PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 4TH JANUARY, 2025
(12.30PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1) NEWCASTLE UNITED 2(2)

Spurs scorer:-
Solanke, 4

Newcastle scorers:-
Gordon, 6
Isak, 38

Attendance:- 61,293

Referee:- Andy Madley
Assistants:- Nick Hopton, Craig Taylor
Fourth official:- Lewis Smith
VAR:- Chris Kavanagh
Assistant VAR:- Sian Massey-Ellis

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-1-3):- 40. Austin; 23. Pedro Porro, 6. Dragusin (sub 3. Reguilon, 46), 14. Gray, 24. Spence; 15. Bergvall (sub 10. Maddison, 62), 29. Sarr (sub 8. Bissouma, 62); 21. Kulusevski (Capt.); 22. Johnson, 19. Solanke, 16. Werner (sub 7. Son, 62)
(Son took the armband from Kulusevski)

Subs not used:- 41. Whiteman; 48. Dorrington, 79. Hardy; 64. Olusesi; 42. Lankshear

Booked:- Reguilon (foul on Tonali)

Newcastle (4-3-3):- 1. Dubravka; 21. Livramento, 4. Botman (sub 25. Kelly, 90+2), 33. Burn, 20. Hall; 39. Guimaraes (Capt.), 8. Tonali, 7. Joelinton; 23. Murphy (sub 36. Longstaff, 86), 14. Isak (sub 28. Willock, 86), 10. Gordon (sub 11. Barnes, 78)

Subs not used:- 19. Vlachodimos; 2. Trippier; 24. Almiron, 67. Miley; 18. Osula

Booked:- Burn (foul on Solanke), Joelinton (foul on Son), Botman (foul on Maddison), Isak (time-wasting when substituted)

Spurs' horrible run continues

Spurs' horrible run, and indeed horrible season continued with a tenth Premier League defeat (their fifth at home). We've managed just one league win in our last eight games and lost five of those.

Of course, there are mitigating circumstances with more key players on the injury list than I can remember plus the suspension of Rodrigo Bentancur. Even more woe was cast upon the squad this week with illness in the ranks. This led to Fraser Forster's absence and Brandon Austin getting his senior debut in goal. Austin acquitted himself well and was even given the man of the match award by TNT Sport's Ally McCoist. Austin certainly won the fans' favour with a command of his area and a mixture of long and short passing.

Sadly, once again, Spurs did not play out well, putting themselves under pressure at the back too early and too often. Indirectly, such play led to Newcastle's early equaliser, although there was a controversial handball by Joelinton, not given by referee Andy Madley who was backed up by VAR Chris Kavanagh.

Mr. Madley often infuriated players and fans alike with decisions that interrupted flowing moves. Over the course of the game Newcastle irritated us (like too many visiting teams) with the number of players going down, supposedly injured, and generally taking time out of the game. The first half was noticeably patchy with its stop-start pattern of play.

For Spurs Djed Spence returned at left back, while Son was rested on the bench, giving Timo Werner another outing on the left wing. Sadly, for all his pace an endeavour, Werner once again failed to deliver decent passes, crosses and even a corner at one stage.

18-year-old Lucas Bergvall made his second Premier League start and had a very good game, playing some good passes across the field to the left and right. The decision to substitute him was booed by the crowd. Such was their appreciation.

Bearing in mind both Maddison and Sarr are suspended for Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool, I was surprised Maddison did not start this game. Kulusevski started in the central midfield role and wore the captain's armband for the first time for Spurs.

Newcastle had their own suspension to deal with - that of Fabian Schar - who received his fifth booking last week at Old Trafford. Sven Botman made his first appearance since March last year following an ACL injury. Botman didn't quite make it to the end of today's game.

Livramento needed treatment after only one minute. Spurs' hearts were lifted on a bitterly cold day when Solanke opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Bergvall had been involved in Spurs advance down the right wing, but it was Pedro Porro who delivered the cross which Solanke met well and headed into the net to the left of Dubravka.

From my lofty position it looked like Bergvall had failed with a pass, but replays show that the ball did hit Joelinton on the hand although VAR declared this accidental with the hand not in an unnatural position. Accidental handball by a scorer is not allowed but seemingly is allowed in this situation. The ball ran to Guimaraes who teed up Gordon on the left. Gordon scored with a low shot across Austin.

New England coach Thomas Tuchel was present and had seen two of his potential players score. Solanke had another effort blocked by Botman after good work by Johnson. Burn was shown an early card for a foul on Solanke. He got away with a lot more after that, with no further punishment.

Austin saved well from Gordon, low to his left after Tonali had provided the pass. Burn got away with a handball when he star-jumped. He should have been red-carded.

Pedro Porro tried a shot from distance which passed over Dubravka's top left corner. At the other end, the Newcastle number 23 (Murphy) offered danger with a cross/shot from the right which passed outside the far post. Newcastle scored a second goal with a quick switch of play from left to right and another dangerous low cross by murphy. Dragusin tried to get something on it, but the ball ran to Isak, who scored from close range. Isak became the third Newcastle player after Shearer and Willock to score in seven consecutive Premier League games.

One of Spurs' problems in the first half was a failure to close Guimaraes down in midfield, allowing him and his midfield companions to rule the roost. Gordon had a low shot deflected behind for a Newcastle corner. Joelinton also hit the side netting.

Dragusin was one of the Spurs players clearly most affected by the illness in the camp and at half-time, he was replaced by Sergio Reguilon, who took over at left back. Djed Spence did a decent job of covering at centre-back. A word here too for Archie Gray, who at 18, has now started our last seven games. He gave a sterling performance.

Spurs succeeded in taking the game more to Newcastle's half, taking some of the pressure off the improvised defence without a recognised centre-back. Pedro Porro curled in a cross. Solanke connected and collided with Dubravka. Mr. Madley eventually decided there had been a foul and the keeper needed treatment too.

Sarr had a shot parried by Dubravka and Johnson's follow-up rebounded off the post. At the other end Gray solidly blocked a powerful shot by Tonali. Newcastle had a man over on the counter-attack.

Postecoglou made a triple change with Son, Bissouma and Maddison replacing Werner, Sarr and Bergvall, respectively. Bissouma offered grit and pace in the middle but there wasn't enough end product from the other subs.

Austin needed treatment after collecting another high ball. Johnson did well down the right side and passed inside to Kulusevski who was in a good shooting position but couldn't get the ball out from under his feet. Son crossed from the left and Solanke might have got a touch, but it was the goalkeeper's ball.

Spurs were putting their opponents under some pressure but could not find the net. Botman was booked for his foul on Maddison just outside the corner of the area. Spurs won a corner from the free kick, taken by Son, when Maddison flashed his shot just wide past the far post. Both Johnson and Reguilon hit low crosses from right and left which passed through the danger zone.

The allocated 10 minutes of added time became more than 12 after Botman's need for treatment and replacement. Spurs' best effort came following a Johnson cross and Solanke's header which landed on the roof of the net. It looked as if Dubravka got a touch, but not to Mr. Madley.

Austin saved well from Barnes at the other end and Solanke headed into the keeper's hands from a Pedro Porro cross.

Spurs' second half performance was spirited, but it is hard to see where the next league win will come. Tamworth next week should be a given, but we face Liverpool on Wednesday, then Arsenal the following midweek. I'd say that points from Everton (away) and Leicester at home later this month are imperative. We are in twelfth place after West Ham's defeat to Manchester City. We should stay there today with the other Manchester team at Anfield.

. John Ellis's view on the game

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