Tottenham scored first. Evidently. It was a moment to remember for Destiny Udogie, his first goal for the club, and that moment in the 26th minute set the tone. In each of their previous five Premier League games, Spurs have scored first, but lost four and drawn one. It was an unprecedented series of collapses. Can they finally profit from a position of strength?
Ange Postecoglou’s players gave the answer he wanted. Of course they can, buddy. On an occasion of great importance for the Champions League qualification places, Spurs simply blew away Newcastle, Son Heung-min the star, with Richarlison not far behind.
Related: Tottenham 4-1 Newcastle: Premier League – as it happened
Son finished with the goal he deserved, sweeping home from the penalty spot after being rounded by Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. But it was the Spurs captain’s assists on the first two goals, the second of which was turned back by Richarlison, that made the difference. Son now has ten goals and four assists in the Premier League this season.
Richarlison heard one of the loudest cheers of the day when he was substituted towards the end. He had added a well-taken second goal and only the hardest of hearts could fail to smile given his injuries and mental health struggles this season.
Newcastle were determined to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Everton but their away woes continued, an injury-time goal from Joelinton the hollowest consolation. They have only picked up five points on their travels – Eddie Howe said this was indefensible – and it feels like his injury-ravaged side are running out of steam. Next up for them is the decisive Champions League match at home to Milan on Wednesday.
It was heralded in some quarters as the derby of selection crisis and the score in terms of unavailable players was 10-8 to Newcastle. There was good news for Howe when he was able to recall Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson to the substitutes’ bench and get them both in the side. That said, he started with the same 10 fielders for the fifth time in 15 days.
Postecoglou has said on numerous occasions that he is “unwavering” in his commitment to the way he wants to play. As such, it wasn’t even a surprise when he sent out an ultra-attacking line-up, Richarlison recalled at the expense of Giovani Lo Celso, and Pape Sarr also returned, while Dejan Kulusevski was once again given a central attacking role in midfield. Postecoglou knows it will work. He keeps saying that. The big tactical adjustment was Richarlison in the number 9 role, with Son wide left. It’s fair to say it worked.
Spurs, as always, pushed the full-backs daringly high, and one wondered whether Newcastle could take advantage of any quick counter-attacks. That almost worked after ten minutes, with Joelinton getting Anthony Gordon into space on the left within a few meters. When Gordon produced a low cross for Alexander Isak, Ben Davies stretched to get a weak but decisive defensive touch. That was about as close as Newcastle got to taking part in the match.
They were desperately disappointing and the game became a story of Spurs asserting themselves at the other end. Strong. They brought the energy and a lot of their pass-and-move stuff was extremely slick. Newcastle gasped and it was easy to imagine Howe cringing as several of his players grabbed various parts of their bodies and fell, especially in the early running.
Son against Newcastle right-back Kieran Trippier was the most important match and there was only one winner. Son had too much pace and guile and for Trippier it was another difficult game after his disastrous performance at Everton. He was shown a yellow card for kicking Kulusevski and will be suspended for Saturday’s home match against Fulham.
Cristian Romero had seen a header from a corner cleared on the line by Miguel Almirón when Son, who Postecoglou thought had set the tone for Spurs, shot on the outside past Trippier to cross for Udogie, who had a tap-in .
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Spurs could have had more in the first half. Sarr dragged wide when well placed from a Brennan Johnson cross, while Johnson kissed the outside of a post with a fierce shot before the end and Richarlison was unable to stretch to reach a deflected Kulusevski cross after a Son burst .
Newcastle faltered in the 34th minute from a loose Johnson pass, Guglielmo Vicario eventually denying Almirón, but Spurs’ second soon came as Son got the upper hand on Trippier and pulled back for Richarlison.
Would Spurs falter in the second half? Given the recent body of evidence, it was impossible to discount the theory. But this was a day where everything clicked for them. Kulusevski, wearing a mask to protect a broken nose, was a threat and stood out as he lengthened his stride, while Johnson was also very good. Newcastle had nothing in the tank.
Related: Son Heung-min channels his inner Ange-Anger to create Trippier| to traumatize Barney Ronay
It was all over when Richarlison scored again. Pedro Porro’s diagonal was a thing of beauty and Richarlison stole away from Jamaal Lascelles to finish. The final phase was open and chaotic, marked by a terrible tackle from Romero on Wilson; the Spurs defender crunched into his opponent and was fortunate to escape with a yellow card. Howe called it “dangerous” in a TV interview, “high and reckless” during his press conference. There was also a flare-up between Vicario and Wilson after the final whistle.
Johnson hit the woodwork after a nice pass from Kulusevski, Oliver Skipp – coming on as a substitute – was denied one-on-one by Dubravka and Son might have had another after his penalty. Joelinton’s goal came from a pass from Wilson after Spurs had lost possession in their defensive third.