Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United – Match Report

Newcastle headed to Tottenham knowing that a win would take them into the top four of the Premier League, but Tottenham have a 100% home record.

Eddie Howe fielded a strong side filled with bags of energy, whereas Conte made five changes to their line up that lost 2-0 at Manchester United with four of those changes coming in defence.

Newcastle got off to a good start pressing forward, but found themselves very susceptible to Tottenham’s counter-attack with Son Heung-Min a particular threat. In the opening minutes, Son had registered four attempts at goal on his own with one of those requiring a save from Pope and a follow-up clearance off the line by former Spurs player, Trippier.

The defence of Newcastle looked a bit easy to exploit, but always solid enough to deal with any danger they played themselves into.

With half an hour gone, I was beginning to think that we’d be lucky to go in level at half time especially after Kane somehow found a way to get a shot off through a wall of defenders, but Pope was on hand to deflect the shot with his outstretched leg.

Two minutes later however, Callum Wilson put the Magpies in front when Hugo Lloris rushed off his line to beat Callum Wilson to the ball, the players collided with Lloris hitting the deck allowing Wilson to pick up the loose ball and chip the ball into the open net from 20 yards. VAR tried their damndest to disallow the goal, looking for an offside, a foul on Lloris and a handball by Wilson, but nothing could be found. Even though Jamie Redknapp disagrees.

With the danger of the Spurs counter-attack, one goal wasn’t going to be enough. Luckily, that man, Mignificent Almiron was there again to outrun the Spurs defence and slot home past Lloris who could be seen to be at fault again as it was his wayward pass that fell to Miggy in the first place.

Newcastle went in at halftime two goals to the good with the Spurs team booed off the pitch by the home support.

During half time the heavens opened, but The Magpies started with all the confidence of a team 2-0 up and should maybe have had a penalty after Joelinton headed a ball back towards Callum Wilson which came off the arm of Davinson Sanchez but Sanchez had played his VAR Immunity Card this game and despite his arm being well away from his body, it was adjudged that he was too close to Joelinton to get his arm out of the way and nothing was given.

To add insult to injury, Spurs clawed a goal back not long after as Harry Kane nodded home a ball from 2 yards out after a corner was flicked on in his direction. Again, a lengthy VAR check followed as there was a hint of offside as the ball looked like it may have come off the shoulder of Davinson Sanchez, but the VAR Immunity Card saved him again and the goal was given.

Newcastle dug deep for the rest of the game to keep Spurs at bay who grew into the game the longer it went on.

Pope found himself in the referee’s book for time wasting which set alarm bells ringing for the Toon Army as the last time that happened, Newcastle were undone by Liverpool in the 98th minute.

This time, however, the Magpies defence stayed resolute and there was no getting past Schar and Botman and the lads were able to see out the rest of the game and cling on to a 2-1 win which registered Tottenham’s first home defeat of the season, but more importantly saw Newcastle climb into the top four of the Premier League.

Plenty contenders for Man Of The Match again with Wilson and Almiron getting on the scoresheet, Schar and Burn being rocks at the back, Bruno and Trippier being the class acts that they are, and Pope was unlucky to not keep a clean sheet, but for me, it goes to Joelinton. The Brazilian just didn’t stop grafting despite taking an absolute kicking throughout the game.

****Vital Newcastle are looking to recruit a new writer for the site. If you are a fan of the club and can commit to writing 3—5 articles at least 4 days per week then we would love to hear from you. Mail paddy@snack-media.com for more information****