BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 12TH FEBRUARY, 2014
(7.45pm)
NEWCASTLE UNITED 0(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4(1)
Scorers:-
Adebayor, 19, 82
Paulinho, 53
Chadli, 88
Attendance:- 48,264
Referee:- Mr. N. Swarbrick
Assistants:- Mr. L. Betts & Mr. J. Brooks
Fourth official:- Mr. M. Dean
Teams:-
Newcastle (4-4-2):- Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Taylor (Capt.), Santon (sub Dummett, 46); Gouffran, Anita, Sissoko, Sa Ameobi (sub Marveaux, 71); De Jong (sub Ben Arfa, 63), Cisse
Subs not used:- Elliot; Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling; Sh Ameobi
No bookings
Spurs (4-1-4-1):- Lloris; Walker, Kaboul, Vertonghen (Capt.), Naughton; Capoue; Dembele (sub Townsend, 64), Paulinho, Bentaleb, Lennon (sub Chadli, 75); Adebayor (sub Soldado, 84)
Subs not used:- Friedel; Dawson; Eriksen; Kane
No bookings
Not so cool Krul this time!
When Newcastle took a surprising 1-0 win from White Hart Lane in November, their goalkeeper Tim Krul was the outstanding man of the match with a string of saves. Things didn't go so well for him this time, as he had a hand in three of Spurs' four goals. That is not to blame Krul, because his hand did make initial saves, but they were not good enough to prevent goals.
Spurs ran out easy 4-0 winners, with Emmanuel Adebayor adding to his goal tally under Tim Sherwood's leadership. Adebayor scored two tonight, and has now scored 8 goals in 10 league games under Sherwood.
Spurs were not always as good as the scoreline suggests though, as passes went astray, and some defensive clearances too often went to Newcastle feet. Hugo Lloris still had to make at least three fine saves to keep a clean sheet against a Newcastle team so under par that they as without a home league win or goal since beating Stoke 5-1 in December.
Alan Pardew chose to attack, with a 4-4-2, and Sherwood shook up his team and formation with Kaboul and Naughton replacing Dawson and Rose at the back, and Capoue patrolling in front of the defence, which allowed Dembele, Paulinho, Bentaleb and Lennon to support Adebayor.
Bentaleb thrived with the more attacking role, playing many fine passes and neat touches.
From our position up in the rafters of St. James' Park it is not easy to pick out individuals, so you will have to forgive any inaccuracies.
Spurs had a good chance after only 4 minutes, when Dembele got to the bye-line down the right channel, cutting the ball back for Adebayor at The Gallowgate End, where his shot was blocked, resulting in a corner.
With Eriksen on the bench, Kyle Naughton took this corner on the left-hand side.
Krul then made a good save from Paulinho's low shot following Kaboul's assist. Lloris was soon in action at the other end, making a good save from Cisse, following a free kick headed on by Williamson.
Spurs had a free kick out on the right, taken by Walker, and Vertonghen headed wide at the back post. Spurs took the lead in the 19th minute, following great work by Bentaleb, who carried the ball down the left from deep. Krul could only parry the cross into the path of Adebayor, who gleefully finished and saluted the home crowd!
Another good Spurs move down the right and ball into the box led to a muted penalty appeal, resulting only in a Spurs corner. Newcastle broke back, with Sammy Ameobi sending a ball to Cisse, but Lloris was down the shot.
Aaron Lennon was put in by Adebayor towards the left side of the area, and there might have been a bit of post in his shot, which had taken a deflection, resulting in a Spurs corner. At the other end, Sissoko had a neat exchange with De Jong, before hitting a shot covered by Lloris.
Spurs then enjoyed a passage of good and confident passing play, but no end result came of their domination.
Newcastle's left back Santon was replaced by Dummett at the interval, but Spurs stayed on top, extending their lead in the 53rd minute.
Bentaleb had been well involved in the Spurs build up which came from the left, passing with a clever touch, before Krul could only parry another Adebayor shot, and Paulinho delightfully finished off with a low shot.
After an hour De Jong was replaced by Ben Arfa, who perhaps surprisingly had not started this game. Newcastle fans were then not impressed with what they perceived as delaying tactics at a Newcastle free kick, when Dembele limped off and was replaced by Townsend, who played on the right.
Dummett had a good effort on goal following another Sammy Ameobi pass, following which Ameobi was replaced by Marveaux. Gouffran forced a fine Lloris save at his right-hand post, with a quite powerful drive.
Hugo was in action within a minute, saving Debuchy's header from a Ben Arfa cross.
Aaron Lennon, who at times continues to look less than interested in the action, was replaced by Chadli.
Spurs broke rapidly out of a defensive position, with Kyle Walker releasing Etienne Capoue who made a lengthy run down the right of the Newcastle defence, passing inside to Bentaleb, whose shot passed over the goal.
Adebayor made it 3-0, after a Spurs movie from the left and a ball by Chadli. Paulinho fed it to Townsend, who rifled a shot which Krul saved, but was then beaten by Adebayor's back-up shot, which bounced into the ground and over Krul's right hand.
Adebayor was then allowed a rest, and an ovation from the visiting support (who had been chanting "Tim Sherwood's Blue and White Army"), allowing Soldado a few minutes.
The rout was completed with a fine curling 20 yard shot to the far corner of the goal by Nacer Chadli, who had been fed by Bentaleb. Krul couldn't get a hand to this one, and it was a great goal. The chants outside the ground of "4-0 - even Chadli scored" were unfair on a player who hasn't had too many opportunities in Spurs' colours.
This was Spurs' biggest away win at Newcastle for many years. In 1975 they won 5-2, and in August 1959 they won 5-1. Even the double side only won 4-3 here in 1960!
Unfortunately, Liverpool scraped a last minute penalty win at Craven Cottage, and maintained their three point lead in fourth place.
However, Spurs have kept themselves very much in touch with the leading pack, whilst stretching their lead over Everton and Manchester United. United are now 8 points behind us. Great, isn't it?
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