Eddie Howe's side must make the most of every positive if they are to climb the Premier League table
Newastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates scoring the first goal against Burnley
Newastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates scoring against Burnley from a corner(Image: PA)
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Love them or hate them, set-pieces have become a huge part of the modern-day Premier League - and could yet play a vital role in Newcastle United's hopes of qualifying for Europe.
A total of 230 of the 845 goals scored in the Premier League have been from set-pieces this season, excluding penalties, which amounts to 27.2 per cent.
For some, that's a depressing indication of a lack of flair in the game, with many pointing a finger at Arsenal for setting the new trend for making the most of their dominance from deadball situations.,
Others feel you have to exploit any strength you have, and it's up to opponents to deal with it as best they can.
Newcastle are no strangers to goals from set-pieces, with 14 to their name so far this term in the Premier League, a total bettered only by Arsenal and Manchester United.
With the natural height advantage offered by stars such as Dan Burn, Nick Woltemade, Joelinton, Malick Thiaw, Fabian Schar and Sven Botman, Eddie Howe's side perhaps should do even better on this front, particularly when you consider they have also conceded 15 goals from such situations.
Certainly the delivery needs to hugely improve, with the forthcoming return of Bruno Guimaraes and Lewis Miley a major boost for Howe in this respect.
It could yet prove crucial in their remaining fixtures, with four of the sides they have still to face among the most susceptible to giving goals away from set-pieces.
United have seven games in which to move up the Premier League table and claim a place in European competition next term and, after the bruising 2-1 defeat to Sunderland, they can afford no more slip-ups.
So it should be encouraging that no side has conceded more set-piece goals than the 17 shipped by West Ham and Bournemouth, with both clubs on the forthcoming fixture list.
Newcastle's next opponents Crystal Palace have conceded 15, along with Nottingham Forest, with United visiting the City Ground in May.
On the other end of the scale, United must also face Brighton (eight) and Arsenal (seven) who have among the best records so far in keeping set-pieces out.
Howe is not the type of manager who want to rely on set-pieces to win games, but at this crunch stage of the season, Newcastle cannot afford to let any advantage slip.
Goals scored from set-pieces
Teams Newcastle still to face in bold
21: Arsenal
18: Man United
14: Newcastle, Aston Villa, Tottenham
13: Bournemouth, Liverpool, Leeds, Chelsea
11: Palace, Everton
10: West Ham, Fulham
8: Brentford, Burnley
7: Forest, Wolves, Man City
Goals condeded from set-pieces
Teams Newcastle still to face in bold
17: West Ham, Bournemouth
16: Liverpool
15: Palace, Forest, Newcastle
14: Chelsea
13: Leeds
12: Man United, Burnley
10: Fulham, Aston Villa, Sunderland
9: Man City, Tottenham
8: Brighton, Arsenal
7: Brentford, Everton
6: Wolves