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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dan Kilpatrick

Tottenham player ratings vs Newcastle: James Maddison impresses as Alfie Devine and Tyrese Hall stake a claim

Tottenham rounded off the campaign with a controversial post-season friendly against Newcastle in Melbourne’s MGC that was effectively a commercial exercise.

James Maddison and Alexander Isak exchanged goals in the first half, and Ange Postecoglou, back in his home city, made a raft of changes after the break – underlining the friendly feel to the contest.

The game was decided by a penalty shootout, with Newcastle winning 5-4 after Bryan Gil was the only player to miss.

Here’s how Dan Kilpatrick rated those on show...

Heung-min Son shoots (Getty Images)

Brandon Austin 5

Palmed the ball into Isak’s path for Newcastle’s equaliser at the end of a first half when he had little else to do. Similarly quiet after the break.

Pedro Porro 6

Looked a little jaded after a long season and did not offer his usual attacking verve.

Radu Dragusin 6

Largely untested defensively in a game Spurs dominated before Isak equalised.

Micky van de Ven 7

Beat Isak in a couple of eye-catching foot races in the first half.

Emerson Royal 7

Enjoyed a freer role than usual, getting into some dangerous attacking areas in both halves, although might have been tighter defensively for Newcastle’s goal.

Rodrigo Bentancur 6

Composed at the base of midfield as Spurs dominated the opening 45 minutes.

Pape Sarr 7

Appeared to be enjoying himself, at one point trying his luck on goal from deep inside his own half.

James Maddison celebrates his fine opener (Getty Images)

James Maddison 8

Did not look like a player worried about injury before the European Championship in a lively display. Capitalised on Nick Pope’s error to score an excellent goal and was at the heart of Spurs’ dominant first half.

Dejan Kulusevski 6

Energetic off the ball and calm in possession in a central role, but did not have a notable impact in the final third.

Brennan Johnson 6

Had a close-range effort saved by Pope when he probably should have scored.

Heung-min Son 7

Saw a penalty appeal waved away after a collision with former teammate Kieran Trippier and set up the aforementioned chance for Johnson with a low cross.

Alfie Devine and Harvey Barnes (Getty Images)

Subs

Alfie Devine (Maddison 45’) 7

Influential as Spurs ran the game in the second half, linking up well with the likes of Bryan Gil and Jamie Donely.

Ashley Phillips (Porro 45’) 6

Obviously comfortable on the ball but not pushed defensively by a Newcastle team which was also much-changed after the interval.

George Abbott (Van de Ven 45’) 6

Kept it simple, recycling the ball quickly to allow the flair players ahead of him to have most of the ball. Looks accomplished.

Oliver Skipp (Bentancur 45’) 6

Played out the second half at centre-half. Relatively untroubled but managed to get booked.

Bryan Gil (Son 61’) 7

Bright on what you have to imagine could be his last appearance in a Spurs shirt. Fired a shot wide after cutting in from the right.

Jame Donley (Sarr 61’) 7

Produced a couple of nice touches in dangerous areas and fizzed a shot wide of the far post, as Spurs continued to dominate after the break.

Dane Scarlett (Kulusevski 69’) 7

Peppered efforts on the Newcastle goal in a lively late cameo, although most were blocked or wayward.

Yago Santiago (Johnson 69’) 7

Stretched the game down the right flank and put a couple of dangerous crosses into the box.

Tyrese Hall (Getty Images)

Tyrese Hall (Dragusin 71’) 7

Composed in possession and carried the ball into some good areas. Looks a prospect.

Alfie Whiteman (Austin 78’) 6

Completely untroubled by a Newcastle side who looked far less interested than Spurs.

Rio Kyerematen (Emerson 87’) 6

No time to make an impact in a late cameo.

Leo Black (Abbott 87’) 6

A valuable experience for a player who has spent most of this season with Spurs’ Under-18s.

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