1 week ago
33
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
9 min: … or perhaps too confident, as Porro tries a backheel in an attempt to play out from the back. Newcastle push forward again and win a corner down the right. Hall swings it in. Vicario, out of form and shorn of confidence, flaps, but the ball drops to Kudus who is able to scuttle it away from danger.
8 min: That counter has given Spurs a little succour after a slow start. They suddenly look more confident on the ball.
6 min: Tonali hits the corner too flat, and Bergvall is able to slam clear. An appalling delivery. Spurs are able to counter through Johnson down the left. A low cross, intended for Kudus, is intercepted by Hall and deflected out for a corner … which Spurs don’t get when the dead ball’s hooked back upfield by Thiaw and play is erroneously waved on. Newcastle get away with one.
5 min: Spurs can’t get out of their final third at the moment. Woltemade snaffles possession out on the left and wins the first corner of the game. Tonali to swing it in.
4 min: Hall drags a shot wide right from the edge of the D. Then a cross comes in from the right and Woltemade heads harmlessly over. A fast start by Newcastle.
3 min: Barnes nips past Porro on the left with ease and cuts back for Tonali, who can’t get a shot away in time. Livramento tries to keep things going on the other flank, but is eased off the ball by Udogie, who stands on his foot as the two fall. No penalty, but no lasting damage to Livramento either.
2 min: Tottenham’s fans are positioned high up in the Leazes end. They’re doing a good job of making themselves heard from the heavens.
Tottenham Hotspur kick off. A fine early-evening-pints-fuelled atmosphere at St James’ Park. Spurs are kicking towards the Gallowgate in this first half.
The teams are out! Newcastle in their famous black and white stripes, Spurs in 1982 FA Cup final yellow. A quick blast of the theme from Local Hero and we’ll be away. Howay!
Pre-match postbag. “I’m glad to see Aaron Ramsdale getting a bit of a run: I’ve been keeping an eye on the Newcastle bench this season and his enthusiasm is so infectious that at various points I’ve expected him to storm the pitch and start flying into tackles in midfield. Actually, that’s more of a Nick Pope thing. What ever happened to the good ol’ days of Shay Given and Brad Friedel, eh? Keepers shouldn’t be allowed to leave their six-yard-box. The game is gone” – Chris Paraskevas
“What are the odds that I’ll be in tears of anguish and frustration? Whispering COYS” – Nick Wayne
This is a big game for Tottenham, who have lost their last three matches in all competitions, shipping 11 goals in the process. The last of those was a wonderful combination of opportunism and execution by Fulham’s Harry Wilson, though the Spurs fans were perhaps understandably more focused on Guglielmo Vicario’s unfortunate role in the lead-up to the goal. Rob Davies takes a snapshot of the discontent in N17 right now.
Eddie Howe talks to Sky. “It’s an opportunity for us … a difficult game … Spurs have been really good away from home … two tough teams going against each other … we anticipate a tough game but hopefully a good one … rotation for Bruno [Guimaraes] … give him a breather amid a hectic schedule … it’s really important how we start … our intention, our body language, our energy …. hopefully the crowd can do the rest.”
Thomas Frank speaks to Sky Sports. “Micky [van de Ven] is a super-important player … but this is the fourth game in ten days … we make sure to keep the freshness … the players have never been fitter in the last three years than they are now … we are positive … we believe we can get something from the game and win up here … it demands a top performance against a super-good team … we need to bring the energy … bravery … composure on the ball … I expect a super-tight game … it will be at times quite open but I expect a super, super-tight game.”
There are two other Premier League games being played tonight. Bournemouth host Everton while Manchester City travel to Fulham. Both of those have just kicked off, and Will Unwin is your man for up-to-the-minute news of those … plus an additional La Liga treat by the looks of it. We spoil you rotten.
Newcastle make two changes to their starting XI after the 4-1 win at Everton. Sandro Tonali and Jacob Murphy come in for Anthony Elanga and captain Bruno Guimarães, who both drop to the bench.
Spurs make four changes to their starting line-up following the Fulham fiasco. Brennan Johnson, Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur and captain Cristian Romero return; Archie Gray, Richarlison, Micky van de Ven and João Palhinha are benched.
The teams
Newcastle United: Ramsdale, Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Miley, Tonali, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes.
Subs: Ruddy, Schar, Gordon, Elanga, Willock, Alex Murphy, Guimaraes, Ramsey, Neave.
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Danso, Udogie, Sarr, Bentancur, Bergvall, Kudus, Muani, Johnson.
Subs: Kinsky, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Richarlison, Tel, Gray, Spence, Odobert, van de Ven.
Referee: Thomas Bramall
VAR: Paul Tierney
Preamble
After that debacle against Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and their insta-beleaguered boss Thomas Frank are in desperate need of a spirit-replenishing result. We wish them all the best with that tonight, as they’re about to face a Newcastle United side high on life after walloping Everton, in a fixture they’ve recently lost 2-1, 4-0 and 6-1. Throw in the fact that Newcastle have won five of their last six in the league against Spurs, and that they’ve not lost a midweek league match at home since 2021, a run that stretches back ten games, and Spurs are up against it all right.
Rhythmically, and in search of balance, this would be the point at which we trot out some stats to offer Spurs hope. But they’re in short supply. While Newcastle tend to enjoy midweek league fixtures, Spurs most signally do not: they’ve won just one of their last 13, losing the last seven on the bounce. And then there’s Eddie Howe’s personal record against Frank: he’s won six of eight. But hey, personal hoodoos are there to be broken – Howe did exactly that himself against Pep Guardiola the other week – so rule nothing out. And despite all the negative mood music accompanying Spurs, when it all comes down they’re still ahead of the Toon in the Premier League standings. All to play for, then. Kick-off at St James’ Park is 8.15pm GMT. It’s on!
