PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 23RD APRIL,2023
(2PM)
NEWCASTLE UNITED 6(5) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(0)

Newcastle scorers:-
Murphy, 2, 9
Joelinton, 6
Isak, 19, 21
Wilson, 67

Spurs scorer:-
Kane, 49

Attendance:- 52,252

Referee:- David Coote
Assistants:- Simon Bennett, Timothy Wood
Fourth official:- John Brooks
VAR:- Neil Swarbrick
Assistant VAR:- Richard West

Teams:-
Newcastle (4-3-3) :- Pope; Trippier (Capt.) (sub Manquillo, 70), Schar (sub Lascelles, 74), Botman, Burn; S. Longstaff, Guimaraes (sub Gordon, 70), Willock; Murphy (sub Almiron, 66), Isak (sub Wilson, 66), Joelinton
(Armband to Wilson, then Lascelles)

Subs not used:- Dubravka; Targett; Anderson, Ritchie

No bookings

Spurs (4-3-3/3-4-3):- Lloris (Capt.) (sub Forster, 46); Pedro Porro, Romero, Dier, Perisic; Skipp, Hojbjerg, Sarr (sub Sanchez, 23); Kulusevski (sub Danjuma, 72), Kane, Son (sub Richarlison, 83)
(Armband to Kane)

Subs not used:- Tanganga, Lenglet, Davies, Mundle; Devine

Booked:- Kulusevski (foul on Willock), Skipp (foul on Guimaraes), Romero (foul on Wilson)

Looney Spurs thrashed by Toon

Thanks to Andy Park for capturing this image

Spurs travelled to St. James' Park as so-called Champions League contenders. They left in total desolation with such ambitions in tatters. On this form they will fall out of contention for any European place. Spurs had won no less than six of their preceding Premier League games here. Their one defeat in that run was an embarrassing 5-1 on the last day of the 2015-16 season when they had been chasing Leicester and even managed to surrender second place to Arsenal. Newcastle had already been relegated, and that was the last time Arsenal had finished above us. You all know what is happening this season.

Spurs world is full of bitterness and negativity, and quite understandably. There had been a clamour for, and a suspicion that stand-in coach Cristian Stellini would go for a 4-3-3 formation, but such a set-up requires proper full backs and not Pedro Porro, a wing-back whose defensive frailties have been all too evident in his short time at Tottenham, and Perisic, who has class at the top end of the pitch, but who now lacks the pace required to defend properly. Stellini’s set-up was suicidal, and the game was lost within ten minutes of kick-off. The Spurs coach could be seen putting 20-year-old Pape Sarr through his paces in the warm-up, seemingly still briefing him for his deep-end second Premier League start. Sarr was sacrificed for last week’s booed substitute Davinson Sanchez after only 23 minutes, by which time Spurs were five down. We reverted to a back three and at least drew the rest of the game, with Sanchez deserving kudos for his personal victory over last week’s trauma.

Both Lenglet and Davies were on the Spurs bench, but seemingly they had gone for the trip and to make up numbers. Clearly, they were not fit to start.

The Gallowgate End was festooned with massive banners and flags, presumably paid for by the Saudi-owned club – the newest rich boys on the block. Newcastle's fans have been rewarded with a brand of football that is easy on the eyes and for them it was a treat to watch. Spurs were the hopeless prey to Newcastle’s unrelenting attack. Sting was in the stadium and on this form, he’ll be making more visits from his idyllic home in Tuscany.

Spurs kicked off and faced the Gallowgate End, but we didn’t see them play in that direction much. Newcastle were ahead after only 61 seconds. Joelinton was allowed to sail into the box by the ineffective Pedro Porro. Joelinton had been something of a misfit under Steve Bruce, but Eddie Howe has honed him down and Lloris could only push his shot to the feet of Jacob Murphy who fired high into the net from an angle at the back post.

