The monkey is off our back and that seven-month wait is over. We’ve finally won a Premier League game away from home!
A precious three points on the road and the nature of our win felt like a turning point in our season, making it back-to-back wins in the league and moving us closer to that cluster of teams around the European spots, even if we’re still down in 13th.
However, after the highs of Saturday night and suggestions we’re ‘back’, we must follow it up with another big display and make use of the momentum we’ve built heading into two home games against Spurs and Burnley this week.
We’ve won our last SIX at St James’ Park and face an out of sorts Spurs side on Tuesday night, handing us a huge opportunity to leapfrog a ‘big six’ rival in the table and make it three league wins in a row for the first time this season.
Speaking ahead of our meeting with Spurs on Tuesday night, Howe said:
“The league is very tight this year and a consistent run of victories can propel you up the league very quickly.
“We’re in a better position than we were in terms of a points gap. It is a key time because you cant let yourself get detached. We know where we want to be and we need a run of games where we get positive results.
It’s vitally important we find the consistency we’re searching for. It seems like we’re going between Champions League and Premier League and not quite finding that sweet spot we’ve been searching for all season. Hopefully this is the turning point for us.
“Every opponent we face in the Premier League is so difficult and now we face Tottenham who are a very good team with their own strengths. We’ll put our plan in place to try and find a way to win.”
Team news
Sven Botman (back) will miss out again, along with Kieran Trippier (hamstring), Will Osula (ankle) and Yoane Wissa (knee), although the latter is edging closer after playing in a behind-closed-doors match over the weekend.
Nick Pope (groin) is a major doubt and Emil Krafth could also miss out again due to a knee injury.
For Spurs, captain and centre-back Cristian Romero is back from a ban after missing their 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Saturday night, while James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke all remain out.
Predicted XI
(4-3-3): Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.
Match prediction
Spurs have lost their last three on the road (conceding 11 in that period), were beaten by Fulham at the weekend and Thomas Frank is under pressure, sending them to St James’ Park on a downward spiral they’ll be desperate to reverse.
They could come out fighting and they still have plenty of quality in Mohammed Kudus, Pedro Porro and Joao Palhinha, just to name a few, but we should be full of confidence after Saturday, are a different side with our two full-backs fit and have beaten Spurs on their last four trips to Tyneside.
Woltemade to find the net again in another vital victory for Eddie Howe’s Mags!
Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Spurs
Howay the lads!
Spurs will not be easy, they have some good players, when they can be bothered, and may be up for a fight. We have to go into this one with the right attitude. I think we should win it. These days every game makes me nervous though.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Can’t call this one .
kimtoon(Quote)
Miley starts, but Bruno on the bench. Strong lineup.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Hopefully we beat them again and they don’t get revenge for last game here.
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Kudos and Johnson can be very dangerous – but our full backs should be able to handle them.
Bergvall is a tidy player but still lightweight and poor under pressure. So a good midfield press and energy should be able to dominate the midfield.
Danso is particularly poor, hopefully we can target him.
Cmon the toon.
Howe the toon(Quote)
Miley and Barnes up for this
kimtoon(Quote)
How are we not in front
kimtoon(Quote)
Not good! 1 shot on target. You just know they are going to have a go at us in the second half.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Feels like a game for Gordon – improve our press from the front and better breaking of the lines.
I like Murphy’s invert through the middle – we need to do more of that generally.
Miley has struggled. Maybe too soon to play him after the last game. Joe has done OK, but isn’t moving that well when we are in possession.
Howe the toon(Quote)
Not very happy with that first half. We’ve played ok but not taken advantage of how poor Spurs have been. One goal could win it. I hope we get it.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Agree mate! If bring on Bruno, Gordon and maybe Elanga in the second half
Gilly Toon(Quote)
***, it’s not our night how did those 2 chances not go in.
kimtoon(Quote)
Brunooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
kimtoon(Quote)
Gooooaaaallll Bruno
Gilly Toon(Quote)
S hite, had a horrible feeling that was coming
kimtoon(Quote)
You called it!
Burns distribution this half has made it a very uncomfortable watch
Howe the toon(Quote)
Right call for me, he wanted Burn on the deck at any cost
kimtoon(Quote)
yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
kimtoon(Quote)
Get in Gordon… absolutely a penalty
Gilly Toon(Quote)
wtf has 9 mins come from
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh my days, what a goal
Just can’t hold on to a lead can we
kimtoon(Quote)
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck shocking. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We threw that away. Where the absolute F… did 9 mins come from?
That scouse git commentator was absolutely doing my head in. So biased. 🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Eugh, Joe and Miley looked dead on their feet in that second half.
Bruno was brilliant, but it was too much to ask of him to control the game largely by himself for the entire half.
That then led to a lack of ability to really keep the ball when coming out from the back. And spurs got way more opportunities around our box than they should have.
Some good subs there, and a good effort at rotation – but didn’t quite nail it.
There is no getting away from that being a terrible spurs team and performance, yet they got a point 😡
Howe the toon(Quote)
We have dropped 11 points from late conceded goals now. This is gutting and cannot continue, we simply have to learn to close out effectively.
kimtoon(Quote)