Magpies soar only to crash to earth
NEWCASTLE’S new dawn under the ownership of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund had a disappointing start as Tottenham silenced St James’ Park with a 3-2 win.
The defeat leaves Newcastle still in the relegation zone without a Premier League win this season.
Expectations on Tyneside are high for an injection of funding by the Saudi Public Investment Fund to transform the club’s fortunes on the field.
PIF governor Yasir AlRumayyan was given a hero’s welcome by the 55,000 crowd when he was presented before kick-off.
A jubilant atmosphere was matched by the perfect start for the home side when Callum Wilson headed home Javier Manquillo’s cross inside two minutes.
Al-Rumayyan celebrated wildly in the stands alongside co-owner Amanda Staveley, who has bought a 10 per cent stake in the club and been the face of the takeover bid.
Staveley said this week her ambition was for the Magpies to become champions of England within the next 10 years.
However, the gulf between where Newcastle is and where the new owners want it to go was exposed after its flying start.
Spurs have had a far from ideal start to the season under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo but in Harry Kane and Son Heung-min they have the star quality Newcastle hopes to have in years to come.
Tanguy Ndombele smashed home an equaliser on 17 minutes from Sergio Reguilon’s cross to spark the Tottenham revival.
Kane then ended his wait for a Premier League goal this season with a deft lob over Karl Darlow.
Kane turned provider for Spurs’ third as his low cross was converted by Son sliding in at the far post.
Despite Eric Dier’s comical own goal in the final minute Spurs held out to move up to fifth and level on points with fourth-placed Brighton.
Newcastle remains three points adrift of safety and much further from matching the ambitions of its wealthy new owners.