Harry Kane double against Newcastle keeps Tottenham in contention for Europa League
Luke Edwards
·20-min read
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane scores their second goal - REUTERS
When Jose Mourinho arrived at this deserted stadium on the hill, the memories of his friend and mentor will have been charging through his head like a slide show on fast forward.
So will the irritation he had never won a game here, at the club of Sir Bobby Robson, the club they used to talk about in Portugal and Spain, the club the man he still calls “Mister” left him at Barcelona to manage 21 years ago.
This is the “house Bobby built” Mourinho always says, the only man the Portuguese has always been unflinchingly loyal and deferential to.
He will have remembered his old friend here. Maybe the change in protocol, where the teams could not pass the bust of Sir Bobby on the way in, led to change in luck. In reality, it was just Harry Kane. “Finally, I can see Sir Bobby Robson’s statue on the way out with a happy face, not a sad one,” Mourinho said.
Kane may look a little sluggish at times, but this is the sixth season in a row he has scored 20 goals all more, better even than the great Jimmy Greaves.
“He is a young guy,” said Mourinho. “To score 200 goals at his age, with the remaining years he has in front of him it is normal for him to go on and score another 200 goals.”
Spurs needed him again to recharge their European push. The Champions League looks beyond them, especially after Manchester City won their appeal against their ban, but this win keeps them in the race for a Europa League spot.
From a Champions League final in 2019 to continental football’s consolation prize in 2020 might not seem like much to get excited about, but given Tottenham’s poor start, the teething problems under Mourinho and questionable recruitment, it would at least salvage something; something to build on. Interestingly since Mourinho became manager in November, they have collected the fourth highest points total in the division. It is working far better than he has been given credit for.
As for Newcastle, this was a third successive defeat since they secured Premier League safety. They have injury problems in defence and little to play for, but actually performed pretty well.
Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho looks on during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur - AFP
Indeed, they were the better side for most of the first half, Miguel Almiron missing two chances, Dwight Gayle hitting the post with a glancing header, Jonjo Shelvey failing to get a much easier chance on target.
But they went in at half-time behind, Fabian Schar losing the ball stupidly close to his own goal to Lucas Moura, who fed Kane, who fed Son Heung-Min, who shot through the legs of DeAndre Yedlin.
Newcastle equalised with a rocket from Matt Ritchie and appeared to be getting back on top, only for Spurs to score again, Kane pulling off the shoulder of the flimsy Emil Krafth to head in his first before scoring a late third as Newcastle pushed for another equaliser, nodding in from close range after Erik Lamela’s effort had been saved.
“The players were really extraordinary, really tired,” added Mourinho. “I was speaking to their pride, asking them to find some energy and the only place you can find that is in your heart when there is none in their legs.
For Bruce the season is fizzling out. “We were naïve in some of our defending, we kept Kane quiet and he still goes away with two goals, that’s the difference.”
06:55 PM
FULL-TIME: Newcastle 1-3 Tottenham
No double for Newcastle, as Spurs end their unbeaten run at home this year. Two goals for Kane, after Son opened the scoring before Matt Ritchie equalised. Mission accomplished for Spurs in their bid to make the Europa League.
Harry Kane of Tottenham celebrates scoring - SHUTTERSTOCK
06:52 PM
90+2 mins: Newcastle 1-3 Tottenham
Schar muscled off the ball and now goes down clutching his shoulder. That's not what Newcastle need with so many centre backs out already. It was Lamela who made the tackle. Comes off clutching his arm.
06:48 PM
GOAL! Newcastle 1-3 Tottenham (Kane)
Kane with a second but he seems to have hurt himself in the process. Great play from Kane to get the ball out to Lamela who sees off two defenders before his shot is saved, but Kane puts it away.
Kane now up and about, seems fine. He's replaced for the final few minutes by Vertonghen.
06:46 PM
87 mins: Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham
Davies gets up to clear a long ball but back come Newcastle, out wide to Ritchie. Home side battling hard to find a breakthrough, but a long pass evades Shelvey.
06:44 PM
85 mins: Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham
Longstaff replaces Bentalib. Spurs look as though they have done enough here for three points.
06:42 PM
82 mins: Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham
Chance for Saint-Maximin but he can't convert. Time running out on Newcastle here.
06:41 PM
80 mins: Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham
Bergwijn goes down but no free kick given, despite plenty of noise from Spurs. Into the final 10 minutes, can the hosts draw level?
Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane is booked for this challenge on Newcastle United's Swiss defender Fabian Schar (R) - AFP
06:37 PM
78 mins: Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham
Schar struggling after that head knock and gets some attention. He's good to continue after some treatment.
Newcastle with plenty of possession but Spurs seem comfortable, Davies nipping in to clear.
06:33 PM
76 mins: Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham
Sissoko brings down Saint-Maximin, who's been fun to watch yet again. Ball in from Saint-Maximin but no one there and Lloris makes an easy catch.
06:31 PM
74 mins: Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham
Shelvey can't get enough behind a shot, saved by Lloris. Good work from Joelinton and Almiron in the build-up.
Kane then goes into the book after a collision with Schar, who's down clutching his face after a stray elbow.
Super strike! Lazaro with a mazy run into the box, Aurier clears but only to Ritchie who unleashes a ripper of a strike into the top right corner past Lloris! Superb.
Good ball in from Ritchie but Lloris saves from Yedlin. Newcastle not out of this and Ritchie's been pretty consistent getting crosses in from out on the left.
06:09 PM
52 mins: Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham
Ball in from Almiron who heads clear. Spurs on the break, ball over the top for Son... back to Sissoko, then Aurier, Spurs looking for an opening. Davies down the touchline with the ball in, but Newcastle clear.
06:07 PM
50 mins: Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham
Aurier slides the ball across but no one there to meet it! Could have been 2-0. Back come Spurs but they can't find Kane. Newcastle hanging on.
06:05 PM
47 mins: Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham
Kane has a shot blocked, earning Spurs a corner. Played in by Lo Celso... Moura connects but it's blocked and Almiron clears.
06:03 PM
Second half underway
Newcastle need a couple of goals here if they're to pull off the double over Spurs for the first time since 2015-16.
Image just now of the flags at St James's Park at half mast to remember Jack Charlton.
Lo Celso goes down but no foul this time. And that's the interval. Spurs ahead after Newcastle had the bright start, but Son took his chance very well indeed. Spurs ahead and hoping to draw level with Wolves, who are currently drawing 0-0 with Burnley.
Son Hueng-Min (#7) celebrates after he scores the first goal for Tottenham - GETTY IMAGES
05:47 PM
45+2 mins: Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham
That's a silly foul from Schar. Gives Spurs a free kick outside the box. What can they come up with here.
Blocked by Newcastle and then Moura shoots wide.
05:45 PM
45 mins: Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham
Soft foul on Lo Celso from Shelvey, giving Spurs the chance to attack. Three added minutes.
05:43 PM
43 mins: Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham
Lloris claims the corner. Couple of excellent opportunities for Newcastle but they can't convert. Should be level.
Kane pinged for a foul on Fernandez. Can Newcastle find a way to get level late on.
05:42 PM
42 mins: Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham
Off the post! Gayle denied, ball in from the right by Shelvey, Gayle gets his head on it at the near post and it hits the woodwork. Another Newcastle corner.
05:40 PM
Here's the opener from Son
Spurs have the breakthrough at St. James' Park!
Son Heung-min makes an inch of space for himself and buries it inside the near post...
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) July 15, 2020
05:40 PM
38 mins: Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham
Ritchie goes close with a shot, big deflection off Aurier, corner. Newcastle sped the play up there and it worked well.
Newcastle calling for hand ball as it drops into the box but Spurs hoof it away. Ball into the box from Gayle... what are Spurs doing? Couple of hashed clearances and Newcastle attack again, Saint-Maximin falling as he gets a shot towards the near post and Lloris turns it behind for a corner.
05:38 PM
36 mins: Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham
Fernandez sees yellow now after taking down Lo Celso.
Chances have dried up a bit for Newcastle after that Son goal. What can they come up with before the break...
Schar’s body language is terrible, at fault in the build up to Spurs goal after #nufc had been the better side, he doesn’t look right at all. A lot of swaggering and strutting, not much to back it up since the restart
Spurs getting on top now, that goal's knocked the wind out of Newcastle. Lo Celso (who's impressed) finds Aurier out wide, but Almiron covers him, Spurs throw. Cleared away.
05:32 PM
32 mins: Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham
Newcastle pressing. Bentaleb has a shot charged down and Moura breaks, before going down outside the box - no free kick. Nice run though, cruised past Bentaleb.
Weird season for Son. Feels like he's been quite inconsistent but despite that and period out with injury he's only player other than KDB with double figures for goals and assists.
