Eddie Howe reflects on Newcastle 2 Spurs 2 ‘You have to take the rough with the smooth’ | OneFootball

Eddie Howe has been reflecting on Tuesday night’s match that ended Newcastle 2 Spurs 2.

A night of frustration.

Newcastle United twice taking the lead, only for Spurs to equalise twice.

Eddie Howe watching on as his team should have had the game wrapped up long before any of the four goals were scored.

The Spurs goal leading a charmed life for 70 minutes as Newcastle United did everything but score.

The manner of the final goal in the match was tough to take, a number of players should have done better on this poorly defended corner.

Eddie Howe reflecting on Newcastle 2 Spurs 2:

“I don’t think that was us at our best today, but we battled into a position we wanted to be in with a few minutes left…we just couldn’t defend that corner at the end.

“We are disappointed with the first goal, a standard cross and we haven’t defended it well enough.

“On the second one it looked like we didn’t get a good first contact on the first ball in, because really that first contact is so important, you want to clear your box, you want to get the danger away.

“We have allowed Romero to get an overhead kick in the box, which from that distance I don’t think the ball should go in, it’s gone through a melee of bodies, looking for someone to block it, didn’t happen and it’s gone in the corner and it was almost slow motion wasn’t it?

“I’m sure from your angle it was the same as mine, so very painful.

“A painful one for us to take and a disappointing feeling having worked so hard.

“Bruno’s goal was an outstanding finish.

“He made a difference, as his energy and enthusiasm and passion is always stand out for us. He made a big difference.

“The league is so tight.

“Three consecutive wins was our target and we were a few minutes away from getting it. That is the Premier League and that is what makes it what it is.

“That is what makes football so dramatic and why we are all obsessed by it. You have to take the rough with the smooth.

“We could have certainly done with scoring in that first half when we were on top and there are moments in games that swing it one way or the other.

“The first goal felt like it wasn’t going to come for us, there were opportunities there for us to take but once we got in front, we have to be more savvy, especially after we scored the second goal.

“We lost territory and the ability to get up the pitch and it something for us to look at.

“I don’t think we were particularly good on set plays in either box.”

Eddie Howe asked about Sandro Tonali forced off at half-time:

“He took a knock in the first half, I don’t quite know the extent of the injury or what type of injury it is, but he couldn’t continue.”

Eddie Howe on the penalty award:

“The big thing is that the defender doesn’t look at the ball at all, he’s just looking at Dan Burn.

“It is probably the right call.”

Newcastle 2 Spurs 2 – Tuesday 2 December 2025 8.15pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Bruno 71, Gordon 86 pen

Spurs:

Romero 78, 90+5

Possession was Newcastle 53% Spurs 47%

Total shots were Newcastle 19 Spurs 8

Shots on target were Newcastle 7 Spurs 2

Corners were Newcastle 11 Spurs 8

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 38 Spurs 22