Miguel Almiron celebrates with Callum Wilson after scoring Newcastle’s second goal against Spurs (Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle
Eddie Howe tried to stay calm after Newcastle claimed a statement 2-1 victory amidst thunder and lightning at Tottenham, but believes his squad can ‘achieve special things’ after they moved into the Premier League’s top four.
First-half goals by Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron put the Magpies on course for three points and despite Harry Kane’s headed effort at the start of the second half, the visitors held on for a fourth win from their last five games.
It was another impressive display by Saudi-backed Newcastle against a top-six club after a narrow defeat away to Liverpool and draws with both Manchester sides this season. There was controversy around the opening goal as Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris collided with Wilson as he tried to clear his lines but, in truth Newcastle were the better team.
‘I thought it was a really, really good performance and probably the best since I have been here,’ Magpies boss Howe said.
‘The season is very early in its formation but at the moment it looks good. The future is exciting because I still don’t think we are at 100 per cent full speed yet. Of course we don’t want it to be a one-off but we are very respectful of the league and other clubs’ quality.
Tottenham’s head coach Antonio Conte ponders another defeat (Picture: AP/Frank Augstein)
‘We also believe in ourselves and we believe we can achieve special things with this group.’
Nick Pope saved well from Heung-min Son and Kane before the opening goal arrived.
It was a contentious one, with Fabian Schar sending a ball over the top for Wilson to chase and although Lloris was first to it, the Spurs captain went down under contact from the forward, who lobbed home from 30 yards.
A VAR check followed, with the hosts furious, but Stuart Attwell let the goal stand. Spurs boss Antonio Conte did not want to comment on the decision afterwards and struck a surprisingly positive tone after the hosts, missing a few key players through injury, suffered their first back-to-back league defeats since February.
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‘This type of situation makes me frustrated because I would like to play this type of game, also in the Champions League, with the best team and then to have on the bench three, four or five good substitutions,’ he said.
‘The attitude and effort was really strong and really big but sometimes it is not enough.’
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Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle.