In 26 years of coaching Ange Postecoglou claimed this was the angriest he has ever been about a game of football.

His patched-up Tottenham Hotspur squad had 11 players missing by half-time with an illness bug sweeping through camp, yet with a midfielder and a right-back playing as central defenders, a goalkeeper making his debut after 10 years at the club, and two 18-year-olds in the spine of his side, his team had more than matched one of the Premier League's in-form outfits and deserved at least a point, if not more.

Yet the officials, or more the interpretation of the rules, had ensured that Dominic Solanke's excellent early goal was immediately pegged back by Anthony Gordon's low finish despite Lucas Bergvall's pass being knocked by Joelinton's hand 180 degrees back towards the Spurs box to set up the Newcastle attack.

The Premier League match centre explained mid-game: "The referee’s call of goal was confirmed by VAR, who checked for a potential handball by Joelinton in the build-up and deemed that his arm was by his side, in a natural position and the contact was accidental."

It's debatable whether the Brazilian's arm was actually by his side although it was a natural enough position but only after originally being behind his back. The problem is whether a ball striking a hand and changing the course of the ball to such a degree should be allowed in the rules. Spurs fans have painful memories of being on the end of the pre-accidental handball rule change on that night in Madrid.

Whatever Bergvall heard or believed in the aftermath of Saturday's equaliser following discussions with the referee made him turn around to his team-mates and make a signal with his hands that suggested the goal would be ruled out.

It was not though and it was one of a hat-trick of contentious handball decisions that Spurs were on the wrong end of in the game. Defender Dan Burn had already received a yellow card when he blocked a pass made on a Spurs break with his arm but no further card was given.

In the second half, a Newcastle clearance in their box hit Tino Livramento on the hand but VAR again decided that it was nothing of note.

"The referee’s call of no penalty for a potential handball by Livramento was checked and confirmed by VAR, deeming that the ball was played on to his arm by a teammate from close range, while his arm was in a natural position," read the explanation this time.

In between all of that, Alexander Isak had enjoyed a touch of fortune when the sick Radu Dragusin could only touch on a low cross against the striker and into the net to hand Newcastle what would eventually be their winner for all of Spurs' effort in the second half which included hitting the woodwork and nine shots at goal.

What Postecoglou decided to do after the game was clever in a way. He lavished praise on his battling Tottenham players and came out swinging at the officials/VAR/the rules or whatever you wanted him to be swinging at.

It was all phrased in a way that meant he never really precisely said what he was so angry about in order to swerve a ban or fine while also making it indirectly clear what we all knew he was talking about.

He used different versions of the phrase "if all things were equal" nine times in an interview to the BBC after the game.

In his press conference the Australian spoke in a different way to normal. It was faster, with a slightly higher pitch to his normal gravelly tone and more emotional. He was asked to give his opinion of Newcastle's first goal.

"No, because I know what everyone wants me to say, but all I'll say is that on any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game," he said. "Simple as that. Don't keep asking me about the decision. If you guys have no opinion about it that's fine. I know what my opinion is and, as I said, if that was a different day and it was an even and fair playing ground we would have won that game."

When later asked about Solanke's performance he added: "Brilliant, but I think the whole team was. Considering everything we had to go through and the situation we are in right now to put on a performance like that, I take my hat off to the players.

"I thought they were outstanding. I’m just really, really angry, angriest I think I have ever been in my career that they were denied the right rewards for a fantastic performance."

The reporters tried again to ask if the Spurs boss was unhappy with the officials.

"I know you just want me to say something but I’m not going to. I think it’s clear. Now whether people agree with me or not whether it wasn’t handball or it was accidental, I’m just not interested in any of that discussion," he said.

"What I’m saying is, on any given day with a fair and even playing field and logical thought processes we would have won that game, that’s it. You can make what you want of that. I don’t know what else to say about it."

In essence, as we have to put the words into Postecoglou's mouth, he likely saying that whether it's the rules or the officials' view of it, the fact that you can stop a pass with your hand, turning a defensive clearance into an attack right in front of the opposition box and it leads to a goal and is not penalised, it makes a mockery of the rules.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted afterwards: "I can't sit here and lie and say I haven't seen it because I have. It definitely hit Joelinton's arm I can give you that. But I am not in control of the ref's decision. I believe his arm is down and in a natural position. I believe the referee and VAR have followed the rules that are in place."

For Postecoglou, by praising his players and the way they played amid all of the ridiculous circumstances was also a message of sorts to those above him at Tottenham on a day when many expected a heavy defeat to the in-form visitors.

"Hugely proud. I’m shattered the boys didn’t get the rewards they deserved because we were outstanding, our football was outstanding against a very good opponent in good form and a good place," he said. "I thought it was brilliant and outstanding, a game we deserved to win and on any other day we would have won."

Spurs played the Postecoglou way even when ripped apart by illness and injury, including some playing through that illness, and that belief in the system should have brought a victory. The players are still giving everything for the Australian and the fans were fully behind the team throughout inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It was a reminder that Postecoglou is trying to change the way the club thinks from the bottom up and create a structure that the players can adhere to even in the most challenging moments like this, one that will serve them when the problems finally subside.

It was like he was saying that if Daniel Levy or the powers-that-be at Spurs want to remove him then they will do so when even in its lowest moments, the squad has a way forward.

For even a new manager who doubles up as a doctor would struggle at Spurs right now, with 11 missing players, the need to use a third choice goalkeeper who was making his debut after a decade at the club and a right-back and 18-year-old ill midfielder lining up as centre-backs because the situation is that dire.

Postecoglou gets frustrated when people judge him or his players without the context of what is happening around them.

On Friday ahead of the game he said when asked about Newcastle struggling last season with a similarly huge number of injuries and drained overused players: "I think if you look at that time last year, I actually spoke about it at the press conference. They had a ridiculous amount of injuries and I actually specifically mentioned Newcastle and how they have a ridiculous amount of injuries and it’s no wonder their form is suffering, but that’s a boring tale, mate.

"People will be outside with pitch forks and looking for heads, so let’s not take that narrative."

He was asked if Newcastle are a good example though of a team that got through those injuries and surged up the table afterwards.

He responded: "I think so but it’s a boring story mate and I’m a boring person, so I don’t think you’ll get much traction with that."

Saturday was certainly a day when many of his Spurs players did him proud and he could tell that they still believe his way is a way forward to better form. They just need help with a bigger squad.

Teenage talents and super Spence

That the base of the spine of Tottenham's team was made up of two 18-year-olds - one of them ill - as well as a debutant goalkeeper and eventually a right-back who played instead at left-back and centre-back, showed the character and ability of the quartet.

Tottenham were already making do with whoever could fill in at the back so to lose Radu Dragusin, Archie Gray and Fraser Forster to the illness bug and their beds for most of the week was just another punch that Postecoglou and the team had to absorb and try to keep moving forward.

Dragusin could only last until half-time on Saturday but Gray somehow managed to pull himself through the entire game and the teenager, amid the context of his week and that he's not a centre-back - it's worth continually remembering that - was hugely impressive up against the in-form Isak and Jacob Murphy down his side.

The youngster also showed his fire in shoving Isak towards the touchline after the board had gone up for the slow-walking Swede to be substituted. Gray could apparently be seen to mouth: "That's you. Come on that's you." Isak received a yellow card for his response.

Gray managed five ball recoveries, three clearances, two headed ones, one interception, one block and was not dribbled past once.

He has adapted to life as a centre-back so well that some have actually wondered whether he could end up becoming one. It's more likely that it's a position he will continue to fill in at over the years when needed during games, but this will be more a huge educational period to make him an even better midfielder when he eventually gets to play there.

The thought of Gray and Bergvall becoming a dominant duo in Tottenham's midfield in the years to come is a mouth-watering one and it's why you will never hear Postecoglou complaining about their signings even if he needed more senior players for the present as well.

Bergvall also proved that his adaptation period is moving swiftly and he was Tottenham's best player until he began to tire in the second half. He was a driving presence in the midfield, always looking for the ball and the teenage Swede is as happy to run forward with it as he is to pick out a pass.

It was his surging run up the pitch that led to Spurs' goal in the opening minutes and he was constantly presenting himself as an option for the defenders and goalkeeper to pass to and then getting up and down the pitch to support both the attack and get back to help the backline.

Bergvall completed five ball recoveries, two interceptions, three clearances, two blocks, one headed clearance and one tackle and like Gray, nobody was able to dribble past him. The Swede won three of his four ground duels and his only aerial one.

When asked if Saturday's performance gave Postecoglou confidence to turn the form around, the Australian had no doubt.

"I have never lacked confidence. I get that the results aren’t there and I get that whether people want to accept the situation we are in," he said. "You saw the performance of Archie, you saw Lucas today he was unbelievable as an 18-year-old to play in that position.

"I just see so much to be positive about but we need to win games of football and usually when you play well and you do most things right you get the rewards. Unfortunately we were denied."

Bergvall's performance was so promising that Postecoglou's decision to take him off for James Maddison was met by loud boos around the stadium.

Bergvall had been tiring and it was time to bring on the senior players but it was also a nod to the fact that the Swede could well be starting again against Liverpool in midweek with Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr both suspended.

Another player likely to start again is Djed Spence, who has found himself finally at front and now quite literally centre for Tottenham after his seasons on the periphery.

This was his 10th appearance of the campaign and again he impressed both as a left-back and perhaps even more so within the context of stepping in as an unnatural centre-back.

The 24-year-old won all three of his attempted tackles, along with two interceptions, two ball recoveries, two clearances and one headed one. He won six of his eight ground duels and five of his eight headed ones.

Postecoglou had explained on Friday exactly how Spence had turned his time at the club around.

"Djed, a lot of it is just down to him. He’s really knuckled down. He’s had to be patient. I think he’s been really good for us. Even in tough times you get these spurts of opportunities for others that maybe wouldn’t have happened," he said. "The reality is with everyone healthy maybe he wouldn’t have got the opportunity and in January we’d be looking at a different scenario for him, but right now, he’s performing really well.

"I was disappointed he got sent off against Forest because he could have helped us last week. He is very important for us. With Destiny going down, especially. Not because he's available but he’s played well, made an impact. Maybe he senses the opportunity to become not just part of Tottenham on a permanent basis in his own mind, where he feels settled, but now pushing to be a starting player and I think he has the capacity to do that."

Postecoglou was asked whether there was something lacking from Spence's attitude or game that had held him back before.

"I don’t think there was something missing. There was possibly a reason he wasn’t settled but at the start of pre-season I mentioned there was an opportunity for him here," explained the Spurs boss. "We were going to give him that opportunity and not necessarily get him out on loan.

"The rest was up to him and a lot of that is how he dealt with the fact he had to train hard everyday without a lot of prospect of playing. He impressed everyone with his attitude towards that. Maybe in the past he was a little bit impatient, maybe his attitude wasn’t great in terms of the fact he wasn’t playing and wasn't feeling like a regular.

"This year he’s had to bide his time and he’s done that in the best possible way and waited for his opportunity, and now when he’s got it, he’s grown. Some of it is maturity as well. He’s not a young boy any more and probably feels like if he’s going to have a Tottenham career now is the time to grab that, and I think he has done that."

While Pedro Porro contributed a great assist with his cross for Solanke, even if he was targeted again by Newcastle's attacks, praise must also go to Sergio Reguilon, who once again came in from the cold and put in a decent, hard-working performance when called upon.

However, it is those two 18-year-olds and the Djed Spence redemption story that is really laying the foundations for the future amid the disappointing results.

Brandon Austin and a new goalkeeper

There was something rather cruel about Brandon Austin finally getting his Tottenham Hotspur chance on the day that it emerged Spurs were about to sign a new goalkeeper.

Austin, who turns 26 next week, has never previously been given his chance. He's always worked hard behind the scenes, impressing with his shot stopping in training, helping out team-mates wanting extra finishing sessions and often on the bench when a goalkeeper is injured.

Yet, other than a couple of loan spells years ago in Denmark and then MLS football, no Spurs manager has taken a chance on him. When Austin was handed a new five-year contract at the end of last season it felt like finally he was going to step up as Guglielmo Vicario's number two.

It marked a crossroads when he could have tried his luck at finding a role somewhere lower down the ladder amid fan criticism of why he was even still at the club.

"I think a career for a goalkeeper is different," Austin told football.london in an exclusive interview during last summer's pre-season tour. "For a goalkeeper, I'm still fairly young and I think with what we're building here at the club, conversations with the manager and what we do on a daily basis at the training ground is really exciting and really positive and something that I wanted to be a part of.

"I really see myself that I can fit in here and help to bring something really positive and bring success at the club."

Fraser Forster continued to get the nod ahead of the untested Austin, even though the 36-year-old clearly does not suit the Postecoglou style in mopping up behind a high line or thinking clearly under pressure with the ball at his feet.

For Austin it's part of the game he enjoys, telling football.london in the summer: "It's something that I like. I like to be involved in the possession phase when we have the ball. I think that it helps set our attack and set the team up.

"Obviously you've seen the way the manager wants to play, that he wants the goalkeepers to be involved, so I think it's good. It allows us to show another layer to our game. We work on it in training every day. So it's something that we can all continue to improve and work out, but I think it's a good part to have."

Austin finally got his chance on Saturday with just 24 hours' preparation after it became clear Forster was not going to be well enough to even get to the stadium.

