Key events
50 mins: Romero has Gordon’s run well-covered, but having shepherded him out wide, he can’t resist pushing him in the back and conceding a cheap free kick. Bissouma gets his head on the ball to clear away, but Newcastle regain possession, and Trippier’s deep cross is volleyed over by Gordon, albeit from an impossibly tight angle.
48 mins: Ben Davies heads away under pressure from Joelinton, before Isak’s searching cross from wide on the left is flicked away by Pedro Porro. A decent start to the second half for Newcastle, who know that pulling one goal back will get home nerves jangling.
47 mins: Newcastle press forward through Almirón, who plays in Trippier on the overlap. His cross is blocked by Udogie, but the visitors have a corner …
Peep!
The second half is under way. Anthony Gordon is lining up in the middle of Newcastle’s front three, with the ineffectual Isak pushed out wide. Guess which one is in my fantasy team!
“Dejan has said before in interviews that he sees himself more as a No 10 or an attacking No 8 than a winger: he played in that position earlier this season and was excellent,” notes Alexandra Ashton.
“As a Spurs fan who has seen him put up unconvincing performances on the wing for much of last season, I’m inclined to believe that we’ll play him in midfield, at least until Bentancur and Maddison return from injury. He’s been delightful today.” He has indeed.
Let’s talk tactics, with Mark Childs. “Watching Spurs v West Ham in midweek, I thought Kulusevski looked skilful, but a little slow for a winger. Seems like putting him in the #10 slot with Son out left has done the trick. Curious what Spurs fans think: is this a long-term switch?”
“I drove from North Wales to the Cotswolds yesterday to see Wrexham’s firmly carnivorous Paul Mullin terrorising the herbivorous defence of Forest Green Rovers, only to find the game was off,” writes Alun Pugh.
“I was offered a surplus and cold vegan burger for free as the catering team packed up early. Apart from Trippier, I’m not sure anyone is having a worse footballing week,” I don’t know – you should see the state of my fantasy team (yes, it has Tripper in it).
Half time! Spurs 2-0 Newcastle
Tottenham head in at the break with a deserved two-goal lead, with Destiny Udogie and Richarlison converting crosses from Son Heung-min, who has tormented the Newcastle defence. Now comes the hard part for the hosts: holding on to the lead. Back soon.
46 mins: It comes to nothing. Newcastle just look very tired, the injuries and fixtures stacking up for them. They’ve got a very big game coming up against Milan on Wednesday too.
44 mins: Bissouma gets back to cut out Trippier’s cross, and Newcastle have a corner. Three added minutes to come.
42 mins: After another Newcastle attack runs out of steam, they avoid conceding a third goal through sheer good fortune. Kulusevski’s shot is deflected across goal, where Richarlison stoops to try and head it in, rather than stick out a boot.
40 mins: Like the rest of the Spurs front four, Brennan Johnson has been a constant threat – and he fizzes a shot wide of the far post here. Kulusevski then miscues a shot which bounces into Dubravka’s arms.
It’s all very straightforward for the hosts – Trippier’s misjudged attempt at a headed clearance is seized upon by the tireless Son, who beats the beleaguered full-back and cuts back for Richarlison to steer into the corner!
GOAL! Tottenham 2-0 Newcastle (Richarlison 37′)
A big moment for player and team – Richarlison scores, and Spurs double their lead!
“Perhaps what David Hopkins saw last night in Shoreditch was a clever tactics demonstration by Eddie Howe, to show his players how parking the bus can stop any London traffic” wonders Justin Kavanagh. “If so, they clearly weren’t listening.”
34 mins: At the other end, Son threatens to combine with Richarlison, but the latter is flagged offside.
33 mins: A let-off for Spurs as Newcastle almost grab an unexpected equaliser! Gordon waits patiently before playing in Almirón, whose shot is well hit but too close to Vicario. That was a very decent chance.
32 mins: In Newcastle’s recent 1-0 gubbing of Manchester United, they repeatedly targeted their opponents’ full-backs, who were left exposed by attacking players not tracking back. Spurs are doing exactly the same thing to them in this first half.
30 mins: Newcastle look so open in defence. Here, Livramento is left isolated, unable to take on Johnson and cover the space behind him, and the Spurs winger’s low cross is played into Sarr’s path – but he scuffs his shot wide!
28 mins: Newcastle have been very passive so far; will they change approach yet, or hope Spurs’ habit of losing leads continues? Joelinton sees his shot deflected behind for a corner, and is then penalised for jostling Guglielmo Vicario.
Udogie gives us a masterclass in defensive poaching, winning and holding the ball in midfield, finding Son out on the left, and then racing in untracked to slam the cross beyond Dubravka!
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Newcastle (Udogie 26′)
Spurs take the lead, Destiny Udogie turning home Son’s cross, and it’s the least that the hosts deserve from this opening half-hour.
25 mins: It’s lofted in and lands at a Newcastle player’s feet. Unfortunately for the visitors, that player is Jamaal Lascelles, and the centre-back takes a touch, lets the ball run out and then holds his thigh. More defensive injury concerns for Eddie Howe …
24 mins: Almirón holds off Udogie and is then taken out by an agricultural challenge from the advancing Romero. Newcastle with a free kick …
22 mins: Spurs are causing plenty of problems for Newcastle out wide. This time, it’s Brennan Johnson who lashes in a cross with just too much pace for Richarlison or Son behind him.
21 mins: By the way, Dejan Kulusevski is playing in a face mask today after breaking his nose late in the West Ham game. He cuts quite a dashing figure …
19 mins: Then with the danger seemingly minimal, Son whips in a brilliant cross from out wide on the left – and Richarlison is inches away from getting his studs to it! Instead, Martin Dubravka gratefully collects.
