BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 19th APRIL, 2015
(4pm)
NEWCASTLE UNITED 1(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3(1)

Newcastle scorer:-
Colback, 46

Spurs scorers:-
Chadli, 30
Eriksen, 53
Kane, 90 (+1)

Attendance:- 47,427

Referee:- Kevin Friend
Assistants:- H. Lennard & A. Garratt
Fourth official:- N. Swarbrick

Teams:-
Newcastle (4-2-3-1):- Krul; Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini (Capt.), Anita (sub Armstrong, 75); Taylor, Colback; Gouffran (sub Ameobi, 46), Abeid(sub Obertan, 46), Cabella; Perez

Subs not used:- Woodman; Kemen, Sterry, Rivière

Booked:- Colback (foul on Vertonghen), Cabella (foul on Lamela)

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Vorm; Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen (Capt.), Rose (sub Davies, 82); Paulinho (sub Mason, 88), Bentaleb; Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli (sub Dembele, 78), Kane

Subs not used:- Friedel; Yedlin; Townsend; Soldado

Booked:- Paulinho (foul on Cabella), Lamela (foul on Anita), Vertonghen (foul on Perez), Bentaleb (foul on Cabella)

Kane's record goal seals win.

Harry Kane hit the Spurs record books with his added time goal, as that made 30 for the season, and his 20th Premier League goal of the season. It was the first time since Gary Lineker that a Spurs player had hit so many goals in a season. Mauricio Pochettino joked that Kane should take the team out for dinner, as they had helped him achieve the landmark.

Kane had been relieved of the captaincy with the return of Jan Vertonghen. The Spurs head coach shuffled his defence, with Eric Dier moving to right back, and Fazio holding his place next to Vertonghen. Ryan Mason was given a rest, and Paulinho played beside Bentaleb, doing a decent job too.

The much publicised boycott of Newcastle fans was not particularly in evidence inside the ground, but there were a few empty seats. There was a protest outside the Gallowgate End before and after the game, but very, very few fans left after the 17th minute applause as a mark of respect for the two Newcastle fans who were among the lost of that flight to the Antipodes last summer.

Newcastle are in a sorry state, and have now lost six consecutive games. They have 35 points and cannot count themselves free of relegation worries just yet.

Spurs have climbed to sixth place, above Southampton, who they play next week. A draw would be a good result in that game, and sixth place now has to be the target, as Tim Sherwood's Aston Villa beat Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final. Seventh would still be enough for Europa League qualification if Arsenal won the FA Cup, but we don't want that, do we?

Spurs looked the better side all day really. They just took a long time to make it a convincing score line. Harry Kane won a corner in the first minute. Ayoze Perez was causing the Spurs defence a little trouble, without really bothering Michel Vorm, again covering for Hugo Lloris in goal.

Spurs had a promising attack after 12 minutes when Lamela switched the ball from right to left for Danny Rose. Spurs were ultimately caught offside in the ensuing move.

Gouffran was allowed too much space on Rose's flank, and got a cross to Perez, whose shot was saved by Vorm, who was able to pick up after his first touch. Bentaleb had a shot go wide, after Dier and Eriksen had combined on the right side of the Newcastle area.

Perez got another shot on target, this time from Janmaat's cross, but this was easy for Vorm.

Spurs had a lovely move forward mid-way through the half with Kane featuring. Eriksen, Lamela and Paulinho were all involved before Paulinho hit a shot wide.

Danny Rose conceded a free kick, which was taken by Ryan Taylor, and headed over by Williamson. Spurs then took the lead after a concerted effort to win the ball in the Newcastle half. The ball fell to Chadli, a good 25 yards out, and he was allowed time and space to pick his spot hitting the net beyond Krul's right hand. Chadli celebrated his goal in front of the away fans at The Gallowgate End, which was not the best move!

Lamela passed the ball the wrong way, giving possession to the home side after 38 minutes. Perez again had a shot on goal, but Vorm was again more than equal to the effort.

Just before the break, good play by Bentaleb gave Chadli a run down the left. He passed inside to Kane, whose shot forced a save by Krul.

Spurs succumbed to a sucker punch in the first minute after the break, but perhaps it took slightly longer than when they scored at White Hart Lane at the same stage of the game. Perez caused confusion deep on the right, with Janmaat also involved. The ball reached Colback at the back post, and he was able to score easily to the right of Vorm. Ameobi, who had startled Spurs at The Lane, had been one of two half-time substitutions, and was on hand to celebrate the equaliser.

The goal seemed to give Spurs the requisite kick up the backside, as they played with more desire in the second half. They lifted the tempo, and there was not as much backward passing as I have seen too often this season.

Eriksen was halted in his tracks by Colback, but referee Friend showed no yellow card for this cynical foul. However, Spurs were rewarded when Eriksen took the free kick deep on the left, and scored direct, with both Kane and Bentaleb trying to convert. They both failed, but did succeed in confusing the defence, and the goalkeeper. It was Eriksen's first goal since January.

Chadli crossed from the left, and Benteleb rose to head the ball, which just skimmed the outside of the goal. Harry Kane had a shot saved by Krul after Paulinho's corner.

After 71 minutes, Kane made ground down the right, and fed the ball to Lamela, who looked as if he was going to round the goalkeeper, but Krul just managed to save at Lamela's feet. Lamela then showed skill and close control of the ball to pass to Bentaleb, who chipped the ball over the defence, putting Kane in with a great opportunity. Uncharacteristically, Kane skewed his attempt.

Bentaleb was the creator again, as he gave Lamela another chance to run at Krul. However, Krul was again equal to the challenge, and picked the ball off Lamela's feet.

Spurs had a great chance after 76 minutes, with Kane having options, including Lamela to his right. Harry took on the responsibility of going for goal, but Krul saved to his right. Fazio was up for Paulinho's 82nd minute corner, and the ball seemed to rebound between the Newcastle keeper and the Spurs centre-back, who almost had an involuntary effort on goal, which fell into Krul's hands.

As we entered three minutes of added time, Spurs made a counter-attack and had three men in the middle. Lamela gets the assist for the final pass to Kane, who raced away and scored his landmark goal firing to Krul's left. Kane lifted his arms to salute the travelling fans way above him. Victory had been secured, and Spurs fans left St. James' Park happy for the second successive year.

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