An Isak shot won a corner, which was cleared, but Newcastle were two-up inside 6 minutes. Joelinton was onto Schar's long diagonal pass. Pedro Porro allowed the forward to get goal-side and Joelinton simply cut inside and beat Lloris with an easy right-foot finish. Spurs' disgrace was exacerbated (but not completed) in only the ninth minute. Son hadn't been strong enough on the ball in midfield and Newcastle pounced forward in an attack which ended with another Schar pass, seized upon by Jacob Murphy who beat Lloris with a 25-yard shot for his second goal. Lloris didn’t even move. Murphy didn’t score a single goal for "The Toon" last season.

Some Spurs fans headed for the exit. Their team had never been three down inside 9 minutes, not even when we were beaten 6-1 here in December 1999 in the FA Cup and 7-1 in December 1996.

Spurs actually managed an attack after 12 minutes with Skipp advancing down the right and passing inside to Kane, whose right-footed whose shot passed wide across the goal. We went 4-0 down in the 19th minute. Former Arsenal man Joe Willock was delighted to deliver a long ball from inside his own half and Isak was too fast for Dier, beating Lloris with a right-footed shot. Isak helped himself to another goal only two minutes later. The defence was absent as Longstaff took Trippier's pass and fed Isak who again beat the hapless Spurs captain.

On came Sanchez and back came the 3-4-3. It was all too late, but a double digit scoreline had looked a real possibility. Spurs won a couple of corners, and after the second of these Kulusevski hit a poor shot off target. "Kulu" got the first yellow card of the game too for a tackle upon Willock. Trippier hit an easy free kick into Lloris’s arms.

Spurs were at least managing to get forward more and Son passed to Kane under pressure, but the Spurs talisman (for how much longer?) got the ball stuck in his feet and Pope’s save was easy. Skipp went into referee David Coote's book for halting Brujo Guimaraes in his tracks.

Newcastle’s fans were giving their team “Ole” calls as they passed with ease. Romero committed a foul on Longstaff at the edge of the Spurs area, but the referee had allowed an advantage with Willock firing just over the bar. More freedom of movement for the Newcastle attack led to a Longstaff shot taking a touch to win a corner before half-time.

Hugo Lloris didn’t come out for the second half, apparently with an injury. It was probably badly hurt pride. Forster took his place, perhaps for the rest of the season. Spurs managed a goal within four minutes of the restart. Hojbjerg sent Kane away down the left flank with a pass from the Spurs half. Kane scored a fine solo goal, getting the better of Schar before reaching the Newcastle area and scoring with a fine left-footed shot. Kane is chasing Shearer’s 260 premier League goal record, but whether he will do it with Spurs is very doubtful now.

Son hit a right-footed shot just over the bar after taking a pass from Perisic.

Newcastle pressed again. Longstaff took a pass from Guimaraes and hit a right-footed effort which was deflected wide across the goal. From the corner, Newcastle had two headers blocked. The first by Burn was actually blocked by Longstaff. After the second effort was blocked, the offside flag was raised.

Son had another chance after he chased a ball down the left. His right-footed shot was blocked. Pedro Porro's attempted follow-up was high. Eddie Howe brought on Wilson and Almiron for Isak and Murphy. Within 65 seconds they had contrived the sixth goal. After Tripper's cross, Almiron’s shot/pass was somewhat forced and prodded, but Callum Wilson was faster than the Spurs defence and prodded the ball into the net from short range.

Kulusevski was replaced by Danjuma. Romero got his customary booking for a foul on Wilson. If you ask me, Romero’s heart has not been in Spurs since before the World Cup and I suspect he'll be asking his agent to find him a way out in the summer.

Former Everton man Anthony Gordon replaced Guimaraes and had a chance when he and Willock broke forward. Forster got a hand to Gordon’s shot. Richarlison was a late sub for Spurs, and after his cross from the right, Danjuma's right-footed effort was saved by Pope. In added time, Sanchez blocked a shot by Almiron which looped up and into Forster’s arms.

I’ve seen a few thrashings this weekend in the snooker World Championship at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. This thrashing was the most embarrassing of them all. The Spurs team is like a disjointed flock of sheep led by a poor, out of his depth shepherd. There are plenty, of course, who say the farmer should be the main fall guy.

· John Ellis speaks his mind.

Follow @spursodyssey

· Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
· Read the preview for this game.
· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats