Jose blows top after latest flop
Spurs boss blasts defence as they throw away lead again
JOSE MOURINHO admits his error-prone Tottenham players aren’t up to seeing out games after blowing up again at Newcastle.
Spurs surrendered another lead late on as Joe Willock’s leveller saw Newcastle steal a point – and deliver a blow to Mourinho’s top-four hopes.
Mourinho’s men have dropped 15 points from winning positions this season after missing a golden chance to overhaul Chelsea in fourth.
Asked why they can’t hold on, Mourinho – a manager who has forged a reputation of shutting up shop to win games – said: “Same coach, different players.
“There are mistakes which I probably shouldn’t even call mistakes because they are related to qualities players have.
“It’s not funny. It’s a bad result. So many mistakes that lead to instability that leads to hope for the opposition.
“But apart from that we had some moments and a great period first half. But I cannot do it. I cannot separate the moments of instability. I’m frustrated.”
Two-goal striker Harry Kane knows this was a missed opportunity in what could be a defining month for Mourinho.
He said: “We were a bit sloppy. We didn’t take our chances and got punished for it. Whenever you’re ahead in a game, as we have been a lot this season, and you give the lead away in the last five-ten minutes, it’s always hard to take.”
Struggling Newcastle have now only won two of their past 19 Premier League games but this was a precious point gained after Kane’s double cancelled out a rare Joelinton goal.
Magpies boss Steve Bruce said: “The performance was enough to win the match.
“And there is a tinge of disappointment. It was the best we’ve played for a long time against a very good team.”
Midfielder Willock, on loan from Arsenal, enhanced his standing with Gunners fans as he rescued the point against his parent club’s rivals.
Willock said: “That was a big goal. I am an Arsenal player and that makes it sweeter but I’m happy to do my job. I like to get in the box and score.
“We’re willing to fight for each other. We’ll have no problems staying in this league if we fight like today.”
It was the Brazilian record signing who grabbed the opener, exploiting a poor pass from Japhet Tanganga. Sean Longstaff pounced and squared in the box to give Joelinton a simple finish.
But 90 seconds later Spurs were level. Giovani Lo Celso slotted a clever ball into the box that Emil Krafth over-stepped and it bobbled to England talisman Kane for a tap in.
Four minutes later Tanguy Ndombele slid the ball inside Paul Dummett, allowing Kane to strike into the far corner.
In the 85th minute, Matt Ritchie whipped in a deep cross for Joelinton to head across goal and Willock to be the Geordie and Arsenal hero.
● Spurs stopper Davinson Sanchez became the latest player to suffer sickening racial abuse online after yesterday’s game. A Tottenham statement said: “We are disgusted by the racist messages and are calling on social media platforms to take action.”