18 mins: After an end-to-end opening spell, Spurs are now probing for space with Newcastle parking the bus more effectively here than in Shoreditch last night …
16 mins: Close! Spurs get a corner and Romero climbs above Trippier. His header is bound for the bottom corner, but Almiron is there to clear off the line!
14 mins: Newcastle win a free kick but give the ball away cheaply and Tottenham can break. Son goes up against his marker – Sonny and Schär, anyone? – but loses out and then, in a moment of frustration, levers Almiron to the ground with his forearm. He’s fortunate to escape a booking.
12 mins: Fabian Schär is down and struggling with what looks like a hip problem. Eddie Howe glances nervously at his bench, which is short of central defensive options.
10 mins: Richarlison’s cross appears to deflect behind off Trippier, but it seems to be a double ricochet as Newcastle get the goal kick.
“While out in East London’s trendy Shoreditch last night I was treated to the sight of the Newcastle team bus trying but failing to manoeuvre into their hotel, handily blocking a main road as it did,” says David Hopkins. “My cheery comment to the Toon employee trying to rectify matters that I hoped their defenders would be better positioned than their bus didn’t seem to be appreciated.”
A saturday night stopover in Shoreditch? This has Jason Tindall written all over it.
8 mins: Now Spurs’ high line gets a formal written warning from Newcastle, who really should be a goal up. Joelinton turns and plays Gordon into acres of space down the left. He races into the area and squares for Isak – but Davies does brilliantly to get a touch on it, and it ricochets away off Isak’s shins!
6 mins: “Bru-no-gui-MAR-AESH!” bellows Peter Drury as the Brazilian sends a well-struck effort just over the bar. A warning for Spurs of what Newcastle can do on the counter.
4 mins: Richarlison, often used out wide this season, is playing more centrally so far – and he forces a corner as his shot from a tight angle is deflected over the bar. The corner is eventually scrambled away, but Spurs are enjoying the stronger start.
3 mins: First signs of life from Spurs as Son drops out wide and finds Udogie, whose clever backheel picks out Richarlison in the centre. He can’t get his shot away under pressure, though.
1 min: A very early opening for the visitors, but Anthony Gordon fails to find Alexander Isak with his toe-poke beyond the Spurs defence.
Here we go
We are off, Tottenham in all-white, Newcastle in a nifty charcoal and yellow ensemble. I feel like absolutely anything could happen in this game.
“G’Day Niall, a brutal 3.30am kick-off Down Under,” yawns Chris Paraskevas. “It’s a little surreal seeing Ange Postecoglou christened as English football’s new High Priest of Old Skool Vibez and Soul™️. Quite a makeover since the days of his iconic “interview”/ live ambush on national TV at the hands of a rampant, seething Craig Foster.”
The last time these teams met, Newcastle put six past a broken Spurs side at St James’ Park. They also won the earlier fixture last season, prevailing 2-1 at this ground with goals from Callum Wilson and Miguel Almirón. Newcastle have a decent record here in recent years, winning this fixture five times since the 2013-14 season. They did also lose 5-1 to Antonio Conte’s Spurs in 2021-22, mind you.
Elsewhere, Everton have added to Chelsea’s woes with a 2-0 win at Goodison Park. Sean Dyche’s side have now recouped nine of the 10 points they were deducted last month; without that penalty, they would be in 10th, three points behind Newcastle.
As it is, that spot belongs to Fulham, who grabbed another five-goal haul at home to West Ham. If ever there were a team I didn’t expect to score 10 goals in two games this season. What are they putting in the water down at Craven Cottage?
Full time at the Kenny, and Manchester City escape from a bruising contest with a 2-1 win. they are back to four points off the leaders, Liverpool. Crisis? What crisis?
No changes from Eddie Howe despite the poor result at Goodison, and the short turnaround time since. Ange Postecoglou makes two changes from the team that lost at home to West Ham, with Pape Matar Sarr and Richarlison replacing Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Giovani Lo Celso.
Team news
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Richarlison, Johnson; Son.
Subs: Skipp, Højbjerg, Gil, Emerson, Lo Celso, Forster, Véliz, Donley, Dorrington.
Newcastle (4-3-3): Dubravka; Trippier, Lascelles, Schär, Livramento; Miley, Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton; Almirón, Isak, Gordon.
Subs: Dummett, Wilson, Ritchie, Krafth, Karius, Hall, Gillespie, Longstaff, Alex Murphy.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)
Manchester City were a goal down at half-time, but have turned it round to lead Luton 2-1. Still far from comfortable for the champions at Kenilworth Road, though; follow the finale with Taha Hashim here.
Preamble
Both of these teams are looking to regroup after midweek disappointments, the verdict still very much out on their seasons so far. Tottenham began the season like a freight train under Ange Postecoglou, but have looked more rail-replacement-bus-service in a run of one point from five league games.
Much like their hosts today, when Newcastle are good they’re very good – they’ve beaten Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in their last three home games, and have put four past PSG and five past Aston Villa. They also put eight past Sheffield United at Bramall Lane – but haven’t won away in the league since.
Newcastle’s stuttering form continued with a late collapse at Everton, while Spurs were more consistent in losing a lead in defeat to West Ham. Yet with only the top three in any kind of form, both sides remain firmly in the top four race – and have relatively kind festive fixture lists to come, on paper at least.
All of which means both sets of fans arrive here entitled to both hope for the best and fear the worst. For neutrals, entertainment feels all but guaranteed, so settle in and join us for all the buildup to kick-off at 4.30pm, GMT.
