Spurs 1 - 2 Newcastle: Eddie, The Lads & Fans Ecstatic

The scenes between Eddie, his coaching team, the players and the NUFC fans at the end of the game was an ecstatic release of the pressure that has been building up over the last few gruelling games. Spurs were put to the sword... and deservedly too.

The squad are right behind Eddie

Right from the off Eddie's chosen eleven - and a brave starting line up it was in such a crucial game - swarmed all over the pitch in a frenzy of effort, energy and commitment.

Whatever Eddie said before the game he got the reaction that he and the fans not only wanted to see, but absolutely had to see.

Rarely are games easy to dominate, or easy to win. Especially after the depressing run of results that Newcastle have endured in recent weeks.

But, up against a Spurs side on a depressing run of their own, shorn of eleven first team squad players, and in front of hacked off fans on the verge of mutiny... this had to be Eddie and the teams best chance of getting a desperately needed win.

Eddie knew it, the team knew it, and that win was delivered and celebrated almost as if we had won a cup final.

Summer signings finally make an impact

Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey both produced their best performances to at last show that their fees may yet be money well spent.

At one stage late in the first half 55% of Newcastle's attacks had come from the right flank where Elanga was constantly using his pace to go past his man and get in crosses.

Typically, Woltemade wasn't on the pitch to get on the end of them, so most went to waste with Anthony Gordon the man in ST role. Still, it was an excellent performance from Elanga and it's fair to say that he has been improving game on game recently.

In midfield, Ramsey and Willock were another two players who had their best games this season. Willock was denied a superb goal by VAR and Ramsey's finish from an exquisite run and pass by Gordon was instinctive, precise and the match winner.

Another summer signing Malik Thiaw scored the opening goal with a double whammy, getting in a great header and then outmuscling his marker to slide the rebound past Vicario.

The three B's - Bruno, Botman and Barnes - also played a big part in the win.

The one Toon downside was that after failing to score from eleven corners Spurs got back into the game with a goal from their first of the match. As it was taken I thought - watch them score from this. And they did,

Who didn't think that this was going to be yet another game where points would be lost after being the better side and taking the lead? Not many of us I bet.

Thankfully, for our frayed nerves, it only took four minutes for Ramsey to restore the lead and apart from a last minute half chance for Van der Ven Spurs never threatened to equalise.

Next up Aston Villa in the FA Cup

One swallow doesn't make a summer, and one win isn't a revival.

Both both are a start.

The mood around the club and among the fans is far rosier this morning.

There is no game like football where moods can swing so wildly and so quickly.

I bet Eddie is far more upbeat at the Villa presser and if we get a result and move on to the next round the pressure will go down another big notch.

Lose, and especially heavily, and the pressure cranks back up again on Eddie.

Who would be a PL football manager?

On £50K to £400K a week? Me!

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