Harry’s strike seals top-four slot for Spurs
HARRY KANE pounced for his 39th goal of the campaign to stop the knees trembling at Wembley and keep the annual Tottenham wobble at bay.
Kane struck five minutes into the second half to ease Spurs ahead and put their Champions League plans back on track.
They were jeered off at half-time as one of their lowest Premier League crowds of the season glanced nervously at goal flashes from Chelsea. A draw at Stamford Bridge meant Spurs secured a top-four finish and qualification for the Champions League.
Mauricio Pochettino had fired his players up with a do-or-die rallying cry, but they continued their sluggish form and could easily have been behind at the interval.
Jonjo Shelvey hit the woodwork and Hugo Lloris made some vital saves as Newcastle proved to be quick and dangerous on the counter-attack. Tottenham, by contrast, were short on ideas and Kane looked out of sorts until he produced a clinical finish from just inside the penalty area.
His goal gave Spurs something to cling to. It was not supposed to be such a nerve-shredder, as the fixture list ended with two home games against opponents with little to play for. But Wembley has a knack of motivating teams and it lifted Newcastle.
Pochettino selected Moussa Sissoko as the solution to his shortage of central midfielders. Eric Dier had fallen ill on Monday and, with Harry Winks and Mousa Dembele injured, the Spurs boss was short on options.
Sissoko was deployed alongside Victor Wanyama and the Newcastle supporters let their former player know what they thought, jeering his every touch.
He agitated for a move away from Tyneside to play Champions League football after relegation two years ago, but his career in North London has not exactly gone to plan since the £30million transfer. This was a rare start and his first contribution was to concede a dangerous free-kick on the edge of his own penalty box.
Confidence has drained from Pochettino’s team in recent weeks and Lloris had to be alert and agile as Newcastle broke through them again. Jamaal Lascelles met Shelvey’s deep cross at the far post and the Spurs goalkeeper sprang to his right to push his header wide.
A sign Spurs were finding hard to create came when Jan Vertonghen broke out of defence, charged forward and tried his luck from 35 yards. Vertonghen’s effort was well struck but straight at Martin Dubravka.
Earlier, Dubravka had been required to punch clear a teasing free-kick delivered by Christian Eriksen. He also watched Wanyama fire over, but Tottenham did not open up the visitors until half-time was looming.
A free-kick routine wide from Kane to Kieran Trippier presented Sissoko with a chance in the air but he did not time his header. Kane then burst clear on to a long ball behind Florian Lejeune, only to miscue horribly. The striker settled Spurs nerves five minutes after the restart with an exquisite firsttime finish, curled into the top corner from a pass by Son Heung-min. It took the Spurs striker to 28 Premier League goals, three behind Liverpool’s Mo Salah in the race for the Golden Boot. Dubravka denied Vertonghen and Dele Alli as the game opened up but Kane’s goal did not mark the end of the jitters. Perez missed his kick when presented with a glorious chance and Lloris recovered to scramble ball behind.
Kenedy drove wide from the edge of the box and Jacob Murphy tore past Sanchez before missing the target from close range.
Still Newcastle’s wait for victory at Wembley goes on. They have not won in a competitive game at the venue since the 1955 FA Cup final.
This was their first visit since the Twin Towers were demolished and they played like a team thrilled to be on this stage rather than one supposed to be on the beach.
It was not enough. TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris 7.5; Trippier 6 (Alderweireld 83min), Sanchez 5, Vertonghen 6, Davies 5.5; Sissoko 6, Wanyama 6.5 (Rose 89); Eriksen 6, Alli 6, Son 6 (Lamela 77); Kane 6.5. Scorer: Kane 50. Booked: Alli, Lamela. Manager: Mauricio Pochettino 6. NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Dubravka 6; Yedlin 6, Lascelles 7, Lejeune 6, Dummett 6; Ritchie 6.5, Diame 6, Shelvey 7, Kenedy 6 (Murphy 71, 6); Perez 6.5, Gayle 6 (Joselu 76). Booked: Ritchie, Diame, Yedlin. Manager: Rafa Benitez 6. Referee: Neil Swarbrick 6. Attendance: 54,923.