Could be two! Son from outside the box, shot takes a big deflection and Dubravka does really diving to his left. Corner.
Cleared by Newcastle before Ritchie wins a free kick, with Alderweireld booked.
05:27 PM
GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham (Son Heung-Min)
That said, Aurier and Moura are working well together. Aurier gets a cross, cleared but back come Spurs and Son Heung-Min threads a finish into the corner to Dubravka's right! Spurs lead.
Son cutting onto his right foot and shooting through Yedlin's legs, creeping the ball inside the near post. That was Spurs' second shot of the match and their first on target. Newcastle have had seven shots so far.
Kane a little bit isolated so far in this 4-5-1 formation that Spurs are using. Newcastle's wing backs, Krafth and Ritchie, doing a decent job.
05:24 PM
23 mins: Newcastle 0-0 Tottenham
Shots at both ends! Saint-Maximin has an effort saved by Lloris, before Spurs break and win a corner.
Back out wide to Lo Celso who... runs the play out of bounds. Time for drinks (feel like I'm covering the cricket).
Newcastle's head coach Steve Bruce controls the ball - pa Newcastle United's French midfielder Allan Saint-Maximin (L) runs past Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian midfielder Giovani Lo Celso (R) - afp
05:20 PM
20 mins: Newcastle 0-0 Tottenham
Kane does well, turning to tee up Ben Davies (of all people) before Newcastle scramble and clear.
Gayle in space and in the box before a shot gets blocked - the ball from Shelvey was very good indeed.
05:19 PM
18 mins: Newcastle 0-0 Tottenham
Spurs now on the attack with Aurier and Moura, Kane dropping deep. Good run behind from Lo Celso but Schar cuts him off, throw-in near the corner flag.
05:16 PM
14 mins: Newcastle 0-0 Tottenham
Newcastle dominating possession, 61 per cent, with loads of touches for Shelvey. Quietly impressive start. Three at the back working well. Ritchie from the left gets a cross in and Shelvey heads over.
05:11 PM
12 mins: Newcastle 0-0 Tottenham
Handy run from Saint-Maximin but his shot is blocked, corner. Spurs clear.
05:11 PM
10 mins: Newcastle 0-0 Tottenham
Bentaleb draws a foul and Newcastle can get out of their half. Chances early on though for both sides, which is nice.
Newcastle United's Miguel Almiron in action with Tottenham Hotspur's Serge Aurier - reuters
05:08 PM
8 mins: Newcastle 0-0 Tottenham
Free kick for Newcastle inside Spurs' half - Shelvey from way out gives it a crack but no issues for Lloris.
Spurs counter, Kane cutting in, Lo Celso tries to curl it from the edge of the area and deflected behind for a corner.
05:06 PM
6 mins: Newcastle 0-0 Tottenham
Chance! Crossed in from the right, falls for Almiron whose shot is deflected behind for a corner.
From the corner he gets another chance but fires over.
05:04 PM
3 mins: Newcastle 0-0 Tottenham
And now Saint-Maximin is fouled too.
Good start by Newcastle but Lo Celso snuffs out an attack. Spurs pinned back before working the ball up to Kane, but he's offside.
05:01 PM
Kick-off: Newcastle 0-0 Tottenham
Early territory for the hosts before Moura makes a run down the touchline and is fouled by Bentaleb.
04:59 PM
Out come the teams
Spurs in blue, Newcastle in familiar black and white. Spurs wearing black armbands in support of Aurier.
Tottenham Hotspur's Serge Aurier and Giovani Lo Celso - REUTERS
04:50 PM
Jose Mourinho on Aurier
It's a strong decision from him. We will always support Serge's decision. If he decided not to play until the end of the season, we would have respected that. There are different ways to face tragedies like this one. He asked to play today and then to tomorrow to go and see his mum and to France, which of course we fully support.
04:47 PM
Steve Bruce speaking
We're without six or seven [players], and that's too big a number, especially the centre back area and midfield area. So, it's unfortunately taken its toll. We had an idea that it might, we are not alone in that, you cannot use it as an excuse. It gives people an opportunity.
04:38 PM
'Judge me on results'
When you do that, Newcastle have fared pretty well under Steve Bruce. He speaks to Luke Edwards.
Judge me on results we have had, where we are - we have got a chance to have our third highest points total in the last 13 or 14 years.
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce - PA
04:31 PM
Abject against Bournemouth, but winners in the North London Derby
How Spurs bounced back. Sam Dean takes a look.
