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

A chaotic affair in North London but another massive win for Eddie Howe’s Mags, as we made it FIVE straight Premier League victories with a precious three points over European rivals Spurs.

First half goals from Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak completed a quick-fire comeback after a nightmare start saw Dominic Solanke give Spurs a lead within four minutes, but we lost all control in a messy second half, spending most of it on the back foot and struggling to keep the ball.

But, despite a few scares and a clear drop off in the final 45, we hung on to go 11 clear of Spurs, make it six wins on the spin in all competitions and move level with Chelsea on 35 points before their 3pm clash at Crystal Palace.

It wasn’t always pretty and we lost our way in parts, yet this was another way of winning after 4-0, 3-0 and 2-0 victories over the past month. This was a win from 1-0 down, a huge defensive effort and a reminder of the grit that exists within this group, even when we’re slightly below our best.

Howe made two changes and one was a welcome surprise, as Sven Botman came back in for his first league appearance for nine months, despite pre-match suggestions that Lloyd Kelly would partner Dan Burn.

The other change saw Tino Livramento replace Kieran Trippier against an injury-hit Spurs side missing the majority of their starting defenders, with Son, Maddison and Bissouma also left on the bench.

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

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

The first 10 minutes were frantic, to put it mildly. Livramento took an early whack that required attention, I have no idea how Joelinton avoided a booking after two blatant fouls and in between all of that were goals from Solanke and Gordon.

The opener saw Porro’s brilliant cross catch out Botman just three minutes into his return, as Solanke ghosted in behind the big Dutchman and headed past Dubravka. The first goal Dubravka had conceded after four-straight clean sheets, but it was quickly put right at the other end.

Spurs fans were fuming as the ball appeared to hit Joelinton’s hand before Bruno fed Gordon, who finished superbly on his left foot. However, Joelinton’s handball was not deliberate; his arm was in natural position and it did not lead immediately to the goal, allowing VAR to follow protocols and allow the goal to stand.

It was a chaotic start from us, where we initially lacked that control and quality in build up play that saw us dominate Man Utd from the off on Monday. Still, we almost made it 2-1 after Botman’s interception on half-way and Isak’s pass to Gordon almost saw our left-winger double his tally in front of Thomas Tuchel.

Thankfully, we settled into it, started to dominate the ball and stopped it being such a basketball game that allowed Spurs to counter quickly after one of those breaks resulted in a yellow card block from Burn.

Another big chance came our way and this time it was Isak, as Bruno found Murphy with a stunning pass down the line before the winger’s low cross was stabbed just wide by the Swede. That combination worked soon after, however, as Murphy’s fizzed cross was tapped in by Isak – via a touch from Dragusin – five minutes before the break.

Murphy and Livramento were superb down the right, with the latter enjoying arguably his best game of the season so far up until this point, driving us forward, defending expertly whenever they tried to break down our right and showing his pace and altertness to pounce on every loose ball.

Spurs were forced into a half-time change that left them without a fit centre-back on the pitch, seeing Sergio Reguilon replace the injured Dragusin. Isak and Gordon had to be licking their lips at this point, as young full-backs Gray and Spence were left to fill in down the middle.

It was back to being scrappy and that gave Spurs encouragement. We had to seize back control, keep the ball and stop it from becoming an end-to-end affair that only served to suit Spurs, who came close on 55 minutes as Johnson smashed the post from a tight angle.

At the other end, a quick breakaway ended with a Tonali shot that rebounded into Gordon’s path, but the winger couldn’t keep his first-time shot down, firing well over. Moments later, he wanted a penalty after colliding with Kulusevski, but VAR felt it was nothing more than a coming together despite Gordon being left pouring with blood from his nose.

Spurs made a triple change on the hour mark, seeing Son, Maddison and Bissouma all come on just as Gordon came back on after treatment on his nose. Thankfully, he was OK to continue, but we continued to struggle.

Our midfield three lost a grip of the game, we were slack in possession and giving encouragement to a Spurs side who love a late goal. Burn continued to put out fires with some vital clearances and interceptions, but it felt like we needed a third as Maddison whipped a shot just wide of Dubravka’s far post before a penalty box scramble was smashed across goal by Johnson and then Reguilon. We were on the back foot and had stop this surge of Spurs pressure.

Howe reacted with two more changes. After taking Gordon off for Barnes, he looked to shut up shop as Willock and Longstaff replaced Isak and Murphy, attempting to pack the midfield as we crept towards stoppage time.

10 minutes of added time was signalled and Botman was forced off. Hopefully it was just cramp on his comeback from nine months out, but he would play no further part as Kelly came on for his first appearance since that 2-0 defeat to West Ham in November.

A rare attack came our way, lead by Willock, but Longstaff’s sloppy pass allowed Spurs to break, resulting in a Solanke header that was glanced just over. Soon after, we had another break that saw Barnes force Austin into a save. A moment of relief at the right end, although Spurs soon came back at us, where Solanke headed straight at Dubravka after another whipped cross from Porro found the Spurs striker.

We needed to just get through the final few minutes and the tireless Tonali helped us do exactly that, bursting forward, pouncing on a loose ball and drawing a foul from Reguilon that got the Spaniard booked. And that would do it. A topsy turvy start and nervy end, but we got the job done (again) to make it six on the spin!

Next up, Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Arsenal on Tuesday before we take on Bromley in the FA Cup a week tomorrow.

Howay the lads!