Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happening again

The Mag

·14 April 2024

Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happening again

I don’t want to come over all dramatic here, but this felt like it could make or break the push for the European places, that now defines what’s left of our season.

After this match there is an eleven day break before a run-in that is rife with potential, which could have been set up nicely with a win against Spurs.

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This task seemed ominous though, as a paper thin squad was further stretched with Willock absent as expected and Hall only able to make the bench. Livramento was at least fit enough to join him there, but a back four of Murphy, Krafth, Schar and Burn didn’t instil massive confidence against a Tottenham team chasing a top four place.

I said beforehand that a solid start was needed to get anything today, as Spurs would undoubtedly have options off the bench around the hour mark, while Eddie would be turning round looking at Ritchie, Dummett and a crowd of young uns and goalies. A strong opening was needed and, by thunder, that was what we got.

This was a stellar all round performance by the entire United team and possibly shows the benefits of having a full week to plan towards an opponent. The high press was hugely effective and the front three of Barnes, Gordon and Isak looks an excellent option that injury, naturally, has denied us seeing until today.

The worrying defensive set up was extremely comfortable, with Krafth the standout for me, as James Maddison barely got a look in, whilst the midfield helped the cause enormously adding their presence to the low block, with Elliot Anderson having his best game for Newcastle in my exalted opinion.

The opening exchanges were strongly in our favour, winning a series of corners that offered some threat with Gordon on delivery duty, while all Tottenham could offer was a hilariously ballooned Werner miscue and a lot of whingeing from Maddison. It felt like United needed to make this pressure count, but when they did it came from nowhere.

A Spurs attack was crowded out and Bruno sent a long ball forwards towards Gordon, who looked up against it with three muddy grey Spurs shirts around him. Gordon twisted, battled and left Udogie in a crumply heap as he slid a perfect ball between two defenders for Isak to run onto. The Swede was then challenged by Micky Van De Ven, who the over the top Spurs loving media will gush about being something special given half a chance. Isak sat him down with ease, as Van De Ven appeared to trip over his big clown shoes and land with a loud honk on his big red nose as Alex finished coolly into the left corner.

Taking the lead felt essential, it might be time for a bit of game management now. Or just get right back at them and increase the lead within two minutes, that would be good…

With Tottenham clearly rattled, Vicario’s clearance kick was headed forward by Burn, only for Pedro Porro to bludgeon a wild hoof into the path of Gordon. Van De Ven was again in close contact and proceeded to pull a long string of coloured hankies out of his sleeve while his trousers fell down. Gordon turned and danced past the ineffective challenge and smashed it in, while his Dutch nemesis lay face down in a bowl of custard, no doubt contemplating the man of the match award and place in the PL team of the season coming his way courtesy of Paul Laandan and Clive Cockerney and Giles Home-Counties of the Sun, the Mail and Horse and Hound.

Gordon’s deliveries into the box were creating havoc, as Isak (twice) and Burn had headers that could have buried the game by half time, though two nil was a fine lead to go in with.

Three nil, by contrast, is a positively delightful lead and so twas to come to pass no less than six minutes into the second half.

Pure Bruno in the creation here as he took the ball off Spurs on the edge of his own box and launched a delightful long ball up for Isak, perfectly weighted in front of the striker’s run. Isak converted for his 21st goal of the season and that’s Tottenham fettled.

This game saw Isak become the first Newcastle player since Shearer to hit 20 goals in a season, a feat only Cole, Ferdinand and Beardsley have equalled in the Premier League era. What a striker, I sincerely hope the club’s resolve to hang onto him is as strong as they say, as there will be interest no doubt in the summer.

I think it was after this goal that Dan Burn took the opportunity to use BSL to send a message to the lovely canny kids who had lined up with the team pre-match as part of today’s Unsilence the Crowd campaign, with the team wearing a one-off shirt showing RNID as the sponsor. Someone was chopping onions when I saw the clip of the bairns celebrating at the same time as BDB. Well done everyone involved.

United seemed content with a bit of game management from here, as the low block was deployed to full effect. Still the best openings came our way, Krafth’s speculative effort hitting the post and Anderson testing Vicario from a tight angle.

The corners had been a threat all afternoon and it was with United’s 16th and final effort that dividends were finally paid, with Schar meeting Gordon’s delivery with an imposing back post header for 4-0. This prompted an amusing chorus of “Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happening again” as the away end emptied, albeit considerably later than it did last season.

They haven’t had a great time up there since they turned up to chuck money at us have they? Bless.

So, a thumping win, another clean sheet and (dare I say it this early) no additional injuries for a fine early afternoon’s work. Now we enter the home straight.

As I alluded to earlier, this is highly promising. I don’t want to set myself up for a fall here, but in Palace, Brighton and Brentford we are looking at three sides who seem to be mentally at the end of their seasons, with the imminent managerial situations seemingly on the minds of all concerned. This sandwiches back to back games against Sheff Utd and Burnley, who have proven themselves ill-equipped for the Premier League and should be straightforward wins. We face the inconsistent Man Utd at a late enough point that they should have one eye on the cup final and a very decent points haul is extremely feasible.

Add to the above that we may finally have something resembling a squad for this run in, with long term injured Pope, Joelinton and Wilson potentially joining the recently injured such as Almiron, Trippier and Willock, in imminent match squads… and you could be forgiven for having some real confidence.

One small pang from today has to be the feeling of “what if?”

The sight of a fully fit Barnes complementing his fellow forwards was one thing, but a ragged looking Spurs side have a 10-point advantage on us, as do fourth placed Villa. You can’t help but think that this gap would have been obliterated if even one key figure hadn’t succumbed to injury, as surely a Pope or Joelinton would have been worth enough for us to at least be within striking range of two sides that seem to be losing form while we are gaining it.

I’m writing this ahead of Villa’s trip to Arsenal, but their likely defeat there will surely add fuel to the fire of anyone thinking we can defy the odds and do it anyway, maybe let’s take things a game at a time.

For now it would seem to be a fight with Man Utd and West Ham for sixth place.

Today’s result could prove to be an enormous catalyst in us winning that particular race and even if not, it’s just mint to stuff Tottenham. Keep it up lads.

Newcastle 4 Tottenham 0 – Saturday 13 April 12.30pm

Isak 30, 51, Gordon 32, Schar 87

Tottenham:

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Tottenham 73% (66%) Newcastle 27% (34%)

Total shots were Tottenham 11 (5) Newcastle 18 (10)

Shots on target were Tottenham 2 (1) Newcastle 5 (2)

Corners were Tottenham 3 (1) Newcastle 16 (10)

Referee: Tim Robinson

Newcastle team v Tottenham:

Dubravka, J Murphy (Livramento 78), Krafth, Schar (Dummett 90+3), Burn, Longstaff, Bruno (White 90+3), Anderson (Ritchie 89), Gordon, Barnes (Hall 88), Isak

Unused subs:

Karius, Gillespie, A Murphy, Parkinson

You can follow the author on Twitter @Mr_Dolf

(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Very interesting on Newcastle after 4-0 Spurs hammering – Read HERE)

(Ange Postecoglou deserves credit – Very honest after Newcastle United outclass Tottenham – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 4 Tottenham 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan / writer reaction – Read HERE)

(Can we play you every week(***) – Newcastle 4 Tottenham 0 – Read HERE)

Newcastle United matches now confirmed for rest of the season:

Wednesday 24 April 2024 – Crystal Palace v Newcastle (8pm)

Saturday 27 April 2024 – Newcastle v Sheff Utd (3pm)

Saturday 4 May 2024 – Burnley v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 11 May 2024 – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)