For Tottenham, was there anything new to be learned from this victory? Probably not. Mourinho remains capable of shutting down expansive opposition, which has never really been the issue. The major problems for his team seem to arise when they must take the game to their opponents, as seen in their drab showing against a compact Bournemouth last week.
Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring with his teammates Harry Winks and Son Heung-min - GETTY IMAGES
04:23 PM
A refresher
Let's take you back to a sunny day in August, when life was a lot simpler and Newcastle sprung a surprise.
His ball to Joelinton evaded three defenders, Davinson Sanchez the closest of them all, and found the run of Newcastle’s £40 million signing through the middle. His first touch with his right was excellent, taking him into space and giving him the window of opportunity to sweep the ball past Hugo Lloris with his right inside the goalkeeper’s near post. They might have scored earlier but Sean Longstaff’s shot from the right was pushed over the bar by a brush of the Frenchman’s fingertips.
04:17 PM
Match facts via Opta
Newcastle are looking to record their first Premier League double over Spurs since 2015-16, following their 1-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in August
Tottenham have won four of their last five Premier League away games against Newcastle (L1), more than they had in their first 19 visits to St James’ Park in the competition (W3 D5 L11)
Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to record three consecutive away wins in all competitions against Newcastle for the first time since January 1975
Newcastle have lost just three of their 17 home games in the Premier League this season (W6 D8) – the last time they lost three or fewer home games in a Premier League campaign was in 2011-12 (three)
No Premier League team has won more games after conceding the first goal this season than Tottenham Hotspur (4), with their 2-1 win against Arsenal last time out the fourth such occasion this term
Tottenham Hotspur have lost their last three away Premier League games on Wednesday, one more than they’d lost in their previous 13 such matches (W9 D2 L2)
In his Premier League career, Tottenham boss José Mourinho has managed more games without winning at St James’ Park than he has at any other stadium (7 – D3 L4). Indeed, he’s lost more games there than at any other away venue in the competition
Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min has been directly involved in more goals in all competitions under José Mourinho than any other player at the club in this period (9 goals, 8 assists)
Miguel Almirón has been directly involved in two goals in his last three Premier League home games (one goal and one assist), as many as in his first 19 league games at St. James’ Park combined
Newcastle striker Dwight Gayle has scored three goals and assisted another in five Premier League appearances since the restart in June, after failing to score any in 12 top-flight games earlier this season (one assist).
04:05 PM
Teams!
Newcastle with a host of changes at the back, as Fabian Schar drops back into central defence to partner Federico Fernández, with Emil Krafth and DeAndre Yedlin the two full-backs. Nabil Bentaleb also comes in to partner Jonjo Shelvey in midfield.
TEAM-NEWS 🚨
Your line-up for #NEWTOT at St. James' Park today. 👊⚫️⚪️
SUBS: K. Darlow, Joelinton, Y. Muto, J. Manquillo, V. Lazaro, C. Atsu, M. Longstaff, T. Allan, J. Young. pic.twitter.com/lXUP7CUNzn
A trip to the north east awaits for Spurs this evening and they simply cannot afford any slip-ups in the race to qualify for the Europa League.
Manchester City's successful appeal against their European ban for next season has ruled out seventh-place qualifying for the Europa League's qualifying round. That's bad news for Sheffield United (54 points) in seventh and also Tottenham (52 points) in eighth, with both sides chasing down sixth-placed Wolves (55 points) and fifth-placed Manchester United (59 points), although United at this point seem out of reach with bigger fish to fry hunting a Champions League place. Got all that?
Entering into the land of permutations, Spurs could draw level with Wolves if Nuno Gomes' side lose this evening at Burnley, making this is a massive game for Jose Mourinho who, shockingly, expressed confidence this week that he could win the Europa League with Spurs, despite having not yet actually qualified for said Europa League.
“In my career I have only played the Europa League twice and I have won it twice," Mourinho said of his admittedly impressive record.
“It would not be bad to play a third time and win it a third time. We have to fight until the end to finish in a Europa League place.
Not looking to neglect Newcastle here, it's just they are very much safe in 13th place, with Steve Bruce proving to not be the flaming disaster some no doubt hoped he would turn out to be after he replaced Rafa Benitez.
But there is something at stake! Victory tonight would see Newcastle do the double over Spurs for the first time since 2015-16, after a 1-0 in London back in August. Joelinton even scored! How about that for a sweet incentive.
Worth keeping tabs on the in-form Miguel Almiron and Dwight Gayle, too.
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