Dele Alli heads Tottenham to winning start at Newcastle

Tottenham had the ideal start to the new Premier League season, with a headed winner from Dele Alli giving them a 2-1 victory against Newcastle.

With finishes of second, second and third in the last three seasons, Spurs fans will be confident of another decent campaign and this was certainly an impressive first step in the right direction against a Newcastle team that did at times make life awkward for them.

AS IT UNFOLDED: Newcastle 1 – Tottenham 2

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Tottenham went in front after just eight minutes. A stinging drive from Christian Eriksen was turned behind by Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka for a corner. Eriksen’s resultant corner was flicked on by Davinson Sanchez, and Jan Vertonghen headed against the underside of the crossbar and in, with goal-line technology delivering the verdict. The ball was apparently nine millimetres over the line. Fine margins and all that.

The lead only lasted three minutes however, with Newcastle picking themselves up and striking back. Matt Ritchie’s cross was a delight, and Joselu lost his marker and cleverly guided a header into the bottom corner.

But modern Tottenham teams are made of stern stuff, and the Londoners were back in front after 18 minutes. It was a lovely goal too, Serge Aurier picking out Alli with a beautifully floated cross and the England man guiding his header into the net with great authority.

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Friday’s opening Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester had its moments, but this was really was the best kind of advert for the Premier League, even if it feels like we never really had a break from the national game this year.

Both teams had further chances to score as the first half progressed, with Paul Dummett driving a shot from distance wide for the hosts, and Sanchez flashing a near post header across goal for Spurs. With half-time approaching, Ciaran Clark clipped a shot across goal but Ayoze Perez couldn’t quite slide in to divert it towards goal at the far post.

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Right at the start of the second half, Newcastle nearly struck back, with Mohamed Diame smashing a fierce shot from around 12 yards, that crashed off a post.

At the other end, Joselu’s terrific through ball found Kenedy in space, but the Brazilian’s first touch was woeful and the golden chance was gone.

The hosts had good reason to thank Dubravka soon after, with Ben Davies whipping in a cross and Moussa Sissoko’s stinging effort brilliantly saved by the Slovakian.

World Cup winner Hugo Lloris wasn’t to be undone, and following a scramble in the Spurs penalty area a powerful shot from Ayoze Perez was well beaten away by the Frenchman.

Newcastle had one more big chance, and could count themselves unlucky when Jonjo Shelvey found Salomon Rondon, whose shot was deflected by Vertonghen past a helpess Lloris, but bounced off the crossbar. Tottenham players, many of them appearing to tire, were grateful to hear the final whistle.

Promising signs for Newcastle then, but ultimately a home defeat on the opening weekend of the season. As for Spurs, much has been made of their lack of transfer activity this summer, but their squad is still a very strong one, and with a proper home ground again, who knows if this might be the year they finally turn fine football and performances into trophies.