle United beat Crystal Palace 2-0 on a blustery day in south London, with supporters travelling down from the north east no doubt facing difficult journeys to the English capital due to Storm Boelo. 

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That's more like it 😎 What stood out for you as Newcastle beat Crystal Palace 2-0?!

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Burn’s impressive performance shows Jaissle that experience matters

In chaotic conditions and with so many doubts about whether Jaissle is tactically suited to being a Premier League manager, under pressure Newcastle needed to lean on experience. Burn, it would be fair to say, provided that. 

Burn, who missed the opening part of the season due to an ankle injury, partnered Fabian Schar in central defence after Jaissle opted to drop Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw. Burn and Schar have played 145 games together, and that experience mattered at Selhurst Park. 

As per FotMob data, Burn made a total of nine defensive contributions, including seven clearances, two interceptions and four recoveries. Schar also impressed, with ten clearances, one tackle, three blocks and an interception.

Burn’s impressive display reinforces idea that Newcastle can’t rush phase two of their project

At 34, Burn clearly does not represent a long-term option for Jaissle. Nor does Schar, who is a few weeks older. Yet, the fact the duo looked so much more composed than either Botman or Thiaw have this season is an interesting quirk. 

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tom.procter

Loads better second-half from Newcastle. Good to see a rare clean sheet. Schar and Burn solid

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Over the course of a dramatic and often painful summer transfer window, Newcastle changed their policy to sign younger players, looking to build towards the future. That isn’t necessarily a bad decision, but it is laced with risk in a competition as unforgiving as the Premier League. 

The benefits of experience are not easily measured, of course, but having older heads in the team to help what is a fairly young squad in terms of both age and top-level minutes can hardly be a bad thing. 

Burn’s statistics compared to Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw

Newcastle hope that Botman and Thiaw will be their central defensive partnership for years to come, but the pair have rarely looked comfortable together all season. Bullied against both Coventry and Leeds, neither player convinces right now.

Thiaw’s per-game average in every one of the metrics does not compare to Burn’s outing at Selhurst Park. Nor do Botman’s generally, even if it is clearly unwise to get carried away with one game.

Yet, it’s difficult to ignore that Burn and Schar have an impressive body of work at Newcastle. It feels like years since Botman put a run of consistently good form together, while Thiaw’s form has seriously dropped off following a fine start to his Newcastle career last summer.  

Jaissle must keep Burn and Schar in the Newcastle team

All of this is building towards the conclusion that Burn and Schar should stay in the team going forward now. Is relying on defenders of their age ideal? Clearly not, but it is surely now a case of needs must. A first clean sheet in the Premier League coming just as experience returns cannot be a coincidence.  

Speaking at his post-match press conference, a relieved-looking Jaissle hailed the “senior leadership skills” of Burn and Schar, who helped a Newcastle team who were “shaking a bit” following recent defeats.  

There is no reason to drop them now. The kids might be alright, but the old guard still have something left to give.