Spurs v Newcastle: Match Preview, Team News, Prediction

Both teams are at risk of suffering their 11th loss in a Premier League season that has been way short of expectations.

Match Preview

With only two wins between them in their last ten PL games - both for Newcastle - this is a battle of the underachievers and a loss for either team will heap more pressure on managers Thomas Frank and Eddie Howe.

Both teams have got some joy in a dour season from their performances in the Champions League but Spurs sit just six points above a PL relegation spot - and four points behind Newcastle - after a dismal run of results.

With Spurs having only won one of their last eleven games at home facing a Newcastle side with only two away wins in the PL, there is no clearer sign of how poorly these two teams are currently performing.

Both teams are also leaking goals; Spurs have conceded two or more in their last five games and Newcastle have conceded ten in their last three.

Eddie Howe and the Lads have now gone five games without a win since the victory over PSV but Newcastle are a bit of a bogey team for Spurs having won five out of the last seven meetings.

Team News

Jo won't make the game and Lewis Miley and Anthony Gordon face late fitness tests.

With the defence making mistakes and conceding goals Eddie Howe has decisions to make. Kieran Trippier was at fault for all three Brentford goals and Malik Thiaw has also been prone to errors.

With Tino Livramento, Emile Krafth and Fabian Schar unavailable Eddie's options are limited but I'm expecting Dan Burn to start and if Miley isn't fit to replace Trippier I'd consider Jacob Murphy at RB.

Eddie could play five at the back which may affect the midfield starters.

Bruno, Tonali and Willock will probably make up the midfield if we play 4-3-3 and Eddie again has to decide who plays in the ST role - Woltemade or Wissa with both struggling for goals. Elanga and Barnes should also start.

Spurs are beset by even more injury absentees than Newcastle and Romero's red card against Manchester United means he joins a raft of ten other players unavailable to Thomas Frank...

Udogie, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall, Richarlison, Pedro Porro,) and Kevin Danso.

Prediction

This is a must win game for both managers, at the very least a must not lose one.

The one factor in Newcastle's favour is that we will be facing a team shorn of more best eleven starters than the team Eddie Howe puts out, and a Spurs crowd who are currently not giving Thomas Frank or his team their full support.

If Newcastle can get the first goal, as they have in so many games this season, the atmosphere from the home fans is likely to do nothing to motivate the Spurs team.

The Toon, for a change, might actually go on to win the game.

And, that's what I am expecting, and my usual fiver is going on a 3-0 win.

Eddie Howe knows the pressure he is under to get a result and so do the squad.

I believe the lads are still 100% behind Eddie and that they will respond by putting in an all action, all out, performance tonight.

Nothing else is acceptable.

What do you think?

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