It’s been a brilliant few weeks for Newcastle United, with a solid point at Old Trafford sandwiched between convincing wins over Fulham and Brentford and a hard fought yet fully deserved 1-0 win over Everton in midweek.
It was a funny game on Wednesday. We played some lovely stuff in patches, had 16 shots to their one, yet struggled to dominate the ball like we have in recent home games. However, the fact we limited Everton to so few chances – they didn’t have a single shot on target all night – speaks volumes, proving we can still defend superbly and see out a win convincingly while tired and below our best.
Next up, we face a Spurs side who’ve mixed a strong start to the season with an awful performance in midweek. The 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford was said to be a horrible watch from a Tottenham perspective, so you’d imagine they’ll be fired up to put that right this weekend.
There’ll be a lot of tired legs in the Newcastle side, so this will be a huge test of our metal. We lost this fixture 5-1 back in April and got it horribly wrong that day, allowing Kane and Son to run riot after giving them far too much space in behind.
Hopefully we have learned from that and recovered well from Wednesday’s win, as it will take a big effort and smart tactical approach to keep our unbeaten run going in this one, with Spurs winning each of their last seven games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Team news
Joelinton is a doubt after picking up a knee injury in midweek, although he may be OK after featuring in the club’s training photos on Firday.
Alexander Isak (thigh) and Allan Saint-Maximin (hamstring) remain out, while Paul Dummett and Javier Manquillo have also picked up fresh knocks.
Jonjo Shelvey is likely to remain on the bench as he edges his way back from a hamstring injury, with Matt Ritchie (calf), Karl Darlow (ankle), Emil Krafth (ACL) still out.
For Spurs, wide men Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison have both been ruled out, but Brazilian wing-back Emerson Royal is back from a three-game ban following his red card in the North London derby.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Targett – Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock – Almiron, Wilson, Fraser.
I was surprised Howe went with another unchanged side in midweek, but that means rotation is almost inevitable this time around.
I think Matt Targett and Ryan Fraser will come in down the left, replacing Dan Burn and Jacob Murphy, with Joe Willock also seeming a good bet to return in midfield now Joelinton is struggling with a knee problem.
Chris Wood could be one to watch. I think we might give 60-70 minutes to Wilson – who will be desperate to impress ahead of the World Cup – but we’ll need to be careful with our injury-prone striker given it would be hist third start in eight days. With Isak out until after the World Cup and Saint-Maximin still out, Howe will be conscious of risking another key attacker.
Predicted Spurs XI: Lloris – Romero, Dier, Lenglet – Emerson, Hjobjerg, Bissouma, Bentancur, Sessegnon – Son, Kane.
One to watch: Harry Kane – Whether it’s dropping in to create, his ability to win fouls in dangerous areas or emphatic finishing in the final third, he has been Tottenham’s main man this season. Son is a huge threat if we dare to play a high line, but Kane could be the man to stop if we sit deeper and look to frustrate.
Prediction
I hope I’m wrong, but I think this will be a tough game and one we’ll just fall short in.
I always back us to be competitive, defend well and give any side in this division a run for their money, but injuries and fatigue are mounting up and we face a Spurs side who’ve won every Premier League home game so far this season.
We have only lost once and dealt with Man Utd much better than they did in midweek, so maybe I’m doing us a disservice, but I’m going for a narrow home win here.
Prediction: Spurs 2-1 Newcastle
Don’t tell me top clubs don’t get special treatment.
Klopp sent off against City for nearly headbutting the linesman coz he didn’t like a decision – he’s conduct was a disgrace!! – yet there he is sat on the bench against Forest.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I hope that Royal will NOT start. Give Spence a chance.
joseph mifsud(Quote)
I hope Anderson gets the nod ahead of Fraser – I think he’s earned his chance.
We have the best defence in the league this season going up against probably the 2nd best front 3 in the league. We couldn’t keep City’s front 3 out and I’m sure Spurs will find the back of the net at some point in the game.
But we managed to put 3 passed City and I think we can breach that Spurs defence as well.
In a way it’s a free hit coz losing away to Spurs is no shock result.
But if we go and perform like we have been so far this season then we have every chance of coming away with at least a point.
Sharpy17(Quote)
As the last of three games in a week at the high intensity nufc play, the injuries nufc have and the fragility of nufc strikers I think this will be a loss
Happily They proved me wrong last weekend with a deserved point and if they do it again this weekend I’ll happily believe in this team a little more
A good chance to see where botman is against an impressive front line for spurs and nufc have to be less profligate in front of goal
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Liverpool are absolutely horse **** – wonder who Klopp blames this time
Sharpy17(Quote)
Only FIVE minutes additional time, nowhere near long enough to score 🤣🤣🤣
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
McTom on the pitch for 4 mins and gives away a pen.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
In a weird, inverted way I am glad Everton won. If they are midtable I will not have to think about them and will not look for their results and the pundits will not be talking as much about Super-Frank. If they are in a relegation fight I would/will be keeping a close eye on them. So please Everton, go back to being an irrelevance to ME.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Interesting set of results. A win tomorrow would be nice
PremAndUp(Quote)
I am finding it very hard to predict the relegation spots. Usually it is at least one of the promoted teams, a fall from grace team from the previous season and a-nother.
I am not writing off Forest because he has 21 new players and the WC effectively gives him the preseason he never had with them. Good result today. I am watching a re-run.
Leicester have to have too much to go down, don’t they?
