Steve Bruce had the team set up to not concede against Spurs in the first half. It was the wrong approach as we’ve offered nothing upfront with only Karl Darlow’s miraculous efforts keeping Newcastle in the game.
Newcastle played in a 5-4-1 with Isaac Hayden dropping to center-back and Manquillo and Ritchie at wing-back. Miguel Almiron was on the right with Joelinton on the left and Callum Wilson leading the line.
But for a brilliant double save from Karl Darlow, Newcastle would have been down in the opening minutes once again. The 29-year-old stretched to keep out a Giovani Lo Celso free-kick from just outside the area. He remained alert and parried Harry Kane’s follow up effort to keep Spurs at bay.
Darlow made another superb save in 9th minute again keeping Harry Kane off the scoresheet. An inviting Spurs cross from the right flank was headed by Kane but Darlow slapped it away with his left palm to again keep the match level.
As expected Newcastle struggled to get hold of the ball and keep it when they won possession. There were limited outlets with Newcastle pinned back much of the time.
The levy finally gave way in the 25th minute when Harry Kane put a ball across the face of the goal from the left. It got through to a charging Lucas Moura at the back post who tapped it in to give Spurs the lead.
Tottenham almost immediately doubled their lead but Karl Darlow made another world-class save. Harry Kane whipped in an effort from just outside the box on the left and Darlow dove to tip the ball around the back post for a corner.
Spurs had more stellar chances to build on their lead as Son Heung-min hit the post twice and Eric Dier was free in the box on a corner but his header went wide.
Newcastle are extremely fortunate to be just one goal down. Karl Darlow’s made a handful of wonderful saves and Spurs have just not put away their myriad of chances. Newcastle have mustered just two shots and been torn apart at times by Spurs.
290 comments so far
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:51 PM
Comment #1Neil
Can we just have Darlow and the woodwork for options of Man of the Match later please, save yourself the time of doing the others.
Australian Pie
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:51 PM
Comment #2You literally just need 3 of our players to stay around the half way line – 7 can sit deep and condensed, but when it’s 9 players there is no way out!
Lindisfarne
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:52 PM
Comment #3Come on guys
Rotonda heights
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:52 PM
Comment #4between darlow and the post and crossbar we are somehow not 6-0 down!!!
81% possession to spurs at times!! Shocking.
Clueless ultra negative coach always setting us up to fail.
No way shelvey gets in any top 10 team.
Come on PIF please get us a proper coach
Shoulders knees
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:54 PM
Comment #5Problem is
We are set up to be defensive but we can’t defend, Darlow standing alone could be 4 if not for him,
Shelvey I am afraid your time is up, Bruce stealing a living.
Northumbrian
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:54 PM
Comment #6We are too narrow, they’re wingers have 30yds of space and I still don’t understand when we have possession everything has to go through shelvey who generally loses it and won’t track back.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:54 PM
Comment #7Bruce is so lucky that there aren’t any fans in the ground the guy needs some abuse maybe that would actually light a fire under him!
We need legs in the middle Shelvey and Hendrick are nowhere to be seen
Hayden and Longstaff need to be in the middle with Almiron as the no 10 so we can close them down
All Aboot Toon
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:55 PM
Comment #8Thanks for that Mr. Bruce.
You’ve taken a bunch of decent players and moulded them into
a pile of shite.
JohnReese
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:55 PM
Comment #9My only hope for this season is with Ashley actually attending games, he might finally realise how crap this is and get rid of Bruce. Long shot admittedly. Can’t wait for all the pundits to tell us how good a coach Bruce is though.
cyprus
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:56 PM
Comment #10Ok,
We’re still in it.
Now, play some football, lads.
TomaKaThor
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:56 PM
Comment #11And we wonder why Joelinton looked craper than he actualy probably is all last year, anybody will look dreadful in this team and this set up.. Now its Wilson expected to work miracles up top isolated as we hoof balls up to him
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:57 PM
Comment #12Alex Hurst
@tfalex1892
Before today
Last 4 games away from home playing ‘five at the back’
Shots on target:
Nufc – 4
Opponents – 28
Goals:
Nufc 0
Opponents – 10
Wins:
Nufc 0
Opponents 3
What was different today about the way the side set up in any of those horror shows? What was the plan?
WLtoon
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:57 PM
Comment #13This is pathetic. Game should be out of site by now. We are so bad it is embarrassing. Bruce has to go, 3 games or not, he is absolutely clueless.
He has Leeis, an attacking wingback on the bench, what is the effin point eith that formation. Total shambles this like.
ilovetoon8788
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:57 PM
Comment #14No point discussing which players should be playing on the pitch as the entire problem is the tactic and mentality of the head coach which is Bruce.
