HARRY DOUBLE WIN AND TONIC
Kane’s 201st goal is twin lift for Euro chaser Jose
JOSE Mourinho will not look back on the 2020-21 campaign as his most memorable year in English football but at least he has now laid his Toon bogey.
The victory, in which Harry Kane scored his 201st club career goal, also kept alive Tottenham’s European qualification hopes.
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 win.
It looked a familiar story on this occasion as Newcastle fashioned all the early chances, only for Son Heung-Min to score against the run of play.
But after Matt Ritchie had levelled on the hour, Kane restored the lead with his 200th career goal and 20th this term.
And the England skipper sealed Tottenham’s first away win since February, heading home his second in the last minute after Martin Dubravka had denied Erik Lamela.
It was harsh on Newcastle but a third successive loss piles the pressure on Steve Bruce, who needed to finish with a flourish to enhance his job prospects in the event of a takeover.
Toon’s Miguel Almiron could have scored twice in the first 10 minutes, but his drive hit Davinson Sanchez smack in the head and from the resulting corner he lashed over from Ritchie’s pass.
Jonjo Shelvey headed over and Allan Saint-Maximin’s dancing feet again caught the eye, and after gliding past Harry Winks he forced Hugo Lloris to scramble away at his near post.
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 own tally two minutes after the goal.
Fabian Schar has been a shadow of his former self since lockdown and it was his heavy touch which led to Spurs taking the lead. The ball was deftly worked to Son who evaded DeAndre Yedlin’s lunge to score.
Newcastle were inches away from equalising on 42 minutes when Dwight Gayle’s glancing header struck the inside of the post from another excellent Shelvey delivery.
Ritchie’s leveller came moments after Valentino Lazaro came off the bench and the Austrian made an immediate impact as he ran at the Spurs defence.
Serge Aurier could hardly be blamed if his mind is elsewhere after the family tragedy he has suffered but his rash clearance fell to Ritchie who took one touch before blasting home a left-footer past Lloris.
A lack of concentration cost Newcastle dear with Kane peeling off Emil Krafth to meet sub Steven Bergwijn’s cross with a fine header 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; SaintMaximin 7, Gayle 7 (Joelinton 69, 5). Goal: Ritchie 56. TOTTENHAM (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). Goals: Son 27, Kane 60, 90.