1 September 2024
Newcastle 2 Tottenham 1
Newcastle welcomed Tottenham to St James’ Park, with the visitors having a dreadful record in the North East of late. The Magpies had made an unbeaten start to the season and it was the job of Postecoglou’s side to change that if they wanted to go into the international break in positive mood. As ever, it was an electric atmosphere, with not an empty seat in the stadium.
Eddie Howe’s side forced an early corner but could not find the quality required from the set piece. As Son looked to bring it out in a wide area, Isak robbed him of the ball. He looked to seemingly float a cross into the box, although it drifted over Vicario and came back off the crossbar. No doubt had it gone in, the Swede would have said he meant it all along.
As an attack broke down for the visitors, a long ball forward was beautifully brought down by Gordon. He spotted Barnes in acres of space and rolled a pass into his path. The winger cut inside onto his favoured foot and looked to bend one in the far corner. The effort shaved the post with the Spurs’ keeper well beaten. So close to breaking the deadlock.
For some time, the biggest problem with Tottenham has been consistency. This is something Ange Postecoglou was struggling with also. The North London outfit have a real Jekyll and Hyde vibe about them. Nobody has found the secret formula that will change that. It is why the club have been waiting some 63 years for another league title since their last success.
After Gordon give the ball away in midfield, Kulusevski and Son combined to try and create an opening, The Spurs’ skipper laid it off into the path of Sarr, who tried to score a ‘worldie’ from some twenty-five yards out. Despite hitting the ball with some ferocity, the shot was down the middle of the goal and Pope managed to scramble it clear.
The Magpies continued to probe and a cross from Kelly picked out Barnes in the box, who opened himself up to steer the ball into the far corner. It was no more than they deserved from their first-half performance and St James’ Park erupted. If this was to be a tall mountain to climb for the visitors, it just became a lot steeper.
Into the second half, Postecoglou’s side started in positive fashion. Johnson came on at the interval and was immediately involved. He put a teasing ball into the back post and a goal seemed certain. Odobert couldn’t adjust himself and somehow put the effort wide. Chances like that do not come often in these games, the travelling fans wondered if they would live to regret that.
Bissouma then came steaming forward and played the ball into Son. He ran at The Magpies defence and looked to guide it into the corner but it deflected wide for a corner. They played the set piece short and Porro looked to lift the ball into the box. It went straight over the head of Pope and came back off the crossbar. Tottenham were really knocking on the door now.
Newcastle just did not seem able to keep possession. With the visitors coming forward repeatedly, pinning The Magpies into their own final third. Madison cut inside and shot and Pope really fumbled the effort to the back post. Johnson’s shot seemed to be going wide but Burn turned the ball into his own net to give the Spurs’ fans something to celebrate.
Eddie Howe’s side strived to find a goal to give them the lead once again. Gordon was involved as he found Murphy inside the box. He looked to beat Vicario at his near post but the Tottenham keeper managed to save at the expense of a corner. It was a good reaction save but no keeper should ever be getting beaten on his near post from that angle.
Tonali was introduced to the game, welcomed by a huge roar from the home faithful. He had not set foot on the St James’ Park pitch since October 2023 as a result of his ban for betting breaches. It was almost like a new signing for Howe’s side, which was a welcome sight given their lack of spending in the summer transfer window, as they looked to balance the books.
It was Spurs who created the next chance. Maddison once again making Pope earn his wage. His shot seemed destined for the top corner before the keeper tipped it wide with an acrobatic save. He was missed by The Magpies last season after a terrible injury kept him out of most of the campaign. The Newcastle keeper was looking to make amends for his absence.
Joelinton then skipped past his man in the middle of the park. He played a sublime pass through the eye of a needle to find Murphy. As he ran through on goal, he unselfishly squared it to Isak, who tapped home to give Eddie Howe’s side all three points. If Ange Postecoglou wasn’t going grey already, this Spurs team would be enough to turn him into an Alan Pardew lookalike.
The Magpies held on to secure victory, moving them up to fifth in the Premier League table. It was Spurs’ first defeat of the season and will have left their manager with many unanswered questions about his squad. As the season develops, Postecoglou will get those answers but there still seems like there is plenty of work to be done in North London.
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