Spurs 1-2 Newcastle: Toon win ugly to make it six on the spin!

A chaotic affair in North London however one other large win for Eddie Howe’s Mags, as we made it FIVE straight Premier League victories with a treasured three factors over European rivals Spurs.

First half targets from Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak accomplished a quick-fire comeback after a nightmare begin noticed Dominic Solanke give Spurs a lead inside 4 minutes, however we misplaced all management in a messy second half, spending most of it on the again foot and struggling to maintain the ball.

However, regardless of just a few scares and a transparent drop off within the last 45, we held on to go 11 away from Spurs, make it six wins on the spin in all competitions and transfer degree with Chelsea on 35 factors earlier than their 3pm conflict at Crystal Palace.

Howe made two modifications and one was a welcome shock, as Sven Botman got here again in for his first league look for 9 months, regardless of pre-match ideas that Lloyd Kelly would companion Dan Burn.

The opposite change noticed Tino Livramento substitute Kieran Trippier towards an injury-hit Spurs aspect lacking the vast majority of their beginning defenders, with Son, Maddison and Bissouma additionally left on the bench.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka – Livramento, Botman, Burn, Corridor – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon. Subs: Vlachodimos, Trippier, Barnes, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, Willock, Longstaff, Miley.

Spurs XI: Austin – Porro, Dragusin, Grey, Spence – Bergvall, Sarr, Kulusevski – Johnson, Solanke, Werner. Subs: Whiteman, Reguilón, Dorrington, Hardy, Bissouma, Maddison, Olusesi, Son, Lankshear.

The primary 10 minutes had been frantic, to place it mildly. Livramento took an early whack that required consideration, I don’t know how Joelinton averted a reserving after two blatant fouls and in between all of that had been targets from Solanke and Gordon.

The opener noticed Porro’s sensible cross catch out Botman simply three minutes into his return, as Solanke ghosted in behind the large Dutchman and headed previous Dubravka. The primary purpose Dubravka had conceded after four-straight clear sheets, however it was shortly put proper on the different finish.

Spurs followers had been fuming because the ball appeared to hit Joelinton’s hand earlier than Bruno fed Gordon, who completed fantastically on his left foot. Nevertheless, Joelinton’s handball was not deliberate; his arm was in pure place and it didn’t lead instantly to the purpose, permitting VAR to observe protocols and permit the purpose to face.

It was a chaotic begin from us, the place we initially lacked that management and high quality in construct up play that noticed us dominate Man Utd from the off on Monday. Nonetheless, we virtually made it 2-1 after Botman’s interception on half-way and Isak’s move to Gordon virtually noticed our left-winger double his tally in entrance of Thomas Tuchel.

Fortunately, we settled into it, began to dominate the ball and stopped it being such a basketball sport that allowed Spurs to counter shortly after a kind of breaks resulted in a yellow card block from Burn.

One other massive probability got here our method and this time it was Isak, as Bruno discovered Murphy with a surprising move down the road earlier than the winger’s low cross was stabbed simply large by the Swede. That mixture labored quickly after, nevertheless, as Murphy’s fizzed cross was tapped in by Isak – by way of a contact from Dragusin – 5 minutes earlier than the break.

Murphy and Livramento had been very good down the precise, with the latter having fun with arguably his finest sport of the season to this point up till this level, driving us ahead, defending expertly every time they tried to interrupt down our proper and displaying his tempo and altertness to pounce on each unfastened ball.

Spurs had been compelled right into a half-time change that left them and not using a match centre-back on the pitch, seeing Sergio Reguilon substitute the injured Dragusin. Isak and Gordon needed to be licking their lips at this level, as younger full-backs Grey and Spence had been left to fill in down the center.

It was again to being scrappy and that gave Spurs encouragement. We needed to seize again management, maintain the ball and cease it from turning into an end-to-end affair that solely served to go well with Spurs, who got here shut on 55 minutes as Johnson smashed the publish from a decent angle.

On the different finish, a fast breakaway ended with a Tonali shot that rebounded into Gordon’s path, however the winger couldn’t maintain his first-time shot down, firing properly over. Moments later, he needed a penalty after colliding with Kulusevski, however VAR felt it was nothing greater than a coming collectively regardless of Gordon being left pouring with blood from his nostril.

Spurs made a triple change on the hour mark, seeing Son, Maddison and Bissouma all come on simply as Gordon got here again on after remedy on his nostril. Fortunately, he was OK to proceed, however we continued to wrestle.

Our midfield three misplaced a grip of the sport, we had been slack in possession and giving encouragement to a Spurs aspect who love a late purpose. Burn continued to place out fires with some very important clearances and interceptions, however it felt like we wanted a 3rd as Maddison whipped a shot simply large of Dubravka’s far publish earlier than a penalty field scramble was smashed throughout purpose by Johnson after which Reguilon. We had been on the again foot and had cease this surge of Spurs stress.

Howe reacted with two extra modifications. After taking Gordon off for Barnes, he regarded to close up store as Willock and Longstaff changed Isak and Murphy, making an attempt to pack the midfield as we crept in the direction of stoppage time.

10 minutes of added time was signalled and Botman was compelled off. Hopefully it was simply cramp on his comeback from 9 months out, however he would play no additional half as Kelly got here on for his first look since that 2-0 defeat to West Ham in November.

A uncommon assault got here our method, lead by Willock, however Longstaff’s sloppy move allowed Spurs to interrupt, leading to a Solanke header that was glanced simply over. Quickly after, we had one other break that noticed Barnes pressure Austin right into a save. A second of reduction on the proper finish, though Spurs quickly got here again at us, the place Solanke headed straight at Dubravka after one other whipped cross from Porro discovered the Spurs striker.

We wanted to only get by the ultimate couple of minutes and the tireless Tonali helped us do precisely that, bursting ahead, pouncing on a unfastened ball and drawing a foul from Reguilon that obtained the Spaniard booked. And that will do it. A topsy turvy begin and nervy finish, however we obtained the job carried out (once more) to make it six on the spin!

Subsequent up, Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Arsenal on Tuesday earlier than we tackle Bromley within the FA Cup per week tomorrow.

Howay the lads!