A new manager with a winning mentality is required.
Or we are toast this season as most clubs aside from West ham and Burnley are going to turn us over.
Ron Knee
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:57 PM
Comment #15The pundits tend to blame the players.
Tuttelbom
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:58 PM
Comment #16Hard to both defend and attack with a non excistent midfield.
When u see shelvey comes jogging after spurs players it shouldnt be hard to point at where the problems lies.
GhostToon
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:58 PM
Comment #17Wonder what the consortium think watching this utter sh@te football in show?
It makes you wonder if PIF thought they were buying Juventus when Amanda first approached them lol.
Mund
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:59 PM
Comment #18A part of me really wants them to put another 4 past us so it forces Ashley’s hand and get rid of this dinosaur that’s taking us backwards. Absolutely clueless tactician with a stupid team selection and formation.
Just a Fat Dave Bassett
Sep 27, 2020 at 2:59 PM
Comment #19We need to get Bruce out before he ruins any chance of a takeover. Being crap is one thing, but being crap and playing the worst defensive football is unnacceptable.
toon kk
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:00 PM
Comment #20Should be 5 0 so well done Darlo.
I don’t know if we’re a shyte team or if it’s Bruce.
But at least have a go. Ffs
That first half was almost unbearable.
TheTinman
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:00 PM
Comment #21Bruce out
TomaKaThor
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:01 PM
Comment #22Let’s be honest here, we relied on Saint Max last year, he was our only means of getting the ball up the pitch…Its nothing personal with Bruce we simply need a manager who can actually get us playing as a team
dougie
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:01 PM
Comment #23I hope the parasite pukes in their fireplace
MikeAshleysWallet
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:01 PM
Comment #24John Beresford raging there at HT, don’t blame him this is unacceptable
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:01 PM
Comment #25Asi fish
Son hitting the woodwork twice so far….its like iv scored a goal each time he didnt score! 🙂
Bills Son Is Back
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:01 PM
Comment #26Good job Darlow isn’t the shaky error prone keeper than some on here said he was.
GhostToon
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:02 PM
Comment #27Mund
Know what you mean. The football on show is just painful to watch.
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:02 PM
Comment #28GET IN, Son going off at HT…
OliveRoll
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:02 PM
Comment #29Another 3P performance, we are almost beaten before we kick a ball, look lads damage limitation today, get behind the ball ffs don’t go over the halfway line and whatever you do please don’t attack the game.
How are we supposed to stay up with a losing mentality, SB is a hopeless cu…. give it a go lads have a try. This is so frustrating to watch.
Kevin Vegan
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:02 PM
Comment #30The worst part is I’m not even surprised. We all knew that we rode our luck in fixtures like this last season and that it wasn’t sustainable.
Worst part is I can see Bruce telling them we’ve done well to still be in with a chance, and to go out and do more of the same. Just hoping and praying for a lucky goal and for Darlow to keep bailing us out…
Just a Fat Dave Bassett
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:03 PM
Comment #31I’m thinking the same, if we must lose it might as well be 13-0 then at least Bruce might get sacked. That lucky win we got against Spurs last season probably kept Bruce in a job so you could argue it was our worst result.
But the reality is Ashley still thinks Big Sam can keep any team up because he could keep any team up ten years ago.
davetoon
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:03 PM
Comment #32So what is Bruce going to change at half time?
OliveRoll
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:03 PM
Comment #33piss poor
Australian Pie
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:03 PM
Comment #34Best we can do now is sit Carroll up top with Wilson and hope he can flick him in
Ritchie off for Lewis please
Give Murphy 30mins
sing in the corner
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:03 PM
Comment #35We’ve done this before under the previous manager. We did it better then. Kind of staying in the game then step it up last 15.
We very nearly did the job against City.
Pretty it ain’t!
Bruce will point to last week,2 down in 7mins. We will see.
All Aboot Toon
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:03 PM
Comment #36Goth@12…there isn’t a plan
Just a Fat Dave Bassett
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:04 PM
Comment #37We relied on Dubravka making several impossible saves per game last season.
Zele
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:04 PM
Comment #38Why must Bruce keep playing Rafa’s negative defensive tactics.
This is not the Newcastle way.
We can compete with Spurs, we have the players.
Uncertain Toon/World
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:04 PM
Comment #39Somehow we’re only 1 down, change it up Brucey, shit or bust time, unless he waits 60 mins!
Straight out the handbook
dougie
Sep 27, 2020 at 3:04 PM
Comment #40Totally agree Kev,pretty sure that will be. Brucies half time team talk