Newcastle United need just one more goal to set brand new Premier League record
Newcastle United are remarkably just one strike away from breaking their own goals scored record in a 38-game Premier League campaign.
The Magpies, who notched five against Sheffield United to relegate the Blades over the weekend, have now taken their tally to 74 top flight goals so far this season. The last time Newcastle reached that number was the 2001/02 campaign under Sir Bobby Robson.
Should the north east outfit find the net against Burnley on Saturday, or in any of their following three fixtures, they will have set a new record for themselves. This, despite a season blighted by injuries and subsequent disappointing results.
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Other notable seasons in black and white include the 1995/96 campaign where Kevin Keegan almost masterminded a Premier League title win - but his side only managed 66 goals that year. The following year, with Newcastle again finishing second, they scored 73.
Newcastle did score 84 league goals in the 1993/94 campaign but that was in a 42-game season. In 01/02, Sir Bobby's side finished fourth and have held the record ever since after bagging 74 goals.
The fact Newcastle have been scoring for fun this season but are nowhere near the title-chasing pack shows just how much of a struggle it has been at the opposite end of the pitch compared to this time last year.
Last term Eddie Howe's go-to back five of Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn conceded the joint-fewest goals in the Premier League (33), matched with champions Manchester City. This time around, Newcastle have shipped 55 with four still to play.
Newcastle's 5-1 win over Sheffield United at the weekend, coupled with their 8-0 victory in the reverse fixture, means they also now hold the record for the most goals scored against an opponent in a single season (13). The previous record was set by Manchester City, who smashed 12 beyond Watford in the 2019/20 campaign.