Four-Toon s ISAK LEADS ROUT AS SPURS GET
There’s something about playing Newcastle at St James’ Park that sends Spurs into a hapless freefall. What an embarrassment this was. Soft Spurs’ heaviest defeat in the league under Ange Postecoglou (left).
When you are faced with a striker in the ruthless form of Alexander Isak – 21 now for the season – and the pesky movement of Anthony Gordon you need to be on top of your game.
Instead Postecoglou’s side were brutally exposed and mistakeridden in a result which damages their Champions League hopes as much as it boosted the Europa League aim of Eddie Howe’s Toon.
Isak now has seven in his last seven matches, confirming his world-class credentials.
Last April, Spurs were 5-0 down after 20 minutes at St James’ Park and suffered a 6-1 defeat. This time Newcastle stuck at just four.
Two games in Newcastle, 10 conceded. “Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happened again…” sang the jubilant
Toon crowd. Argentine substitute Giovani Lo Celso showed more nark and aggression trying to provoke Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes into an after-match tussle than Tottenham did in the game.
It took half an hour for Spurs to suffer a crazy collapse 50 weeks on as the visitors conceded twice in a 95-second meltdown.
Isak opened the scoring, breaking free on goal and dumping Micky van de Ven on his backside with a cutback before slamming home his 16th league goal of the campaign.
Gordon was the creator, sending Isak clear after outmuscling Destiny Udogie. Worse was to come for
Spurs. Dan Burn wo the touchline and Ped to deal with the ball towards his own box the path of Gordon.
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The fourth was a well-worked corner, which coach Jason Tindall looked delighted with. Gordon swung over the cross, Toon runners cleared out space at the back post, which allowed defender Fabian Schar to head home unchallenged.
This Newcastle performance had the look of a side well drilled for the week on the training ground, with Howe doing a roll call of those fit and working out their best route to a win, including winger Jacob Murphy at right-back looking to exploit his running power.