Newcastle United's shell-shocked players almost looked relieved when referee Martin Atkinson finally put them out of their misery at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following Sunday's 5-1 defeat against Spurs. Some of these individuals had fond memories of smash-and-grab results in this very arena in years gone by, but they won't be in a rush to watch this mauling back in the analysis room.
'Bad day' was the succinct verdict of watching part-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi after a result and second-half performance no one saw coming. Even substitute Bruno Guimaraes felt the need to apologise.
Ahead of this game, Eddie Howe warned that his side were still in a relegation battle despite being nine points clear of the drop zone and this was a timely reminder of why that's the case. Indeed, the manner in which the Magpies capitulated after going in front at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was worrying.
READ MORE: Buy tickets and further details of our live NUFC podcast fans event
Fabian Schar had given the visitors a precious lead with a curling free-kick in the 39th minute, but Newcastle were only ahead for a few minutes after Ben Davies equalised just before the break. If that was a bad time to concede, well, things got a whole lot worse after half-time after Matt Doherty headed Spurs in front in the 48th minute.
Yes, the game became stretched but Newcastle's feeble response to going behind was concerning. Howe's side conceded a further three goals in the space of less than half an hour as Son Heung-Min, Emerson Royal and substitute Steven Bergwijn all got in on the act.
As clinical as Spurs were in the second half, even Antonio Conte would not have foreseen Newcastle's implosion when the score was level at the break. Newcastle, after all, had not conceded more than a goal in any of their previous 11 Premier League games and, even during recent defeats, the Magpies' work off the ball and solidity at the back has been there for all to see.
However, after going behind, hurried Newcastle took risks in their own half and pressed Spurs high up the pitch with disastrous consequences. It brought back memories of a host of games against the country's top sides in recent years where Newcastle failed to get that delicate balance right between being too deep and being recklessly expansive. In fact, Howe inadvertently channelled predecessor Steve Bruce when he spoke of his side's 'naivety' and how the Magpies 'chased the game far too early' after the game. Perhaps, the only reference missing was the dreaded 'hand grenade'.
Howe hopes Sunday's defeat may yet prove a turning point of sorts when it comes to Newcastle's approach in these sorts of games and, at the very least, it serves as a serious wake-up call. Newcastle are far from safe and these players are still playing for their futures.
It was not the reaction anyone expected after that disappointing defeat at Everton last time out. You had to go back to December, when Newcastle looked in very real danger of going down, for the last time the Magpies went into a game off the back of back-to-back defeats . This trip to Spurs, therefore, was a test of how far this side had come since then.
As much as Newcastle players and staff would have loved the game to have come sooner, the international break brought the group closer together during a warm-weather training break in Dubai. It also gave Howe a rare, prolonged period of time on the training pitches as the Newcastle boss looked to mirror January's successful trip to Jeddah, which preceded a run of five wins and a draw in the Magpies' next six games.
There was a time not so long ago where getting anything from a game against Spurs was seen as a bonus, but Howe has attempted to change that mentality in his first few months in charge. Newcastle may have only picked up a point on the road against sides currently in the top half this season, but Howe does not treat these games as 'free hits'. Given how Newcastle face Spurs, Wolves, Leicester City, Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal in their final nine fixtures, the black-and-whites simply have to find a way of taking points off teams above them in the table to ensure this campaign does not fizzle out or, worse still, they get dragged right back into a dogfight.
However, although Howe set up with a 4-3-3, and Javier Manquillo, Jonjo Shelvey and Allan Saint-Maximin all came into the side, Newcastle's approach in the opening stages on Sunday brought back memories of the corresponding fixture last season. Spurs had 66% possession, 23 shots and 10 corners that day as Newcastle sat back and the Magpies quickly dropped deep 553 days on as they allowed Conte's side to dominate proceedings from kick-off.
Nervy Newcastle struggled to get a foothold in the game and Harry Kane had an early glimpse of goal in the 14th minute. However, the Spurs star dragged his effort narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
In saying that, though, for all the possession Spurs enjoyed - 83% at one point - goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was largely untested as Pierre-Emile Hojberg headed over from close range in the 35th minute. Spurs were soon made to pay for not making the most of all that territory.
There were 39 minutes on the clock when Joe Willock won his side a free-kick on the edge of the area and Schar stepped up. Schar is not necessarily a renowned set-piece specialist, but the Switzerland international managed to curl his effort around the wall and Hugo Lloris could not keep it out despite getting a hand to it.
Schar sprinted the length of the field to celebrate in front of a delirious away end, but Newcastle's joy was short-lived. In fact, just four minutes later, Ben Davies headed Spurs level.
Newcastle failed to deal with Son's corner and the ball eventually came back out to the Spurs' forward out on the left wing. Son's cross was then flicked into the net by Davies after the defender got in front of Matt Targett.
Whatever about squandering their lead just before half-time, Newcastle then went behind in the 49th minute. Schar carelessly gave the ball away in his own half and Spurs soon punished the goalscorer after Matt Doherty got his head on the end of Harry Kane's cross.
There was plenty of time for Newcastle to get back into the game, but Spurs ruthlessly exploited some huge gaps as the Magpies poured forward as Son made it 3-1 and Emerson Royal and Steven Bergwijn added the gloss late on.
For the latest Newcastle news direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
