SHOCK ’N AWE FOR ACE HARRY
Kane shrugs off miss to book top-four spot
HARRY KANE went from zero to hero last night as Spurs made sure of their Champions League spot for next season.
The Spurs star recovered from a shocking miss just before the break to net his 28th Premier League goal of the season five minutes after the restart.
Few at Wembley could believe Kane’s firsthalf howler as he completely miskicked closing down on Martin Dubravka’s goal.
But he was soon back on song, superbly finishing from just inside the area with very little back lift from Heung-min Son’s pass.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino may have called for his men to “die” trying to secure their Champions League place but their first-half display was dire.
Toil
Just one win in five before last night had prompted a dramatic pre-match battle cry from their manager.
But this was initially a display full of toil and torture for their fans.
Tottenham, without the ill Eric Dier, had started well enough with Dubravka forced into a superb save to prevent Christian Eriksen’s free-kick finding the top corner.
Spurs looked nervy and despite having nothing to play for, Newcastle grew into the game.
Ayoze Perez brushed Jan Vertonghen off the ball far too easy but his shot could not match his physical prowess as Hugo Lloris made an easy save.
Tottenham were given a huge let-off shortly afterwards when Jonjo Shelvey’s powerful free-kick from the ‘D’ hit the post with Lloris helpless.
Frustrated home fans, in their penultimate game at their temporary Wembley home, voiced their displeasure.
Newcastle should have scored before the break, Lloris superbly keeping out Jamaal Lascelles’ header from Shelvey’s cross, while Dwight Gayle headed over from a Perez delivery.
Spurs did have chances with a Kane effort missing the target from Eriksen’s cross, while Vertonghen’s powerful longranger was straight at Dubravka. Gayle was too casual with an effort that was comfortably gathered by Lloris as Newcastle continued to find holes in the home defence before Kane’s moment of anguish.
Spurs fans let their men know what they thought with some boos at the break but their team answered the criticism with Kane’s goal after the restart.
Newcastle responded and were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when Matt Ritchie went down under a Lloris challenge and Kenedy’s low effort from the edge of the area went just wide of the post.
Spurs could have sealed it when Dele Alli’s sidefoot effort was saved by Dubravka.
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Wanyama, Sissoko; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Rose, Alderweireld, Lamela, Llorente, Lucas, Foyth.
NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Dubravka; Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett; Diame, Shelvey; Ritchie, Perez, Kenedy; Gayle. Subs: Darlow, Murphy, Hayden, Manquillo, Joselu, Merino, Haidara.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick.