3 Things We Learned From Newcastle United’s Game Against Tottenham Hotspur

On Sunday, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur made a long trip to Northwest to face Newcastle United at St. James Park. However, the Lilywhites weren’t rewarded for their sojourn, as the Magpies ran away with a 2-1 victory.

Tottenham’s relentless pressure was evident throughout the match, with Pope having to make a series of impressive saves—six in total—to keep his team in the game. However, it was Newcastle who struck first, with Harvey Barnes neatly finishing a Lloyd Kelly cross. Tottenham managed to equalize in the second half thanks to a Dan Burn own goal, but Newcastle’s Alexander Isak had the last word. Isak tapped in the winner in the 78th minute, securing a classic smash-and-grab victory for the Magpies. 

The game provided several talking points that Spurs and Newcastle fans will discuss in the coming weeks. So, here are my three key takeaways from Sunday’s thriller at St. James Park. 

1) Romero’s lapse in concentration cost Spurs dearly 

Cristian Romero is undoubtably one of the best defenders in the Premier League. Lionel Messi even suggested he might be the best in the world. His tenacity, aggression and fearlessness has endeared him to the Tottenham faithful. However, the Argentine is prone to lapse in concentration and judgement. And on Sunday, this cost Spurs three points. The 26-year-old was at fault for both Newcastle goals. First off, he was out of possible when Harvey Barnes opened the scoring in the 37th minute. In the second goal, Romero’s eagerness to press left a gaping hole in Tottenham’s backline, which Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak combined to exploit to deadly effect. 

Having said that, Cristian Romero played the entire game as the left-sided center back, a position Micky Ven De Ven usually holds. The Dutchman is the more conservative out of the two, and his shearing pace often is crucial for Tottenham’s high line. But on Sunday, the 26-year-old Argentine partnered Radu Dragusin at the heart of Tottenham’s defense. Therefore, it could be said that the positional change could’ve contributed to his poor performance. Having said that, if Spurs want to compete for trophies, Romero will have to iron out the kinks in his game because he will play an instrumental role in Tottenham’s future success. 

2) Brennan Johnson makes a statement 

Most of the discourse surrounding Tottenham was positive, following their 4-0 win against Everton last week. However, one player who received a lot of stick and criticism for his performance was Brennan Johnson. The 23-year-old Welsh international remained on the periphery of the game and had very little impact on the proceedings last week. But on Sunday, Johnson was undoubtably Tottenham’s best player against Newcastle. After his underwhelming performance versus Everton, Johnson started the game on the bench. However, following a lackluster first half in which Spurs trailed, Ange decided to roll the dice and subbed on Brennan after the halftime break.  

Brennan Johnson’s entry meant that Dejan Kulusevski reverted back to playing in the midfield, alongside Bissouma and Maddison. The 23-year-old winger’s entry proved to be the catalyst for change, as Spurs created several guild-edged opportunities. However, the Lilywhites failed to take advantage of their dominance. Johnson was at the heart of almost every Tottenham attack. And in the 56th minute, Johnson’s persistence paid off, as he converted a deflected Maddison shot to draw Spurs level.  

Brennan Johnson’s speed gave Llyod Kelly several problems. After opening Tottenham’s account on the day, the Welshman created multiple big chances. However, the lack of a No.9 was telling, as no Tottenham player got on the end of several dangerous low crosses that Johnson fizzed in from the right flank. His performance on Sunday was a reminder of his quality and unique skillset that very few wingers in the Prem possess. Brennan Johnson has made a statement with his performance against the Magpies, and Spurs fans don’t be surprised if Johnson starts against Arsenal in the North London Derby in two weeks' time. 

3) The Magpies are finding ways to grind out results 

Even the most optimistic fans of Newcastle United would admit that the start to their 2024/25 season hasn’t been smooth sailing. The Magpies’ season started on a very ominous note, as they had to sell talented youngsters like Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson in order to comply with Premier League’s PSR rules. Adding to the sense of unease, Newcastle only managed to bring in two outfield players over the summer: Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer from Bournemouth and William Osula from Sheffield United. 

Despite the worries, the Magpies have managed to secure 7 points from their first three games, placing them 5th in the Premier League table. They're also one of the seven teams still unbeaten this season. But to be honest, their performances have been a bit underwhelming. They narrowly overcame Southampton by a scoreline of 1-0 in their Prem opener. They followed that victory up with a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth. However, a late Dango Ouattara goal was chalked off by VAR, which sparred Newcastle’s their blushes. And against Tottenham, despite being the second-best team for the majority of the match, they churned out a 2-1 win. However, Eddie Howe’s side needs to step up their game. They’ve had their share of luck, but it won’t always bail them out. If Newcastle's performances don’t improve, it’s only a matter of time before the results start reflecting their shaky form. 

Also Read: 3 Things We Learned From Manchester United’s Clash With Liverpool