Then as if that wasn't enough the news emerged on Saturday morning that Spurs were closing in on a £12.5million deal plus add-ons for Slavia Prague's 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.

The young Czech Republic stopper is a talent and has the highest save percentage (83.3%) of any goalkeeper in the top 10 European leagues this season and has conceded less goals per 90 minutes (0.37) and nobody has more clean sheets (12).

Kinsky has fast reflexes, is quick off his line and very comfortable with the ball at his feet, with an eye for a quick pass both short and long with the occasional dribble and turn under pressure.

He is a competitor to push Vicario for the short and long-term and it's worth noting that UEFA's rules now state he can play in the Europa League this season for Spurs if they make the knockout stages despite having already turned out repeatedly in that competition for Slavia Prague during this campaign. Someone would have to be taken out of the squad first though due to their numbers already registered.

On Sunday morning the deal was completed subject to international clearance and work permit with the keeper agreeing a deal that will run until 2031 and he will wear the number 31 shirt.

The news of the then imminent move could either have wrecked Austin's confidence or only strengthened his resolve to impress. It appeared to have achieved the latter.

He received a huge cheer around the stadium when he came out to claim a corner in the opening moments with tidy handling. He dealt with most set pieces well, including claiming a ball at the second attempt in mid-air while being fouled and clearly winded by a rough challenge.

He couldn't do much about Gordon's clinical finish into the bottom corner or Isak's scrappy close range effort, but he did save well from Gordon not long after that first goal and then from Harvey Barnes in added time.

Austin's footwork and passing were also good, presenting himself as an option throughout and trying to get play moving quickly every time, including a few long throws. He also often took up a deep sweeper position like Vicario outside his penalty area, something the slower Forster is wary of doing.

"Yeah he was great," Postecoglou told football.london of Austin. "Everyone was great, unbelievable. Considering what we had to put up with…Radu [Dragusin] and Archie [Gray] literally got off sickbeds to play today, and Radu was shattered at half-time. Brandon, obviously we found out yesterday was playing. I can’t be prouder of the players, I’m just angry and disappointed it wasn’t football that denied them getting the rewards today.

As debuts go, particularly for someone who hasn't played a competitive senior game in four-and-a-half years, it was a really solid performance.

He was named man of the match by the UK broadcasters TNT Sports and it's highly likely that he will get to start again against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

Austin has now been tested and passed with flying colours. That gives him a leg up he's never had before even if it took extreme circumstances to make it happen. Forster and Alfie Whiteman's contracts are up in the summer and it looks like Austin will battle it out with Kinsky and Vicario in the years ahead.

There is also Josh Keeley, who is dazzling at Leyton Orient with 10 clean sheets from his 14 League One appearances this season, as well as 19-year-old keeper Luca Gunter who is well regarded within the club.

This day was about Brandon Austin though, regardless of the transfer news that the morning brought. He will now have the belief and trust from others that he is more than just the untried goalkeeper at the training ground and that can only be a good thing for both him and Tottenham.

Solanke and Kulusevski have to lead the way

Ange Postecoglou made a bold decision with his team selection on Saturday in leaving out three senior players from the spine of his team in captain Son Heung-min, vice-captain James Maddison and midfielder Yves Bissouma.

The decision would have gone down like a lead balloon with all three of them but he explained his logic behind the call.

"Just a combination of I thought we were going to need some running power and energy early on and as the game went on we would be able to use the experience of the guys who came on and I thought it worked well," said Postecoglou.

"We finished really strong. We started the game really well and the only thing that stopped us in our tracks was not football. That was the whole idea about it.

"Guys like Sonny, Biss and Maddison to a lesser extent, they have played a lot of football and having them fresh helps them mentally as much as physically and I thought all three when they came on made a real difference for us."

Spurs did show plenty of energy in the first half and then the senior players helped pin Newcastle back in the second, albeit without finding a way through.

It meant Tottenham had to call upon two newer leaders of this group in Dejan Kulusevski, who took the armband as he has for Sweden, and Dominic Solanke.

The duo are two of Postecoglou's hardest workers and the rest of the team look to them to lead the press and get Tottenham up the pitch.

It was Solanke who opened the scoring with a great battling diving header to make it 10 goal involvements in 17 Premier League games for Spurs and 17 in 26 matches in all competitions.

He could have had another couple of headed goals on the day with one sent at Martin Dubravka and another that the keeper tipped on to the roof of his net even if it was given as a goal kick.

The cross for the latter came from Kulusevski, who had less impact than normal but was still a livewire with four key passes - more than anyone else on the pitch - and getting a couple of days extra recovery time into both players' legs made a clear difference to their performances compared to the match against Wolves.

They weren't matched in the attacking stakes by their two fellow attackers with Timo Werner again pretty much anonymous.

The Champions League-winning German has a frustrating habit of looking like he's about to run and challenge for a ball only to suddenly ease up out of the race. To be fair, a young pre-match mascot could probably muscle the 28-year-old off the ball in an attacking race so perhaps he's just avoiding the inevitable with his lack of enthusiasm.

Going in the other direction Werner worked harder, winning the ball back four times, as did Brennan Johnson. The Wales international did strike the base of the right-hand post with a chance but also blazed a big effort, when unmarked, across the face of goal when he should have put it on target.

The trio of senior players did make an impact of sorts although it was Bissouma who probably did so the most in a dominant display in the centre of the park, winning both of his attempted tackles and recovering the ball four times while making one block and one clearance.

Son wandered across the pitch trying to find a way through, first on the left and then coming over more centrally at times. Maddison curled one effort inches wide from outside the box.

How the duo respond to being left out will be key. It's a test of their leadership and whether they sulk and look to blame Postecoglou or step up and use it to fire up their performances.

Maddison has previously admitted that Postecoglou likes to let the senior players know what he thinks of them with brutal honesty and the midfielder stated that it's only fair. Now is the time to see whether he actually believes that.

Whether he appreciates it now, the extended rest may just benefit Son who has looked jaded this season, while in contrast Maddison has found himself on the bench for the past three matches. That he is suspended from the Carabao Cup semi-final in midweek against Liverpool yet still didn't start on Saturday said plenty about Postecoglou's current thoughts.

With new England boss Thomas Tuchel watching on and no doubt being impressed by Solanke and perhaps even Gray and Spence, Maddison will have to win over the new national manager as well as his club boss again first.

A lack of consistency has always dogged his campaign even if his 12 goal involvements in 20 Premier League appearances so far this season have been a positive step.

While the boos when Bergvall came off weren't aimed at him, it might still have taken Maddison aback a little to be the man coming on to replace a player the fans did not want off the pitch. The 28-year-old wants to be the one in that position.

He and Son were the first ones over to clap the supporters in the south stand at the final whistle and they will want to give them something to applaud over the weeks ahead.

Wednesday night's game against Liverpool brings with it a tough test for this Spurs side after everything that has happened and Postecoglou will be hoping for no more sick players.

He will have Rodrigo Bentancur back from suspension as he loses Maddison and Sarr to it. The Australian might have Richarlison or Mikey Moore back on the bench to give him some more options late in the game. He will have a fresh and perhaps angry Son looking to make a point.

The key for Tottenham is to get through this first leg with a result that allows them to compete in the second leg at Anfield. For when that rolls around on February 6 they should have Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies all back.

They will also have any new arrivals to help the squad in the games ahead, beyond Kinsky's move. Spurs are looking across most areas of the pitch for new recruits and Postecoglou would no doubt want another centre-back and attacker as quickly as possible.

Various attackers have been looked at, including PSG's Randal Kolo Muani, who can play across the front three but hasn't been able to reproduce anything close to the stunning 40 goal involvements in 46 games for Eintracht Frankfurt since returning to France in a £75million move in 2023.

football.london understands that former Spurs managing director of football Fabio Paratici previously tried to bring Muani to the north London club.

Nowadays the 26-year-old is the subject of interest from a number of big clubs across Europe after falling out of favour at PSG and any side going for him will have a battle on their hands. What price the French club will ask for a player they spent so much on just 18 months ago will be the key for most sides. If there's a loan move to any club it could well include a big option to buy.

Tottenham's technical director Johan Lange was at Spurs' match on Saturday and it will be down to him with that all-important release of funds from Daniel Levy to get any deals done to help Postecoglou. The sudden move for Kinsky was very much in the Dane's style of keeping deals under wraps until the final stages and it's likely that further Spurs moves will continue in a similar vein.

For Tottenham need to work fast and smartly if this transfer window is to meet its objectives.

"I just want it to be a positive one, that's the main thing," Postecoglou told football.london. "It's not about being busy, it's about being positive because the reality is the situation we're in at the moment is temporary. We'll get players back and god willing, with a bit of luck, we'll keep them back and do the right things and we'll be strong from then on.

"So we just need it to be a positive window where we've got to be disciplined and make sure the ones we can bring in, if they do come in, they're going to fit in with our playing style but also culturally, and are coming here for the right reasons. I still think that's important."

All eyes are on what comes next at Tottenham, both on and off the pitch.

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