JOSE LAYS JINX
Kane double sends boss home happy
JOSE MOURINHO won’t look back on the 2020-21 campaign as his most memorable year in English football but at least he’s ended his Toon curse.
Seven times as a Premier League boss he had brought a side to St James’ Park and each time, even in his Chelsea pomp, Mourinho failed to take the three points back home.
It looked a familiar story on this occasion as Newcastle fashioned all the early chances only for Heung-min Son to score against the run of play.
But after Matt Ritchie had levelled just before the hour, Harry Kane restored the lead with his 200th career goal and 20th this season.
The England skipper sealed Tottenham’s first away win since February, heading home in the last minute after Martin Dubravka denied Eric Lamela.
It was harsh on Newcastle but a third successive defeat piles the pressure on Steve Bruce who needed to finish the
■ season with a flourish to enhance his job prospects in the event of a takeover.
The pattern was set within 10 minutes when Miguel Almiron could have scored twice.
He met Emil Krafth’s low cross firsttime with a meaty effort which was heading for the top corner until it struck Davinson Sanchez smack in the head.
And from the resulting corner, Ritchie picked him out on the edge of the box but he wastefully lashed over.
Jonjo Shelvey should at least have hit the target when he met Ritchie’s angled (above) ball with his head and then his crossfield pass just eluded Dwight Gayle as he raced into the box.
For all Newcastle’s attacking endeavour, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock and only a flying save from Dubravka prevented Son doubling his tally two minutes after the goal.
Fabian Schar’s heavy touch saw the ball deftly worked to Son who evaded Deandre Yedlin’s lunge to beat the Toon keeper.
Newcastle were inches away from equalising after 42 minutes when Gayle’s glancing header struck the inside of the post.
Ritchie’s leveller came moments after Valentino Lazaro came off the bench and ran at the Spurs defence. Serge Aurier could hardly be blamed if his mind is scrambled after the family tragedy he has suffered, but his rash clearance fell to Ritchie who took one touch before rifling a left-footer past Hugo Lloris.
It should have provided the platform for a home win but a lack of concentration cost Newcastle with Kane peeling off Krafth to meet sub Steven Bergwijn’s cross with a fine header at the far post before stretching the lead late on.
NEWCASTLE (3-4-1-2): Dubravka 7; Krafth 6, Schar 4, Fernandez 5; Yedlin 6 (Lazaro 55, 7), Bentaleb 6 (M Longstaff 86), SHELVEY 8, Ritchie 7; Almiron 6; Saint-maximin 7, Gayle 7 (Joelinton 69, 5).
Subs: Darlow, Muto, Manquillo, Atsu, Allan, Young.
SPURS (4-4-2): Lloris 7; Aurier 6, Alderweireld 6, Sanchez 6, Davies 6; Sissoko 6, Winks 7, Lo Celso 7 (Lamela 62, 7), Moura 6 (Bergwijn 57, 7); SON 8, Kane 7 (Vertonghen 90). Subs: Gazzaniga, Sessegnon, Skipp, Fernandes, Tanganga, White.
REFEREE: David Coote 7.