Match Report: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Newcastle United | OneFootball

To get the ball rolling for match day 20 in the 24/25 Premier League season, an incredibly depleted Spurs side welcomed Newcastle United to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs condemned to yet another defeat amidst their pandemic

Coming into the game, Tottenham had a ridiculous injury list, which was only further toppled after a sickness bug became apparent in the squad, which only further worsened an already very difficult situation.

With his hand extremely forced, Ange went for a line up of; Austin; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Sarr, Bergvall; Johnson, Solanke, Werner. With Heung-Min Son and James Maddison on the bench, and Cristian Romero injured - Kulusevski lead the players out for this one.

It would take Spurs just four minutes to take the lead. Nice link up down the right hand side from Bergvall, Johnson and Porro lead to a first time, whipped in cross from the latter, that was superbly met by Solanke, who glanced a header home, in front of the new England manager Thomas Tuchel.

The lead would last just one minute though. High pressing from Newcastle lead to a turnover, with Anthony Gordon slotting home with a left footed finish when played in on goal. Fans were very frustrated after the ball hit Joelinton's hand. Sure, it was not a deliberate touch, but the ball is not turned over without the ball hitting his hand. So, really, that should not count.

Just over ten minutes in, good work from Johnson lead to the forward laying the ball off for Solanke, whose shot was very well blocked by Sven Botman. Sod's law that a player for the opposition was fit for the game after 10 months out, given the amount of absentees that Spurs currently have.

With just over 20 minutes on the clock, Gordon ran through on goal again, in a similar way to how he did for the goal, but this time his left footed effort was saved by Austin in the Spurs goal.

Not long after the half hour mark, an inviting cross from Jacob Murphy found Alexander Isak inside the box, but the striker could only touch his effort wide of the post, in an absolutely huge let off for Ange Postecoglu's side.

Around eight minutes before half-time, the visitors had the lead. Another ball in from Murphy caused problems, with the ball deflecting off Dragusin into the path of Isak, who this time diverted the ball into the bak of the net. That would be enough for the visitors to go into the break 2-1 up

At half-time, Ange introduced Reguilon for Dragusin, with Spence moving to centre-back. Sums it up that Ange would sooner Spence than Dragusin in his own position. So for the second half, Spurs' centre-back duo consisted of 23/24 Leeds United's first choice right-back, and 23/24's Leeds' second choice right-back.

Just before the 55 minute mark, a curling effort from Sarr was kept out by Martin Dubravka, with Johnson striking the post from the rebound - with the angle incredibly acute. Soon after, Gordon should have made it 3-1 to the visitors, but fired well over the bar when well placed.

On the hour, Ange made a triple change, introducing; Son, Maddison, and Bissouma for Werner, Sarr, and Bergvall. The withdrawal of Bergvall resulted in quite a few boos around the ground.

With just under ten minutes left, Maddison drove inside from a short corner, and shot just wide. Moments later, Spurs had their best opportunity of the game, but Johnson crossed when he should have shot, and Reguilon shot when he should have crossed.

That would be that, and Tottenham Hotspur were condemned to another defeat, with Newcastle coming away 2-1 winners.

The effort was there, the endeavour was there, and the second half performance was fine. The one criticism would be in the most part, Spurs did not really open Newcastle up. Despite ten minutes of added time, it never felt like the equaliser was coming. There were some half chances, but outside of the above attack - there were not many "big" chances.