Could it be Villa and/or Wolves? Both seem a shambles at the moment and we know ourselves that relegation is a possibility when the back room is a mess no matter if you have some good players.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I really hope the Baggies don’t go down but it takes a while to get un-Bruced. We saw that with Eddie who took about 2 months. Mackems seem very inconsistent and really should shut their gobs about us. They embarrass themselves whenever they compare our 2 teams. That’s about my only interest in The Championship. I dont really care who gets promoted.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You know when we had 5 points from 11 games and Bruce was still in charge, I wonder what our odds were to go down? I am sitting on the couch watching Forest/Liverpool and thinking about how our fortunes have changed – literally and figuratively. Anybody remember what our worst odds were? I bet they were like 1/10 for relegation.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have no prediction about tomorrow. Looking at The Mag with quotes from a Spurs fan forum, they seem depressed but they have won 7 PL games at home in a row and top their Champions League group. On the flip side, I watched their game against Man U and they were terrible. They just sat back and invited pressure. Man U could have easily won 5 nil.
I still dont trust Spurs’ defenders so I think we have a shot here. They rely on Kane and Son and the other 2 attackers are injured. If those 2 have off days or dont get any service we should be OK. Man U pressed them and they didnt seem to have an answer, which is unusual for a Conte team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Nervous about this one today. If we win, we go 4th. Usually when we have something like that to go for, we throw it away. I hope there’s no dodgy ref/VAR decisions against us. I’ll take a point but fear we may lose today. Let’s see.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Would be happy with a draw as don’t see us winning as I think games will be catching up withus and tired minds and bodies could factor not to mention injuries.
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Some surprising results, but Mitro scores again. What was that Rafa? Rondon?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ro international goals for Mitro.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
50
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Only one change. Willock for Murphy… we must keep Son and Kane quiet.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
here we go then
kimtoon(Quote)
Agree Son is always a pain for us
kimtoon(Quote)
Well Son’s in the mood for sure, that’s twice he’s had a shot now
kimtoon(Quote)
Christ tf for Tripps
can’t keep getting away with it
kimtoon(Quote)
getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnOh dear Loris
Wilson
kimtoon(Quote)
VAR
says yes
kimtoon(Quote)
miggyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
0.2
Woohoo
kimtoon(Quote)
Sites glitchy again, just had to open a tab
kimtoon(Quote)
this is the Miggy that played for Atlanta. He was Bruced!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well what a first half! Fantastic goals. Who is this Miggy fella? O M G. What a player he’s become. And how good was Wilsons goal? I’d have been fuming if they’d disallowed that. They tried everything to take it away.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Scrappy game, but we are 2 nil up so who is going to argue…
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What a first half!!!!
We rode our luck in the beginning – Son could have had a couple.
But we stuck to our game & what a cool finish by Wilson!!. I was sure VAR was going to call foul coz Wilson put his arm up a bit – it absolutely wasn’t a foul – but home bias n all that. Fair play to them for making the right call on this occasion.
Then there’s Miggy goal 😳. Outstanding play from the lad.
Brilliant first half boys 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jamie Redknapp calling a foul – get away, the former Spurs lad reckons it should have been disallowed. There’s non bias punditry for you 🙄.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jamie should hang his head for that. No way is that a foul. Still a long way to go though and Spurs still dangerous on the break. Hope we can see this out now. I’d rather be 2 up than 2 down.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
he got away with that, that was handball
kimtoon(Quote)
Effin Kane
kimtoon(Quote)
Why the hell do we have Trippier marking Kane!!.
One of our smallest players against their biggest goal threat?!?!?!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Diers a ****
kimtoon(Quote)
WOW – this is a proper footballing team we have here!!.
That was outstanding!!. Other than Son first half scuffed shot Pope saved & Kanes goal – I really can remember Pope having much if anything to do?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
What a match, what a result! We absolutely should’ve had a penalty for handball but ultimately it doesn’t matter. Excellent match. I’ll tell you what, Longstaff played a blinder today!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Oh my. Happy to eat a whole humble pie for not buying in before now. Great win, What a defence what a team.
Just seen a possession / shots stat that shows spurs had no clear chance after kanes goal. Outstanding!!
A wise group of young lads once chanted ‘I’m a believer, I couldn’t leave if I tried’
That’s me .. 100% believing. I’m all in
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
What a turnaround. We were 2nd bottom on 5 points this time last year. Well done everybody the players, the coaches, Eddie, the owners.
I knew we would stay up last season after I watched the Bournemouth documentary – Minus 17 – when a 29 year old Eddie Howe kept them in the football league after being appointed on New Years Day. They were 91st of 92 at the time after a 17 point deduction.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Unbelievable place that we find ourselves in! The giant is awake! 😄😄
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I thought everybody played well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There are certain youtube channels – TOON REVIEW – that have to have a go at somebody, anybody!!! even when we have a great win. It is usually Longstaff or Wood. But, not this week fellas. Just let it go for once. You don’t need to criticize to have a good time about the rest of our performance.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
To me the last 3 games looked like 4 points. To Eddie it looked like 7 from 9! What do I know 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have criticised Miggy in the passed and I have no intention on taking it all back. I have always acknowledged his workrate – few work hard to be fair. But is end product was so poor.
Not any more!!. Credit where it is due – the lad has put the work in and turned things right round.
The criticism he was getting – including that of £100m Jack Grealish 😂 could have done him. His agent was talking up a move away but the lad himself kept his head down.
I do think having Trippier & Bruno around him has helped massively – but all credit to him, he’s doing brilliantly well 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
It absolutely not a foul for Wilson’s goal – no way!!.
They asked what else Lloris could do – well actually, if you watch it back, he has time and opportunity to boot it into row Z. Instead he runs into the ball & player expecting to get the foul – good on the ref & VAR for not giving it.
Sharpy17(Quote)